What do we learn about the character of Jane in the first two chapters of ’Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Bronte


Charlotte Bronte wrote the book of
’Jane Eyre’ in 1847. In the Victorian era women were not equal to men and they were classified as the property of their husbands, also this attitude could be seen and tolerated towards children. Children could not talk until they were ordered to answer some questions or told to talk with someone. The book is a critique of the Victorian assumptions of gender and social class. In addition Bronte put some autobiographical elements into the story of ’Jane Eyre’ which can be recognised throughout the story of Jane such as when Jane’s friend Helen Burns dies from tuberculosis recalls the death of Bronte’s sisters, Maria and Elizabeth. I think that Bronte was right and wrote a good book about the society in the Victorian era. She made the book into an informal text so every person in the era could understand the unfair situations in their lifetime towards women and children.

         

There are three themes in the book named ’Jane Eyre’. In the first sentences of the book we read about the first theme, the introduction theme of isolation. The hook inside the chapter is the first person narrative style and Jane is the protagonist. In the introduction theme Jane’s mood is described by the weather conditions outside the house.  The depressing mood is created with ’the cold winter wind’ and with the ’clouds so sombre’ quotes. The unpleasant mood is created with ’the rain so penetrating’ quote. I think that the use of pathetic fallacy perfectly describes the mood of a lonely and isolated character. Bronte made an overwhelming success with her opening hook by the description of Jane’s mood and with the first person narrative when we can see the world with Jane’s eyes.

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After reading the introduction we read about the theme of the outsider. In this theme Bronte describes the differences of Jane compared to the Reeds and compared to the Victorian society. The nurse named Bessie in the house treats her badly and hates her ’chidings’. She is also bullied by John Reed who takes advantage of her physical inferiority and calls her names like ’rat’ or ’bad animal’. Jane is also excluded from the close family group by Mrs Reed and ’Me, she had dispensed from joining the group’ and when she asks why the answer is ’I don’t ...

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