The food given at Lowood was awful. It was insufficient for the growing children. In chapter 5 Jane says to herself, “The tall girls went out and returned presently, each bearing a tray, with portions of something, I knew not what arranged thereon and a pitcher of water and a mug in the middle of each tray. The portions were handed round; those who liked took a draught of the water, the mug been common to all. When it came to my turn, I drank for I was thirsty, for I was thirsty, but did not touch the food, excitement and fatigue rendering me incapable of eating; I now saw, however that it was thin oaten cake shared into fragments.“ This was a typical dinner that the children had. Is this really sufficient for these small children? Once Jane says “….we had scarcely sufficient to keep alive a delicate invalid.” This proves that the food that was given was not enough for growing children.
Consequently the bigger children coaxed the little ones out of their portion whenever they had an opportunity. This well illustrated when Jane says, “Many a times I have share between two claimants the precious morsel of brown bread distributed at teatime; and after relinquishing to a third half of the contents of my coffee, I have swallowed with an accompaniment of secret tears, forced from me by the exigency of hunger.” Once she also says “……but I’ve been glad of as much more- I was still hungry.”
Even the insufficient food was not edible on some days. There was no option left. They had to eat or else, they would starve which is so pathetic. This is well portrayed when Jane says, “I ate what I could and wondered within myself whether everydays fare would be like this.” She also hears a tall girl whispering, “Disgusting! The porridge is burnt again.” The word ‘again’ implies us that this is not the first time that the porridge had been burnt. Was this seldom or something that happened frequently?
Despite these hardships, the superintendent of the school is kindly, providing the girls with bread and cheese after their inedible porridge. “You had this morning a breakfast which you could not eat; you must be hungry: - I have ordered that lunch of bread and cheese shall be served to all.” Bronte has used Miss. Temple as a device to show weaknesses of other characters.
Semi-starvation and neglected colds had caused tuberculosis to spread across the whole Lowood. Jane explain this condition as “....... forty five out of the eighty girls lay ill at one time..........Many, already smitten, went home only to die: some died at school, and were buried quickly, the nature of the malady forbidding delay.” This is all due to the ignorance of the administration. They cared less of the poor children. Only Miss. Temple cared them. “Miss Temple’s whole attention was absorbed by the patients: she lived in the sick room, never quitting from it except to snatch a few hours at rest.” This shows how neglected these innocent children were.
The education provided by Lowood was of a good standard. Grammar, arithmetic, history, geography and music are taught. “The superintendent of Lowood having taken her seat before globes placed on one of the tables, summoned the first class round her, and commenced giving for lesson on geography the lower classes were called by the teachers: repetitions in history, grammar, etc. , went on for an hour; writing arithmetic succeeded, and music lessons were given by Miss. Temple to some of the elder girl. ” She further says “I was promoted to a higher class; in less than two months I was allowed to commence French and drawing.” So, only clever children were allowed to learn French and drawing. Is this fair? There are loads of fabulous painters in the world who’ve been bad at other subjects.
Miss. Smith attends to all the work, Miss. Scatcherd teaches history and grammar and hears the second class repetitions, Madame Pierrot teaches French and Miss. Temple teaches geography and music. At Lowood learning new stuff is basically by hearting the stuff. Jane says “At first, being little accustomed to learn, by heart the lessons appeared to me both long and difficult; the frequent change from task to task…..” So there lies a big question whether the children enjoy the lessons. The only words that roar round the Lowood buildings are “Form Classes! Silence! Order!” No love is shown towards children. This is well illustrated when Miss. Scatcherd “Girls don’t slouch, keep in line, or my nerves will snap: do not whisper or breathe or I’ll show you the strap.” Is this good for the mentality of the children? The word ‘breathe’ itself tells us about the attitude that the teachers had towards the little ones. Breathing is essential for all humans but yet these children were asked not to. What does this implies? It’s none other than to say that children should be grateful and therefore do whatever the teachers say. Obedience is a good quality that should be developed among children but ‘do not breath’ goes beyond obedience. This illustrates that children are treated more like robots. No human rights are observed.
Children are never admired by most of the teachers. This is well illustrated when Jane says, “I kept expecting Miss. Scatcherd would praise her attention; but instead of that, she suddenly cried out- You dirty, disagreeable girl! You have never cleaned your nails this morning.” Children are told off whenever they do a simple mistake (they consider as if they have committed a crime) but never praise. Jane thinks, “Why does she not explain that she could neither clean her nails nor wash her face, as the water was frozen.” This describes how helpless the children were. There’s no room for reasoning. All the decisions are taken by the teachers.
Punishments given to these innocent children are so weird. This is well described when Mrs. Scatcherd canes Helen for not cleaning her nails that morning- an issue which is almost negligible as this was due to the frozen water supplied to them. “This ominous tool she presented to Miss. Scatcherd with respectful courtesy; then she quietly and without being told, unclosed her pinafore, and the teacher instantly and sharply inflicted on her neck a dozen strokes with the bunch of twigs. Not a tear rose from Burns eye…..” ‘Without been told’ and ‘Not a tear rose from Burns eye’ suggest us that this was very frequent and Helen was very familiar with these kinds of incidents. This is a good evidence of how well the children were treated. Children are treated like animals. People beat the animals to make them do something as they cannot understand what people say, but these little ones are humans who can very well understand what other people say. Children are not given a chance to correct their mistakes.
Religion plays a big role in Lowood school life- “The meal over, prayers were read by Miss. Miller, and the classes filed off two and two upstairs.” The teachers didn’t enjoy teaching religion. This is well explained during Sunday evenings- “The Sunday evening was spent in repeating by heart, the Church Catechism, and the 5th, 6th and 7th read by Miss. Miller whose irrepressible yawns attested her weariness.” If the teachers do not enjoy, how can you expect the children to enjoy?
Children are forced to believe in God. Their thoughts evolve around God. This is well portrayed when Helen says “Read the New Testament, and observe what Christ says and how He acts; make word your rule, and His conduct your example.”
According to Bronte’s biographers, the fictional character Mr. Brocklehurst the treasurer and the manager of the establishment (Lowood) is a portray of William Carus Wilson at Cowan Bridge. Mr. Brocklehurst appears very little in the whole novel but his words illustrate us a lot about his cruelty towards the little ones. This is well shown when he says “I have again and again intimated that I desire the hair to be arranged closely, modestly and plainly. Miss. Temple that girl’s hair must be cut off entirely; I will send a barber tomorrow.” He wants Miss. Temple to cut the little girl’s hair because her hair is naturally curled. He is so cruel that he doesn’t wishes to see a poor girl having such a wonderful hair. He further says “…my mission is to mortify in these girls the lusts of the flesh; to teach them to clothe themselves with shame-facedness and sobriety, not with braided hair and costly apparel; and each of the young persons before us has a string of twisted in plaits with vanity itself have woven….” Jane’s thoughts regarding this issue are revealed when Mr. Brocklehurst’s two daughters arrive into the scene; Jane thinks “They ought to have come a little sooner to have heard his lecture on dress.” They were dressed in velvet, silk and furs. Jane further says “…and from under the brim of this graceful head-dress fell a profusion of light tresses, elaborately curled……….She wore a false front of French curls.” There’s nothing wrong with Mr. Brocklehurst’s daughters having their hair curled but what’s wrong here is that Mr. Brocklehurst requests Miss. Temple to cut off Julia Severn’s naturally curled hair. Is this fair? Does wealth decides your beauty or what is the correlation between wealth and beauty?
Mr. Brocklehurst cruelty is further illustrated when Jane broke her slate by accident. He considers it as a crime. He says, “A careless girl……Let that child who broke her slate come forward!” Meanwhile Miss. Temple whispers to Jane “Don’t be afraid Jane, I saw it was an accident, you shall not be punished.” Here Bronte has used Miss. Temple in contrast to Mr. Brocklehurst. Mr. Brocklehurst makes Jane stand on a stool all day “Let her stand half an hour longer on that stool, and let no one speaks to her during the remainder of the day.” He even says, “…..this girl is- a liar” How can he accuse someone so firmly without actually knowing her? (All what he knows is what Mrs. Reeds told him. He doesn’t bother to think whether it’s Jane or Mrs. Reeds lying) Even if a child is a lair, is he as the manager of the establishment to announce it to everybody or is he to correct the child by talking to her personally and reasoning why she lied? This is really not good for the mentality of the child. If Helen and Mrs. Temple hadn’t been there, the children would have kept not talking to Jane. The teachers will look at her in a bad angle. Luckily Miss. Temple asks Mr. Lloyds about this and informs everybody at Lowood that Jane is not a liar.
When Miss Temple leaves to get married, Jane decides it is time for a change (after spending 8 years at Lowood, 6 years as a student and 2 years as a teacher), and her decision to place an advert in the paper and travel alone to work for a new employer marks the next chapter in Jane’s life: thanks to Lowood, she is now an educated and confident young woman.
Soon Jane gets a job in Thornfield as governess to a little French girl, Adele who is under ten years of age. Here Bronte uses Thornfield as device to illustrate the education that a child of a rich family might receive. According to her biographers Bronte herself has been a governess which leaves us no doubt that Jane’s view of education here is exactly of Bronte’s.
She teaches there geography, English, arithmetic, music and art. The ways in which Jane teaches Adele is to be admired. She says “I felt it would be injudicious to confine her too much at first, so, when I talked to her great deal, and got to learn a little, and when the morning had advanced to noon, I allowed her to return to her nurse. I then proposed to occupy myself till dinner-time in drawing some little sketches for her use.” Bronte very successfully shows how Jane makes Adele love learning. She doesn’t ask Adele to by heart everything as she was taught in Lowood. She draws some sketches, so that she really can understand what she teaches. She makes sure that Adele would not become a parrot who by hearts and repeat everything, as done in Lowood. She even lets Adele to enjoy her life. She doesn’t let Adele to sit and study all day although she and friends played only an hour a day at Lowood when she was a child. She encourages Adele to learn by promising her to teach to play the piano.
Jane has a good understanding of her student. First she had observed Adele well. Jane describes Adele as “lively child who had been spoiled and indulged……no injudicious interference from any quarter thwarted my plans for her improvements……” This suggests how well Jane prepares to her lessons. She further describes, “No peculiar development of feeling or taste which raise one inch above the ordinary level of childhood.” She understands the ordinary level of childhood- the very basic thing that the teachers at Lowood didn’t understand.
Now Jane’s matured ideas are revealed. “Women are supposed to be very calm generally but women feel just as men feel……and it is narrow minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing the piano and embroidering bags.” She further says “It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.” Bronte questions the society why women are not equally treated.
Bronte uses the Ingrams to show the view of the rich people towards the governesses. Blanche Ingram views governesses with condescension and superiority. “I have just one word to say of the whole tribe: they are a nuisance…………half of them detestable and the rest ridiculous…………and the poor sickly thing used to cry.” Her comment leaves no doubt about her views as she uses the words, detestable and ridiculous with no word which describes them favourably.
As Jane’s and Mr. Rochester’s marriage is arranged, Adele is planned to be sent away to a school. Jane says Adele that there’s nothing to be afraid and they would be sending Adele to a very good school. She always makes sure that Adele is very comfortable which is quite the opposite with the teachers at Lowood.
Jane sees that every child should have right to be loved. She loves Adele so much. Jane has sympathy and compassion for Adele when others do not "And take Adele with you sir, she will be a companion for you." Her love for Adele is well illustrated on the day of her wedding. She says, “I remember Adele clung to me as I left her: I remember I kissed her as I loosened her little hands from my neck; and I cried over with strange emotion, and quitted her soon because I feared my sobs would break her still sound repose.” Jane understands that love is needed for every child
During the wedding ceremony, Mr. Mason and a lawyer declare that Mr. Rochester cannot marry because he is already married to Mr. Mason's sister. Mr. Rochester bitterly admits this, explaining that his wife is a violent madwoman whom he keeps locked in the attic, in the care of Grace Poole. When Grace occasionally drinks too much, it gives his wife a chance to escape, and she is the true cause of Thornfield's strange events.
Mr. Rochester asks Jane to go with him to the south of France, and live as husband and wife, even though they cannot be married. Refusing to go against her principles, and despite her love for him, Jane leaves Thornfield in the middle of the night.
Jane begins the next chapter in her life as a teacher at the Morton Village School.
“Morton, when I came to it two years ago, had no school…..I established one for boys: I mean now to open second school for girls.” This is said by Mr. Rivers. This gives us evidence of the social background that prevailed at that time. It was a male dominant world. No equality for women. Bronte has successfully brought the need of equality for all into the eyes of the reader.
Mr. Rivers tells Jane about the job to which Jane replies “…and I accept with all my heart.” Mr. River further says, “But you comprehend me? It’s a village school: your scholars will be only poor girls- only cottagers’ children- at the best farmers’ children.” Mr. Rivers represents a typical man. This was the view that most of the people had towards the poor children. Does the occupation of one’s father decide one’s education?
Jane is supposed to give a very basic education- “Knitting, sewing, reading, writing, ciphering, will be all you will have to teach.” Bronte uses Morton village school as a device to compare the education that poor children would receive with Lowood and by employing a governess.
First Jane observes the children’s standard. She says “But three of the number can read: none write or cipher. Several knit and few sew a little…..Some of them are unmannered, rough, intractable, as well as ignorant; but others are docile, have a wish to learn……” This shows that the children were not taught properly.
At first Jane finds it difficult to understand because of their accent. Jane says “They speak with the broadest accent of the district.”
Jane’s ideas regarding equality for all are further revealed- “I must not forget that these coarsely-clad little peasants are of flesh and blood as good as the scions of gentlest genealogy….” She thinks that it’s her responsibility to educate these children.
Her plans for the little girls at the village school are shown as she says, “In a few months it is possible, the happiness of seeing progress, and change for the better in my scholars may substitute gratification for disgust.”
Soon Jane finds she was totally mistaken to think that the little girls were “wholly untaught, with faculties quite torpid, they seemed to me hopelessly dull; and, at first sight, all dull alike.” She says, “….when I got to know them, and they me…” This shows us clearly that the problem she had them with was none other than their accent and their life style. She is capable of understanding others. I think Bronte uses this in contrast with the teachers at Lowood who had no understanding of the little children’s thoughts and deeds.
She says, “….my language, my rules, and ways, once subsided, I found some of these heavy looking rustics wake up into sharp witted girls enough……..and I discovered amongst them not a few examples of natural politeness, and innate self-respect, as well as of excellent capacity, that won both my goodwill and admiration.” So she admires the girls when they do well which encourages the children to learn. As a result the progress of these children was very rapid. Jane describes their progress “….in some instances, was even surprising…”
Jane is totally devoted to her job as a teacher. She considers that there should be equality for everyone. Education that all the children receive should be of the same quality. No matter whether you are rich or poor, no matter whether you study in a charity school, a village school or are taught by a governess. This is well illustrated when she says “These could already read, write and sew; and to them I taught the elements of grammar, geography, history, and the finer kinds of needle work.”
Finally I think Bronte has very successfully criticized the system of education in the 19th century using Jane as her voice. She has used Lowood, Thornfield and Morton to discuss the three main sections of education that one might receive depending on one’s wealth. She strongly believes in equality for all which is seen throughout the novel. She also thinks that there should be fair opportunities and no harsh punishments. Above all she points out that every child needs to be loved.
