This seems to be the general response whenever the rebellious Jane tries to confront her aunt on her decision; Mrs. reed always seems to ‘dodge’ the question in this way. I think this is a subtle dig at the Victorian cultures policy on children by Bronte.
Another thing Bronte seems to dwell on in the first few chapters is the thought of inferiority that seem to become a complex in Jane, but it is a complex felt in most children in some point in there life wither at sport, academics popularity or social standards. Social standards seems to play a huge part in Jane Eyre with the main focus of the first four chapters being mainly about how she is bullied and tormented because of the level that her social standard is at. From it’s beginning, Jane Eyre explores and challenges the social preconceptions of nineteenth-century Victorian society. Themes of social class, gender relations, and injustice predominate throughout. begins her story as an orphan raised by a wealthy and cultivated family, and this ambiguous social standing motivates much of the novel's internal tension and conflict. Jane's education and semi-aristocratic lifestyle are those of the upper class, but she has no money. As a penniless orphan forced to live on the charity of others, Jane is a kind of second-class citizen. In some ways she is below even the servants, who certainly have no obligation to treat her respectfully. The tensions of this contradiction emerge in the very first chapter of the novel, when Jane suffers teasing and punishment at the hands of .A good reference to the bullying is the incident in the first chapter when john confronts Jane for no reason telling her that “You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent, mama says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen's children like us, and eat the same meals we do, and wear clothes at our mama's expense” this shows how she in made to feel inferior to the other children . But this is not the only way in which young jane is made to feel inferior she also shows that she feels inferior in looks and ability as she says in the book “? Eliza, who was headstrong and selfish, was respected. Georgiana, who had a spoiled temper, a very acrid spite, a captious and insolent carriage, was universally indulged. Her beauty, her pink cheeks and golden curls, seemed to give delight to all who looked at her, and to purchase indemnity for every fault.” This shows how she feels that she is inferior to the other children but also shows how she is jealous of the girls for what they have, a trate famous amoung young children. Also the way she writes seems to reflect childhood, you can almost sense the “its not fair” hint in the writing. This is either very clever writing on Bronte’s account or a fluke as she was only trying to emphasise the pity for Jane.
Another childlike trait that Bronte picks up on very well is the part of the book in the 4th chapter, when Jane is locked in the red room when while Jane is feeling sorry for herself she starts to imagine her uncle coming to her rescue “I began to recall what I had heard of dead men, troubled in their graves by the violation of their last wishes, revisiting the earth to punish the perjured and avenge the oppressed; and I thought Mr. Reed's spirit, harassed by the wrongs of his sister's child, might quit its abode—whether in the church vault or in the unknown world of the departed—and rise before me in this chamber. I wiped my tears and hushed my sobs, fearful lest any sign of violent grief might waken a preternatural voice to comfort me, or elicit from the gloom some haloed face, bending over me with strange pity” this captures the mood of most children when they feel they have been wronged, where they wish that someone somehow would see the wrong doing and come down to rescue them and smote the wrong doers.
Further on in her childhood when she goes to Lowood, there are many other examples of the portrayal of childhood. But just before that I believe there is the best example of the whole book. And example that shows the sheer innocence of children and how children can act naive to a subject when really they know exactly what they are talking about. This first extract is when Jane first meets Mr. Broklehurst to see if she is fit to be accepted into Lowood.
“I stepped across the rug; he placed me square and straight before him. What a face he had, now that it was almost on a level with mine! What a great nose! And what a mouth! And what large prominent teeth!
"No sight so sad as that of a naughty child," he began, "especially a naughty little girl. Do you know where the wicked go after death?"
"They go to hell," was my ready and orthodox answer.
"And what is hell? Can you tell me that?"
"A pit full of fire."
"And should you like to fall into that pit, and to be burning there for ever?"
"No, sir."
"What must you do to avoid it?"
I deliberated a moment; my answer, when it did come, was objectionable: "I must keep in good health, and not die."
This shows perfectly how young children can be very insolent and cheeky in a way that no adult can question because of the way she speaks so innocently, even though Mr. Brocklehurst is sure that Jane has said this last sentence in an impertinent way he is powerless to question it. This is a very common trait in children and is very subtly used in this extract.
In conclusion I think that conveys childhood very well throughout the first 10 chapters in many ways, picking up on many childhood traits and actions that most other authors would not be able to do. I also believe that the best ways she does this is through her subtle dialogue between the characters.