Jane Eyre's Childhood as a Precedent for All the Trouble Essay

In part one of the book, Jane is a very hurt child. She’s an orphan and her Uncle Reed takes her in but, he too passes away. Her Aunt Reed is not welcoming at all. She makes her children shun her and the servants treat her poorly as well. Jane is aware of the way the Gateshead residents feel about her. “I was a discord at Gateshead Hall; I was like nobody there; I had nothing in harmony with Mrs. Reed or her children, or her chosen vassalage If they did not love me, in fact, as little did I love them. They were not bound to regard with affection a thing that could not sympathize with one amongst them; a heterogeneous thing, opposed to them in temperament, in capacity, in propensities; a useless thing incapable of serving their interest, or adding to their pleasure; a noxious thing, cherishing their gems of indignation at their treatment, of contempt of their judgement. I know that had I been a sanguine, brilliant, careless, exacting, handsome, romping child-though equally dependent and friendless- Mrs. Reed would have endured my presence more complacently; her children would have entertained for me more of the cordiality of fellow-feeling; the

     Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre is a coming-of-age story about an unconventional woman's development within a society of strict rules and expectations. At pivotal moments in Jane's life, she makes choices which are influenced by her emotions and/or her reason. Through the results of those choices, Jane learns to balance passion and practicality to achieve true happiness.

Furthermore, this demeaning and negative attitude Jane is exposed to is further instigated when her cousin, John Reed, expresses her situation by saying: "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". The truth of Jane's unfortunate situation is expressed against her which results in her feeling no true support from this family and confides only in her childhood nursemaid- Bessie, who although behaves inconsistently and has “a capricious and hasty temper”, is the closest mother figure to her. Furthermore, the friction between Jane and John is further emphasised when the first physical aspect of violence is introduced to the reader through a graphic portrayal, further showing the ultimate rejection Jane experienced

One way that Jane’s rebellion has positive consequences is that she was dispatched away from her stepmother who despised her. Mrs. Reed says, “So much annoyance she caused me, daily and hourly, with her incomprehensible disposition, and her sudden starts of temper (...) I declare she once talked to me like something mad, or like a fiend - no child ever spoke or looked as she did; I was glad to get her away from the house. (...) She, however, did not die (...)

Jane’s first encounter with betrayal was when she was still a child and her Uncle Reed brought her along to live with him and his family in Gateshead, after Jane’s parents had passed away. Jane’s Uncle Reed had promised to raise her as if she were one of his own children. However, this only lasted until Uncle Reed passed away. After Jane’s uncle had passed, Jane’s aunt and her three children had mistreated her and in some cases physically abused. On one particular day she was minding her own business whilst reading Bewick’s History of British Birds, her obnoxious cousin John Reed was looking for Jane. Once he finds her, he treats her as if she was inferior to him, he wants his cousin to refer to him as Master Reed. This already not being indicative of raising Jane as one of their own, her cousin John continues to undermine her even more and takes the book from her and ends up throwing it at her causing her to get a cut by

     Blanche Ingram is the most important woman, other than Jane Eyre, in the novel. Arguably, she is the most important antagonist in this book. It is difficult to fathom how an absolutely horrid, conceited, venal, apathetic creature could be so vital to the book; but take her away, the motivation, conflict, and character itself crumbles.

In Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë, Jane constantly faces people and institutions that attempt to overpower and assert control over her. Throughout the novel, she struggles to fight against such powers in order to establish her true-self. The hardships and struggles she faces shape her character and exposes Jane’s values; she learns to confront the forces attempting to control her. The influences at Gateshead, Lowood, Thornfield, Moor House, and Ferndean attempt to form Jane into a typical woman with Victorian values and qualities; however, Jane defies these attempts. With each attempt to overpower her at each residence, Jane’s capacity to defy the people attempting to assert their power over her becomes more natural.

Jane Eyre: an Autobiography by Charlotte Bronte is a story of hardship, betrayal, and survival. The book’s protagonist Jane Eyre has to endure all of these, but the way she endures it is remarkable. Jane uses her religion to deal with problems she encounters at every turn; an evil aunt, zealot cousin, and, most problematic of all, a perplexing employer. In the beginning of the book, Jane is forced to live with her aunt, Mrs. Reed, at Gateshead Manor.

Jane lived with her aunt Mrs. Reed, for most of her childhood at Gateshead. However, one day after being fed up with Mrs. Reed, Jane outbursts, “‘I am glad you are no relation of mine. I will never call you aunt again as long as I live. I will never come to see you when I am grown up; and if any one asks me how I liked you, and how you treated me, I will say the very thought of you makes me sick, and that you treated me with miserable cruelty’”

“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 live here with gentleman’s children like us and eat the same meals as we do,” is the first real sign of the cruelty Jane faces in her childhood (Bronte 6). This causes her to live in her head about her status in society. Due to the mistreatment from

Samantha Scattini 5/3/18 Section 2 Jane Eyre Jane Eyre, a novel by Charlotte Bronte, shares the life story of an outspoken, mistreated, young girl named Jane. This self-narrative travels through all of Jane's trials, as well as successes. Throughout her continuous relocations, she is constantly evolving and maturing. Each destination provides her with new life lessons and helps her to move forward into her next journey. In Jane Eyre, Bronte uses these different locations to create a strong impact on both Jane and the reader by creating symbolism in the various environments.

She is placed in the care of her Aunt, Mrs. Reed, as a result of her parents’ death. Mrs. Reed only keeps her in the house because of a promise she made to her husband, who is now deceased; she has no real affection for Jane and does not hesitate to express her dislike. As a result, Jane grows up knowing that there is prejudice against her. These thoughts are expressed when she is locked in the red-room as a punishment for fighting back against her cousin’s abuse: “Why could I never please? Why was it useless to try and win anyone’s favour? […] I dared commit no fault: I strove to fulfill every duty; and I was termed naughty and tiresome, sullen and sneaking, from morning to noon, and from noon to night” (18). Jane thus recognizes that there is prejudice against her as a result of her status at a very young age. This situation continues throughout Jane’s

Growing up with her Aunt and cousins, Jane learned quickly to gain a voice with which she could defend herself. Jane and Mrs. Reed’s relationship is described discourteously. Jane is aware of her Aunt’s feelings towards her, as she admits to knowing, “‘My uncle Reed is in heaven, and can see all you do and think; and so can papa and mama: they know how you shut me up all day long, and how you wish me dead’” (Bronte, 18). Jane recognizes early in life that there will be people who despise her even when she has done nothing to deserve it. Throughout her childhood, Jane

Throughout the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronté, Jane grows up a lot. When Jane was a young lady, she taught herself to be proper and virtuous. During her youth, Jane is often criticized by her aunt and made to feel miserable. She was never treated as part of the family and never recognized herself as such. She was very independent and self-reliant and her goal was to become a better person and more superior each and every day she spent at Gateshead. During her time here, we can see how she truly feels when, on page 22, she states: “…I cry because I am miserable,” and on page 37 when she states “...I hate to live here.” This adds to the evidence that she desired to live elsewhere and how she detached herself from her aunt and the relationships she endured at Gateshead.

Early through her young childhood Jane already begins to display her thoughts on equality and standing up for herself. She states, "If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all