Jane Eyre

Lena writes:
So far in the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte various important events have taken place. In the beginning of the novel Jane Eyre (the protagonist) is introduced as an orphan who was adopted into the Reed family by Mr. Reed. Who on his death bed made Mrs. Reed promise to rear and maintain Jane as if she was one of her own children. Mrs. Reed found it irksome to love a child she viewed as an interloper. Therefore she treated Jane poorly with constant unjust accusations. Jane tried to rebel on many occasions. On one such occasion she was being tormented by John Reed (Mrs. Reed’s son) and had a book thrown at her head causing a bleeding gash oh Jane head, she decided she had, had enough and lashed out at John. Bessie (the Reed’s governess) then walked in and scolded Jane and told Mrs. Reed about the incident. Mrs. Reed lost her tolerance towards Jane and sent her to the “Red room”, where Jane was instructed to sit in silence until she was told to do otherwise. The Red room is rumored to be haunted by Mr. Reed’s ghost. Jane grew hysteric, then pleaded to be let out, threw a fit, and passed out. After that day Jane had developed an ill manner. Mrs. Reed concluded that Jane was not stable enough or emotionally controlled enough to interact with any being. Therefore Jane was to be sent away to Lowood. Lowood is a school run by Mr. Brocklehurst, whose goal is to use the Christian faith to teach naughty girls with wicked hearts to become an acceptable well mannered; well educated woman. Jane’s grateful for this opportunity to escape her current living situation, for Jane wishes to never see the Reed family again. Jane easily adapts to her new surroundings at Lowood. The school is poorly funded, strict, cramped, and has little food to go around. Jane befriends an upper classmen named Helen and a teacher named Ms. Temple. Jane struggles to be accepted and seen as a well behaved, enlightened pupil. As Jane finally feels secure and has her life in order her progress is destroyed when Mr. Brocklehurst comes for a visit. While he is lecturing and criticizing Lowood, Mr. Brocklehurst scolds a girl for wearing her slate in the wrong manner. Jane tries to secure her own safety by taking out her slate but as she drops it in the process and is scrutinized by Mr. Brocklehurst. He tells her peers to ostracize her as punishment. I’m currently in the middle of the scene where Jane is found crying and taken to Mrs. Temple's room along with Helen for comfort.