In Chapter 1, Jane’s strong personality starts to develop. Jane lives in a grand house which belonged to the late Mr Reed. His widow Aunt Reed and their three children Master John, Eliza and Georgiana live in the house with Jane. It soon becomes apparent that Jane is not very happy. There are a number of things which lead us to conclude this. There is a use of ‘ Pathetic Fallacy’; which is where the mood is mirrored by the weather. An example of this is when Charlotte Bronte writes: “ the cold winter wind brought with it clouds so sombre, and a rain so penetrating”.
There is also a mention of her physical inferiority to Mrs’ Reed’s children particularly her weakness compared to them. Jane feels really unhappy. This is later confirmed by the fact that this is said: “ she really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy little children’ It also needs to be included that later on in the text we read that Jane is so unhappy that she hides away to read books. She hides herself behind thick curtains in a deserted room to read ‘ Bewick’s History of British Birds’. To be able to read and comprehend these types of books she shows her intelligence.
Charlotte Bronte later goes on to say: “ There were those of which treat of the haunts of sea-fowl; of ‘ the solitary rocks and promontories’ by them only inhabited”. As you can see from this quote Jane is naturally drawn to the ideas of ‘ solitary rocks’ because that is the way that she feels. She feels lonely and isolated, so although she is only ten she can feel this sense of empathy for them. The mentions of Jane’s feelings towards the pictures also adds to the mood. The whole time the author is trying to bring us into the ambience of the scene.
However, her peace is interrupted by John finding her behind the curtain. He automatically becomes abusive and dominating. She rebels at his bullying and lashes out at him. She is then taken off to the ‘ red room’ to be locked up as punishment. Chapter 2 is the ‘ red room’ chapter. It is very significant in many ways. One way to look at this section is to see it as the time of Jane’s puberty, her growing up. However the main emphasis is on the fact that it is the room that her uncle died in, therefore the red can symbolise his death/ blood.
Jane has a vivid imagination, as seen in the sentence: “ I thought it like one of the tiny phantoms, half fairy, half imp” She didn’t know that the person that she could see in the looking glass was actually herself. It appears that Bessie’s evening stories had planted ideas into her mind. Later on, it becomes evident how scared she is when we read: “ my mind was for horror, shaken as my nerves were by agitation, I thought the swift-darting beam was a herald of some coming vision from another world. My heart beat thick, my head grew hot; a sound filled my ears”
She yells out and immediately Bessie and Abbot come to her, but Abbot just believes that it is all a trick. The commotion brings Mrs Reed and she refuses to let Jane out, Jane is locked up once more. However it is all too much for Jane she: “ had a species of fit: unconsciousness closed the scene” At the beginning of Chapter 3 Jane wakes up in the nursery to find Mr Lloyd (the servant’s apothecary) and Bessie by her bed. The fact that Mrs Reed sent for the servant’s apothecary rather than a physician (which she would send for when she needed one, or her children,) shows exactly what she thought about Jane.
Mr Lloyd knows that Jane has depression and feels that he does need to find out the reason for this. However he knows, as the narrator said: “ children can feel, but they cannot analyse their feelings”. Jane feels unfairly treated and tries to make Mr Lloyd understand this but cannot manage. However, Mr Lloyd does get the feeling that Jane’s treatment at Gateshead is harsh and suggests that she should go to school. “ The child ought to have a change of air and scene”. Chapter four is Jane’s final time at Gateshead. At the beginning of the chapter Jane is waiting for more news about going to school.
She waits in vain but hears nothing about it: “ It tarried, however; days and weeks passed; I had regained my normal state of health, but no new allusion was made to the subject over which I brooded” Jane is also not included in any of the families Christmas celebrations. This time is stressful for her, as she is made to feel unwanted and unloved: “ festive cheer; presents had been interchanged, dinners and evening parties given. From enjoyment I was of course excluded” and also: “ To speak truth, I had not the least wish to go into company, for in company I was rarely noticed.
Jane’s feeling of rebellion really comes to light when she hits John and then feels no remorse. Mrs Reed tries her best to tell John that Jane is unworthy of their presence, but Jane feels this tremendous sense of anger and argues back: “ They are not fit to associate with me,” and: “ What would Uncle Reed say to you if he was alive’ was my scarcely voluntary demand” and also: “ My Uncle Reed is in heaven, and can see all you do and think; and so can my papa and mamma, they know how you shut me up all day long, and how you wish me dead”.
The arrival of Mr Brocklehurst the warden of Lowood charity school is a surprise for Jane. She describes him as having: “ a great nose, and what a mouth! And what large prominent teeth! ” These observations of his physical features lead Jane to make a judgement of his character although she is not aware of doing so at the time. She knows he is to be a figure of threat. Jane and Mrs Reed have a final row which is quite substantial, and from this Jane becomes much stronger and fights her corner.
She tries to contain her thoughts but knew she had to speak her mind: I am not deceitful: if I were I should say I loved you; but I declare I do not love you”. She also told Mrs Reed how terrible she is and that she will: “ let everybody at Lowood know what you are, and what you have done”. In conclusion, I believe that Bronte is successful with her portrayal of Jane’s Character. Throughout these 4 chapters I can feel the despair, isolation and loneliness. Her strength, rebellion and forceful character became evident later. The fact that it is all told in 1st person narrative also adds to the whole atmosphere.
The person (Jane) is saying everything from their point of view which I think adds more feeling. It is also effective having the views of the ten your old and then the older Jane (authorial voice) who comes through every now again to explain certain things. An example of this is when the older Jane explains that she now understands why she suffered. She says that at the time she didn’t understand it, but after many years she sees it ‘ clearly’. The author creates feelings of compassion in the reader, as you feel sorry for her. You can empathise with her. You feel her unhappiness and can relate to her fears in the ‘ red room’.
