Jane Eyre By Charlotte Bronte Essay Example

the education provided or accessible to the poor, as it was the only place where they could receive a good education. Lowood was a boarding school, and it was expected that the children would appreciate what they received.

At Lowood, the children's parents or relations paid ?15 a year, although they were referred to as charity children. The conversation between Jane and Helen highlights this, with Jane asking why they are called charity children and Helen explaining that the ?15 is insufficient to cover board and teaching, so the remaining amount is funded through subscription. This raises a question about the fairness of labeling the children as charity children when they are paying a substantial amount. Lowood is known for its strict discipline and organized approach.

The children immediately respond to the loud bell by either starting or finishing an activity. "When I opened my eyes again, a loud bell was ringing, the girls were getting dressed.... and then the bell rang again, and they all lined up in a file, in groups of two or three, and went down the stairs in that order and entered the cold, dimly lit schoolroom: Miss Miller read her prayers afterwards." The day starts with prayers... a long hour and a half of prayers and Bible reading...." Then comes breakfast, lesson time, lunch, lesson time, tea time, lesson time, dinner, and finally sleep.

Looking closely at their daily routine, it becomes clear that lesson time takes up the majority of their day. This raises the question of whether these children are truly happy. Jane describes how the play hour in the evening is the most enjoyable part of the day at

Lowood. Even if we subtract 8 hours for sleep and 4 hours for meals from the total 24 hours, that still leaves 12 hours. Is it fair for the children to only have one hour to play while spending the remaining 11 hours studying? Jane quickly discovers that the conditions at Lowood are harsh, with extreme cold being a major issue.

Jane reluctantly admits, "I too rose reluctantly; it was bitter cold, and I dressed as well as I could for shivering, and washed when there was a basin at liberty, which did not occur soon, as there was but one basin to six girls, on the stands down the middle of the room." At Lowood, Jane starts to understand the harshness of life. She further describes the extreme coldness, stating, "A change had taken place in the weather the preceding evening and a keen north-east wind, whistling through the crevices of our bedroom windows all night long had made us shiver in our heads and turned the contents into ice." Jane might feel particularly sensitive to the cold since she previously lived in Mrs. Reed's well-heated mansion. Despite the freezing conditions, the children are inadequately dressed.

This is well described by Jane when she states, "Our clothes were not enough to shield us from the harsh cold: we had no boots, the snow entered our shoes and melted inside; our bare hands became numb and developed chilblains, just like our feet." She also remembers, "I vividly recall the constant irritation I suffered every evening due to this, when my feet were inflamed; and the agony of forcing my swollen, raw, and stiff toes into my shoes

in the morning. A bitterly cold winter with neither boots nor gloves is unimaginable."

These small children managed to survive under harsh conditions in 19th-century boarding schools. They made their own clothes and their hair was tightly combed away from their faces. They all wore dull brown dresses with high collars, adorned with a small tucker around the throat. Their outfits also included little pockets made of Holland fabric, woolen stockings, and shoes fastened with brass buckles.

According to Jane, there were over twenty girls at Lowood who were dressed in a costume that did not suit them well, making even the prettiest girls appear odd. This illustrates that the children were not properly cared for with suitable clothing. Furthermore, the food provided at Lowood was terrible and insufficient for the growing children. In chapter 5, Jane observes that the taller girls brought trays with unidentified portions of food and a pitcher of water with a mug placed in the center of each tray.

As the water was circulated, everyone shared a sip from the same cup. When my turn came, I quenched my thirst by drinking it, but I didn't consume any food. I was too fatigued and exhilarated to eat. Nevertheless, I observed that the meal consisted of a small portion of crumbled oaten cake. "This is typically what the kids have for dinner," Jane commented. "Is it sufficient for these young ones? As Jane previously mentioned, "...we barely have enough to sustain someone who is weak and ill."

This passage demonstrates that the food given to the children was insufficient, leading the older ones to take from the younger ones whenever they had the chance. Jane

recounts her experiences of sharing a small amount of bread and coffee, and feeling forced to swallow her tears due to hunger. The food was sometimes inedible, leaving them with no choice but to eat it or go hungry. Jane wonders if this will be their daily fare. A tall girl whispers that the porridge is burnt, implying that this is a recurring issue. Despite these challenges, the superintendent is kind and provides bread and cheese for the girls after their inedible porridge. Miss Temple's character is used by Bronte to highlight the weaknesses of others.Semi-starvation and neglected colds resulted in the widespread spread of tuberculosis throughout the entirety of Lowood. According to Jane's explanation, at one point, forty-five out of the eighty girls were ill.

Many people who were already infatuated went home and died. Some died at school and were quickly buried because the nature of the disease did not allow any delay. "This is all because of the incompetence of the administration. They showed little concern for the impoverished children. Only Miss Temple cared for them." Miss Temple devoted all her attention to the patients. She lived in the sick room and only left to get a few hours of rest. "This demonstrates how neglected these innocent children were. The education provided by Lowood was of high quality."

The superintendent of Lowood seated herself before globes on a table and summoned the first class to give a geography lesson. Meanwhile, the lower classes were called by their teachers for lessons on history, grammar, and other subjects. This continued for an hour until writing and arithmetic lessons followed. Additionally, Miss Temple provided music lessons to

some of the older girls. According to the speaker, she was eventually promoted to a higher class and allowed to begin learning French and drawing in less than two months. This suggests that only talented children were given the opportunity to study French and drawing.

Is it fair to judge the abilities of painters based on their performance in other subjects? At Lowood School, different teachers handle various subjects: Miss. Smith takes care of all the work, Miss. Scatcherd teaches history and grammar while also overseeing repeat lessons for the second class, Madame Pierrot teaches French, and Miss. Temple teaches geography and music. However, learning new material at Lowood primarily consists of memorizing it. Jane expresses her initial struggle with this method, saying "At first, being little accustomed to learn by heart, the lessons appeared long and difficult to me; the frequent change from task to task...". Thus, it raises a significant question about whether the children truly enjoy these lessons.

The Lowood buildings resound with the words "Form Classes! Silence! Order!" devoid of any affection towards the children. Miss Scatcherd's harsh statement, "Girls don't slouch, keep in line, or my nerves will snap: do not whisper or breathe or I'll show you the strap," exemplifies this lack of warmth. The prohibition on breathing itself reflects the teachers' attitude towards these young ones, denying them a basic human function. This signifies that children should be grateful and obedient without question. However, it goes beyond mere obedience as it treats them like automatons, disregarding their basic human rights. Teachers rarely admire or appreciate students; Jane recalls how Miss Scatcherd rebuked instead of praising her attention to detail: "You

dirty, disagreeable girl! You have never cleaned your nails this morning." Even minor mistakes are reprimanded as if they were crimes while praise is scarce. Jane wonders why Miss Scatcherd doesn't consider that frozen water prevented cleanliness and highlights the helplessness of these children and the absence of reason behind their treatment.

All decisions are made by teachers, including the strange punishments that innocent children receive. A clear example of this is when Mrs. Scatcherd canes Helen for not cleaning her nails in the morning. However, this issue was almost insignificant, as it was caused by the frozen water they were provided with.

This ominous tool was presented to Miss. Scatcherd by the teacher with respectful courtesy. Then, without being told, she quietly unclosed her pinafore and received a sharp infliction of a dozen strokes on her neck from the teacher's bunch of twigs. Despite the pain, Burns did not shed a tear. The phrases "without being told" and "not a tear rose from Burns eye" indicate that these types of incidents were not uncommon and that Helen was accustomed to them. This serves as evidence of the harsh treatment the children received, as they were treated more like animals than humans.

People use physical force to control animals due to their inability to understand human language. However, children possess the capacity to comprehend verbal communication as they are human beings. Regrettably, children are not granted the opportunity to rectify their errors. The presence of religion greatly influences everyday life at Lowood school, evident through Miss. Miller leading prayers after meals and classes attending religious instruction on an upper level. The teachers themselves do not exhibit enthusiasm for

teaching religion, as observed during Sunday evenings when students must memorize the Church Catechism and recite specific Bible passages under Miss's guidance.

Miller expresses her fatigue through constant yawning, emphasizing the teachers' lack of enjoyment and questioning how children can be expected to enjoy. The children are compelled to believe in God, with their thoughts revolving around Him. Helen suggests reading the New Testament and observing Christ's words and actions, using them as a guide. Bronte's biographers note that the character Mr. Brocklehurst, the treasurer and manager of Lowood school, is based on William Carus Wilson at Cowan Bridge.

Throughout the novel, Mr. Brocklehurst's limited appearances reveal his cruel treatment of the children. His harshness is evident when he insists, "I have repeatedly expressed my desire for the children's hair to be arranged closely, modestly, and plainly. As for that girl, Miss. Temple, her hair must be completely cut off; I'll send a barber tomorrow." It is clear that he wants Miss.

Temple is cruel enough to want to cut the little girl's naturally curled hair because he does not want to see a poor girl with such beautiful hair. He states that his mission is to teach these girls not to indulge in worldly desires, but rather to dress modestly and humbly, without braided hair or expensive clothing. He believes that the girls' hair, which has been styled with vanity, should be cut. Jane's thoughts on this matter become apparent when Mr. Brocklehurst's daughters arrive, and she believes they should have arrived earlier to hear his lecture on dress.

The daughters are dressed in luxurious materials like velvet, silk, and fur. Jane adds that one of the daughters

wears a head-dress adorned with curls, which are actually artificial. What is wrong here is that Mr. Brocklehurst wants Miss Temple to cut off Julia Severn's naturally curled hair, while his own daughters are allowed to have their hair styled. Is it fair to judge beauty based on wealth? Mr. Brocklehurst's cruelty is further highlighted when Jane accidentally breaks her slate, as he views it as a crime.

The text reveals a contrast between Mr. Brocklehurst and Miss. Temple in their treatment of Jane. While Mr. Brocklehurst harshly punishes Jane and accuses her of being a liar, Miss. Temple assures Jane that she won't be punished for accidentally breaking a slate. Mr. Brocklehurst orders Jane to stand on a stool for an extended period and forbids anyone from speaking to her. It is perplexing how he can accuse Jane so confidently without truly knowing her.

According to Reeds, he doesn't differentiate between Jane and Mrs. Reed when it comes to lying. As the establishment's manager, he shouldn't publicly announce a child's deceitfulness but rather speak to the child directly and explain why lying is unacceptable. This can have negative effects on the child's mental health. In Helen and Mrs. Temple's absence, other children would still avoid talking to Jane while teachers would hold a negative view of her. Fortunately, Miss Temple consults with Mr. Lloyds and clarifies to everyone at Lowood that Jane is not dishonest.

When Miss Temple departs to marry, Jane, after spending 8 years at Lowood (6 as a student and 2 as a teacher), decides it's time for a change. Her choice to advertise in the newspaper and travel alone for a new employer

signifies the next phase in Jane's life. Thanks to her time at Lowood, she has become an educated and self-assured young woman. Eventually, Jane secures a position at Thornfield as a governess to Adele, a young French girl who is not yet ten years old. In this instance, Bronte employs Thornfield as a means to showcase the type of education a child from a wealthy family might receive.

According to her biographers, Bronte herself was a governess, which means that Jane's perspective on education aligns with Bronte's. Jane educates Adele in various subjects such as geography, English, arithmetic, music, and art. The manner in which Jane teaches Adele is worthy of admiration. She explains, "I thought it would not be wise to restrict her too much initially, so I conversed with her extensively and taught her gradually. Once noon arrived, I allowed her to return to her nurse. During this time, I suggested creating some small sketches for her benefit." Bronte effectively depicts how Jane instills a love for learning in Adele.

She does not require Adele to memorize everything as she was taught in Lowood. Instead, she incorporates sketching into the lessons to enhance understanding. She ensures that Adele does not become a mere parrot, mindlessly repeating information like she experienced at Lowood. Moreover, she allows Adele to enjoy her life and does not confine her to constant studying. This is in contrast to her own experiences as a child at Lowood, where playtime was limited to only one hour a day. To further motivate Adele's learning, she promises to teach her how to play the piano. Overall, Jane demonstrates a deep understanding of her student.

Before

instructing her, Jane carefully studied Adele's behavior. Jane characterizes Adele as a vibrant child who had been excessively pampered and indulged. She emphasizes that no unwarranted intervention hindered her efforts to educate Adele. This exemplifies Jane's thoroughness in preparing for her lessons. Additionally, Jane comments that Adele exhibited no remarkable emotional or aesthetic growth that elevated her above the average level of childhood. Jane contrasts this understanding with the lack of comprehension demonstrated by the instructors at Lowood.

Now Jane's matured ideas are expressed. She argues that women, like men, have emotions and it is unfair for their privileged counterparts to limit them to domestic tasks such as cooking and sewing, or playing the piano and doing embroidery. Jane believes it is wrong to criticize or mock women who strive for more knowledge and opportunities than societal norms dictate for their gender. Charlotte Bronte challenges the unequal treatment of women in society and uses the Ingrams to exemplify the attitudes of wealthy individuals towards governesses.

Blanche Ingram holds a condescending and superior attitude towards governesses. In her opinion, the entire group is a nuisance, with half of them being detestable and the rest being ridiculous. Blanche's statement clearly reveals her negative perception of governesses. As Jane and Mr. Rochester's marriage is being arranged, it is planned for Adele to be sent to a school. Jane assures Adele that there is nothing to fear and that she will be sent to a very good school. Jane always ensures that Adele is comfortable, which is in stark contrast to the treatment received from the teachers at Lowood.