Jane Eyre Essay Example

that, but the brutal winter circumstances are also foreboding and foreshadowing Jane's later mistreatment in the novel, fostering sympathy for her. The reader is constantly reminded of Jane's uncomfortable situation, but her status as an outcast in Gateshead Hall elicits the most compassion. Bronte highlights this by contrasting the Reed family's domesticity with Jane's isolation and unhappiness. While Eliza, John, and Georgiana clustered around their mother, Jane was excluded. Jane herself describes her status as a "discord" at Gateshead Hall, feeling like nobody there and having nothing in harmony with Mrs. Reed or her family.

Bronte creates empathy for Jane by highlighting the stark difference between her and her cousins. Jane is aware of her "physical inferiority" and believes Mrs. Reed would have found her more tolerable if she possessed the traits of a "sanguine, brilliant, careless, exacting, handsome, romping child" despite still being dependent and without friends. This acknowledgment of her shortcomings at such a young age elicits pity from the audience and enhances our animosity towards Mrs. Reed.

In the story, Jane is openly criticized by everyone including the servants. One servant, Abott, goes as far as to call her a "little toad" and says it's hard to have compassion for her. By using dialogue, the text adds immediacy and drama to the situation, making us sympathize with Jane who is treated unfairly. We learn that Jane is physically and verbally abused by her cousin, John Reed, during her stay at Gateshead. He taunts her by calling her names like "rat" and "bad animal" and treats her poorly by reminding her of her low social status as his dependant, even humiliating her with demands such

as "Say, 'What do you want, Master Reed?'" When John calls for her, she immediately responds because she is afraid of what might happen if she didn't.

Jane was terrified of John Reed and every part of her body shook when he was near. It is clear that we sympathize with her given the harsh and consistent abuse she endured. Additionally, Bronte highlights Mrs. Reed's involvement in John's cruel behavior towards Jane by stating that she turned a blind eye and deaf ear to it, thus leaving Jane without any outlet for justice.

The text highlights the profound sense of loneliness and helplessness that consumed Jane as she lacked anyone to confide in or represent her interests. However, the reader finds Jane's reaction admirable and supportive, as she finally shows the courage to stand up for herself. The adult world's unjust favoritism towards the bully is a testament to Jane's innocence and evokes sympathy towards her plight. Meanwhile, Mrs. Reed's prejudice compounds the unfair treatment of Jane as demonstrated by her banishment to the Red-Room, which reinforces her isolation and vulnerability. It is especially cruel to deprive a imaginative child like Jane of books and lock her up in a notorious room.

Bronte portrays the Red-Room as a bleak and eerie space, complete with luxurious furnishings, that instills fear in Bessie and Abbot, thereby intensifying our disdain for Mrs. Reed and our empathy for Jane. Additionally, the unsympathetic remarks made by the servants towards Jane when she is inside the Red-Room further evoke our pity, as they view her as inferior due to her dependent status: "You are inferior to a servant since you contribute

nothing towards your upkeep."

Jane is reminded of her vulnerable position and threatened with being sent to the poor-house as a result of her obligations to Mrs. Reed, who currently provides her with shelter. We can empathize with Jane's plight as she has no other options but to remain at Gateshead Hall. Despite this, Bronte depicts the misery of Jane's life by revealing that hints of such precariousness have always been a part of her existence since childhood. This is most evident during the Red-Room incident where Jane's low self-esteem is emphasized by her referring to herself as a "thing" - a heterogeneous, useless, and noxious thing. Through these descriptions, the writer evokes sympathy for Jane.

Within the Red-Room segment, Jane experiences overwhelming sadness and dejection which is conveyed in the line: "My habitual mood of humiliation, self-doubt, forlorn depression, fell damp on the embers of my decaying ire." As Jane's imagination takes over, her punishment is intensified, with her believing the "swift-darting beam was a herald of some coming vision from another world." The depth of her fear evokes our compassion for this isolated child. When Mrs. Reed enters the room after hearing Jane's loud scream, our sympathy for her only deepens.

Mrs. Reed's unsympathetic behavior toward Jane fosters resentment and hostility in her tone, which is evident when she assumes that Jane is being deceitful and labels her a "precocious actress." We empathize with Jane as she is abruptly forced back into the Red-Room, which highlights her vulnerability and the unfair treatment she receives from adults. Bronte skillfully elicits our compassion by describing how Jane had "a species of fit," and we appreciate

the concise narration that doesn't allow Jane to wallow in self-pity.

The use of imagination to envision the child's fear and suffering after the door is locked sustains our sympathy. An introduction to Mr. Lloyd, the apothecary, creates immediate pity for Jane's situation. She is treated like a servant rather than being seen by a physician, reflecting her inferior status and Mrs. Reed's lack of concern for her.

According to Jane, she experienced indescribable relief and a calming sense of safety, highlighting the unhappiness, cruelty, and fear she constantly faces at Gateshead Hall. The departure of Mr. Lloyd causes her heart to sink and profound sadness to consume her. This strategic narrative device effectively elicits the reader's sympathy by portraying Mr. Lloyd, a stranger, as the sole individual who demonstrates kindness and empathy towards Jane.

Bronte effectively maintains our sympathy for Jane during Bessie's ballad as the lyrics inadvertently make Jane cry. The song reflects her sadness, loneliness, and isolation, ironically epitomizing Jane's situation. The lyrics read "God, in His mercy, protection is showing,Comfort and hope to the poor orphan child." Following this, Jane reveals her unhappiness at Gateshead Hall to Mr. Lloyd. She expresses her desire to leave and go to school as a means of escape. This ready acceptance of the idea indicates Jane's utter misery at Gateshead. We sympathize with her willingness to embrace an opportunity to distance herself from the unhappy situation she finds herself in.

During the beginning of the novel, Charlotte Bronte incrementally illustrates Jane's sorrowful and vulnerable state, gradually exposing her pitiful background. Through this technique, she succeeds in evoking our compassion towards Jane who is portrayed as an unwanted and

defenseless orphan. By the conclusion of the third chapter, Bronte has fully disclosed Jane's tragic situation, slowly revealing details such as the death of her parents: "my mother took the infection from him, and both died within a month of each other". This culmination in chapter three accentuates our empathy for Jane and prepares us for further misfortunes in her life.