The Importance of Janes Early Life at Lowood to Shaping...

The Importance of Janes Early Life at Lowood to Shaping Her Character in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre When Charlotte BrontÃÆ' « set out to write Jane Eyre, she boldly promised her sisters: a heroine as plain and as small as myself, who shall be as interesting as any of yours. As promised, Jane appears decidedly plain, so little, so pale, with features so irregular and so marked, sensible but not at all handsome, queer and a little toad. The novel opens at Gateshead with Jane moving from childhood to puberty. Even at ten years of age, Jane feels that I can never get away from Gateshead till I am a woman and tells this to Mr Lloyd. She actually leaves by the end of Chapter 4.†¦show more content†¦The forced wearing of the uniform obliterates distinctions between all age groups young and older. Mr Brocklehurst, the self-righteous minister of Lowood, tells Miss Temple you are aware that my plan in bringing up these girls, is not to accustom them to luxury and indulgence, but to render them hardy, patient and self-denying. Mr Brocklehurst stresses the importance of plain clothing and humility (but his own family have long beautiful hair and are dressed richly). It was this influence that Jane was never able to shake and at Thornfield, she continued to wear dull clothes covered by a plain pinafore. She had, however, no influence over the clothes which Adele chose to wear. Even on her wedding day, Jane would no t conform by wearing elaborate headwear. Jane herself is very clear about the sort of demeanour that is required of a governess. When Rochester has guests at Thornfield, she knows she must shrink into the shade. She is expected to be present in the drawing room in the evening but not take part in the conversation unless directly addressed. She frequently refers to the plainness of her dress, and sometimes to her own lack of physical beauty, as appropriate to a governess. When she thinks she is about to marry Rochester, she is not really surprised at Mrs Fairfaxs opinion that it is unwise for her to move out of her own class and into his. BrocklehurstShow MoreRelatedEssay on Jane Eyre: An Orphan’s Success Story1750 Words   |  7 PagesJane Eyre: An Orphan’s Success Story       In Victorian literature, the orphan can be read as an unfamiliar and strange figure outside the dominant narrative of domesticity (Peters 18). They were often portrayed as poor children without a means of creating a successful life for themselves. Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, however, is a portrayal of a female orphan who triumphs over almost every environment she enters. Therefore, Jane’s ability to overcome the hardships that she encounters is a fictional