Reading Journal Chapters-1-4

Jane Eyre

Chapter summaries:

In the first chapter the main character Jane Eyre is introduced as is the rest of the Reed family and Bessie the servant. Following this in chapter two Jane laments on how unfairly she is being treated, particularly whilst being placed in the red room. Bessie takes care of Jane whilst she is ill and we meet Mr Lloyd the kind apothecaries. Finally in chapter four Jane is informed that she is to go to Lowood School and then talks with fierce honesty to Mrs Reed.

Chapter 1

Themes
Isolation, loneliness and seclusion. Suppression and Misery.

Characters

Jane

Jane is a lonely, yet imaginative and extremely intelligent girl who seeks freedom and happiness in her own world. She escapes the suppression and misery that shrouds her life under the roof of the reed household through books in which she can then create a world of her own.

Eliza and Georgiana.

Both girls are doted upon and spoilt by their mother whom they are particularly obedient and loyal towards, they are also appear to be easily controlled and by their older brother John Reed.

John Reed

Master Reed sees himself as man of the house since his father passed away and is especially spoilt by his adoring mother who seems to overlook how much of a bully he is in reality.

Mrs Reed

Easily disliked by the reader as she obviously resents Jane and we get the impression that she’s sees some of her late husband in Jane, thus is the reason for being so cruel and unfair towards the innocent and helpless Jane.

Motifs
'scarlet drapery' and 'Red moreen curtain' suggest danger in the form and symbolism of the colour red, this also links with the red room which she is sent to at the end of this chapter.

Places
A bleak and miserable winter is where the story begins with a gloomy portrayal of the Reeds family home and gardens.

Narrative voice.
The story is narrated in the first person by Jane, allowing us as the reader to get involved on a deeper level with her emotions and thoughts. However with the story being told in this manner we are receiving a potentially bias view as we only know what she reveals to us.

Chapter 2

Characters
Jane realises in this chapter that if she was prettier she would be treated differently at least by the servants. Bessie and Miss Abbot are introduced both of whom appear presently to be rather unkind. Jane describes Eliza as ‘Head strong and selfish yet respected’, Georgiana ‘had a spoiled temper and a very acrid spite’. Jane seems almost jealous of Georgiana’s beauty.

Motifs
Again red is a constant especially in the description of the red room, 'deep red damask' 'carpet was red' 'crimson cloth'

Places
The red room is described in detail by Jane.

Narrative voice
The narrative voice marks a definite change in Jane’s story telling as she seems to reflect on what happened to her in the red room as apposed to just explaining her emotions.

Chapter 3

Characters
Jane awakes to find the apothecary Mr Lloyd in her presence. Mr Lloyd is kind towards Jane and we are able to see how she copes with this. Bessie seems to have a rather softer demeanour and almost sympathises with Jane on the harshness with which she is treated by the Reeds and in main by Mrs Reed.

Places
We are introduced into the nursery where Bessie takes care of Jane whilst she is ill.

Chapter 4

Characters.
Mr Brocklehurst visits Gateshead in order to talk to Jane about school and her belief in god and Christianity. He scrutinises Jane and we perceive him to be both Judgemental and pretentious. When Mr Brocklehurst questions Mrs Reed she aspires to tell him that Jane is deceitful at which point Jane becomes increasingly worried that her future will be forever tarnished by the harsh criticisms and untruths told by Mrs reed

Motifs
Wealth is juxtaposed to poverty in this chapter and injustice is recurring throughout.
Interesting Extracts and phrases.
'Clear panes of glass, protecting but not separating me from the drear November day
‘Leafless shrubbery…The cold winter had brought with it clouds so sombre and a rain so penetrating…’
'Ere I had finished this reply, my soul began to expand, to exult, with he strangest sense of freedom, of triumph, I ever felt…'
'Even for me life had its gleams of sunshine.'
'The broken boat stranded on the desolate coast'

General Response

Readers sympathise with Jane as we receive an insight into her life and the distressing ways in which she is treated. We are able to get an understanding of Jane’s imaginary world, a place that she often visits to escape the harsh reality of her life. This is described in both a literal and metaphorical escape with strong visual images being created. Sound, colour and texture play a key role in creating a sense of place and emotion. Jane cleverly links and relates her own loneliness to that of a ‘broken boat stranded on the desolate coast'