ldhood in
Jane Eyre.
Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855) gives a very powerful picture of childhood in “Jane Eyre” (1847). She shows the life of a poor, orphaned child in a hard world. Jane’s childhood is full of pain, loneliness, and hunger for love. Yet it is also full of courage, learning, and growth. Through Jane, Brontë shows how childhood shapes the whole life of a person.
Childhood of Suffering and Loneliness: Jane’s early life at Gateshead is full of pain. She has no parents. She lives with her aunt, Mrs. Reed. But Mrs. Reed hates her. Her cousins Georgiana, Eliza, and John bully her. John Reed beats her. Jane says,
“You are like a murderer—you are like a slave-driver—you are like the Roman emperors!”.
This shows her anger and pain. Childhood here is not a time of joy. It is a time of cruelty and isolation. Jane feels unloved and unwanted. Charlotte shows how society treats orphans without kindness.
Red-Room- Symbol of Fear and Oppression: The Red-Room is a strong picture of a child’s fear. One day, John Reed came into the drawing-room. He insulted Jane, calling her “a dependent” and “a beggar.” Then he threw a heavy book at her, hurting her. Jane, for the first time, defended herself and attacked him back. So, Jane is locked in the Red Room as punishment by Mrs. Reed. It is the room where her uncle, Mr. Reed, died. She believes she sees his ghost. She faints from terror. She says,
“Unjust!—Unjust!”.
This moment shows how children suffer both physically and mentally. Charlotte uses this to show how children are treated without care. It reflects the cruelty of Victorian families towards weak dependents.
Lowood School- Childhood under Harsh Discipline: Jane is sent to Lowood School. The conditions are terrible. The building is cold. The food is poor. Teachers are cruel. Mr. Brocklehurst insults Jane. He calls her a liar in front of everyone. The girls look tired and sick. Their shoes are old. They wear thin clothes in winter. Jane notes,
"Our clothing was insufficient to protect us from the severe cold."
This shows how poor children in schools suffered in Victorian England.
Friendship and Moral Education through Helen Burns: At Lowood, Jane meets Helen Burns. Sometimes Helen held her book wrongly. Sometimes she stood in the wrong place. Sometimes her nails were not clean. So, Helen is beaten by Miss Scatcherd for these small mistakes. But Helen does not get angry. Helen teaches Jane patience, faith, and forgiveness. Helen is gentle and spiritual. Helen teaches Jane about Jesus and refers to the New Testament that,
“Love your enemies; bless them that curse you;”
This gives Jane a new way of thinking. Childhood is not only pain. It is also a time of learning values. Charlotte shows how friendships in childhood shape the mind and soul.
Search for Love and Self-Respect: Throughout her childhood, Jane longs for love. She never gets it from her aunt or cousins. She finds some in Helen and Miss Temple. But she still feels a deep need for respect. She says,
“I am a free human being with an independent will.”
Though spoken later, this spirit comes from her childhood struggles. Childhood shaped her courage. Charlotte shows that childhood pain made Jane strong, independent, and ready to demand respect.
Charlotte Brontë treats childhood in “Jane Eyre” with deep truth. Childhood is not romantic. It is hard, cruel, and lonely. Yet it gives Jane strength, self-respect, and moral courage. Through Red-Room, Lowood, and friendship with Helen, Charlotte proves that childhood shapes the destiny of one's whole life.
Continue Reading
Subscribe to access the full content
Upgrade to Premium