Children can feel, but they cannot analyze their feelings; and if the analysis is partially effected in thought, they know not how to express the result of the process in words

page 81

When we are introduced to Jane Eyre the first thing she tells us is that she does not want to go on a walk. From there, we learn that Jane is hopelessly stuck in a house with a family that does not want her, servants who rarely stick up for her, and a life she is just not content with. “…what thought had I been but just conceiving of starving myself to death?” (73).

Jane has a difficult home life as her cousin is intent on abusing her and her aunt refuses to do anything to stave off her suffering. Throughout the book (the first 8 chapters) we become privy to the darkness that lies deep within Jane that she tries hard to fight.

“…something spoke out of me over which I had no control” (86)

“… for I felt only bad feelings surging in my breast” (86)

However, the most interesting thing about Jane is that she really wants to love and be loved, “…if others don’t love me, I would rather die than live…” (133). Deep down this shows the audience that Jane is still a little girl who just wants to be appreciated like most people do. Her fury and anger only come out when she is truly pushed. At her core, she is a girl that wants to be soft and kind.

After a particularly vicious fight with John Reed, Jane is locked in the red room and then promptly sent off to school as Mrs. Reed no longer wants to deal with her “attitude”. At the Lowood Institution, she meets Helen Burns. Helen is a very pious and intellectual girl who begins to show Jane that not every action deserves a reaction.

Helen Burns is a quiet girl who is very adept at literature and history but seems to always be getting into trouble with Miss Scatcherd. They’re mostly small infractions, but everyday without fail Helen can be seen donning the slatternly board or standing in the middle of the hallways to denote that she has not done something to Miss Scatcherd’s standards once again.

Jane is in awe of how well Helen takes these punishments as it seems unusual and cruel for her to be picked on so often, but Helen wisely answers, “…it is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what it is your fate to be required to bear.” (117).

Though only 3 years older than Jane, she is very acutely aware of her role in the world and how she should carry herself according to the Bible and proper standards,“If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you, and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends.” (133). Helen understands that even if everyone hates you, as long as you still hold true to yourself you will never truly be alone, something Jane cannot grasp as she still wishes to make everyone love her.

The two girls operate as great foils of each other. Jane is brash and aggressive when provoked, “the fury of which she was incapable had been burning in my soul all day, and tears, hot and large, had continually been scalding my cheek…” (138) while Helen is more calm and involved in her faith, “Why, then, should we ever sink overwhelmed with distress’s hen life is so soon over, and death is so certain an entrance to happiness: to glory?” (133).

“I was no Helen Burns”

page 128