Although Jane presents herself with tough character, withstanding the horrible abuse, it is building up inside of her, a mixture of anger, sadness, feelings of neglecting; not a bit of love or kindness for her from a single person, all hinging that she can do without any of it. As the scene continues, we see a less passionate Jane emerge; something that even worries her caretaker Bessie as it is so out of the norm for her. It is clear it’s taken it’s toll. 4 -do you know where the wicked go after death? They go to hell. ‘ -and what is hell?
Can you tell me that? –A pit full of fire: –and should you like to fall into that pit, and to be burning there for ever? ‘ –no sir. ‘ ‘… L must keep in good health, and not die. ‘ ” (chapter 4, page 30) As Jane once again regains herself, Mrs… Reed is quick about getting rid of her, wanting her to leave possibly ore than Jane wants to leave Gathered herself. As she meets the demeaning Mr… Brochures (the director of Elwood School for girls, her intended new place of stay), we see a kind of sneaky revenge from Jane finally come to light.
As before she would take the abuse, and escalate if needed, we see her escalate first, this time with witty but not disrespectful responses towards the questions being directed at her. Through this first meeting Mr… Brochures presumptuously, with the help of Mrs… Reed’s judge on her character as being “deceitful”, views Jane as something that must be fixed. However, without them knowing, Jane has already begun to outsmart them through her accelerated thinking maturity. Something that was in Jane all along, has finally been awoken. Now it is something that she must accomplish, her liberty of being and doing who she chooses to be.
This marks the beginning of that journey, whereas before we saw a girl with really no meaning for life, other than living through abuse. 5 “l am not deceitful: if I were, I should say loved you but I declare I do not love you: I dislike you the worst of anybody in the world except John Reed People think you are a DOD woman, but you are bad, hard hearted. You are deceitful! ” (chapter 4, page 34-35) Having been almost completely stripped of meaning for life, instead of letting that happen, Jane has bounced back, and with a vengeance!
To some point, Jane cannot hold her patience despite being naturally patient. When she is wrongly accused of being a deceitful child and that children like her needed to be “corrected for their faults”, she is completely outraged and even surprised that Mrs… Reed understands her little. She dares to completely speak her mind to the true deceitful person here, her Orrville evil and neglectful caretaker, Mrs… Reed. Through this scene in the tea room, after seeing Cane’s new take on a way to deal with her situation, some foreshadowing of coming revenge towards Mrs…
Reed for all she has done to her is shown, making me wonder if my prediction is correct? Surely there must be some justice for all the evil that was bestowed upon Jane, even if is not by Jeans own hands. “l shuddered as I looked around me: it was an inclement day for outdoor exercise– not positively rainy , but darkened by a drizzling yellow fog as the dense mist penetrated to heir shivering frames, heard frequently the sound of a hollow cough. ” (chapter 5, page 49) Jane has been thrust into a new environment, still not expecting to be shown a wonderful load of kindness.
As she is still a child of ten years old, she busies herself on her arrival by taking in what is around her, knowing this will be where she will reside for many years to come. Closing the chapter of Gathered out of her life allows her to continue on, it being enough for her to strive towards what she Wants, being enough motivation for now. It is not somewhere where she will find complete peppiness, but it is somewhere where she can be as far from abuse as possible, working toward a better future.
This speaks for how little it takes to make Jane happy, something that could have been done with basics such as demonstrations of love. Although specific teachers and Mr… Brochures are unfortunately a gloaming shadow upon her, the prospect of opportunity and what can come if she works hard to reach anything and finally, ultimately independence, allows Jane to accept her new surrounding and make the most of it. Being far from Gathered means just that, a whole new chapter in Cane’s life. She has been unkind to you, no doubt, because, you see she dislikes you cast of character, as Miss Starched does mine; but how minutely you remember all she has done and said to you! What [ … L degradation never too deeply disgusts me, injustice never crushes me too low; I live in calm, looking to the end. ‘ getting up, obeyed the monitor without reply as without delay. “(chapter 6, page 60-61) Jane meets a kind and sickly girl named Helen Burns, who acts as Cane’s safe ground as she witnesses similar situations to that of Gathered unfold before her at Elwood.
Helen plays a huge role in the spiritual side of Cane’s life; convincing her that although there are many things that happen that are not quite fair to specific persons who don’t deserve such, life is too short to spend it contemplating on revenge or how that one who did you wrong shall pay. Having such a wise role model approximately her own age acts as Cane’s reflection of who she wants to be spiritually. It makes her look back on her life, and although she recognizes that most of the wrong done to her isn’t for an excusable reason, forgiveness, as Helen preaches, is the best way to move forward.
Although having already a religious aground, it is Helen that truly sews those ideas within her soul to act as a guide, something that will take a large part in Cane’s Journey. 8 is a sad, melancholy occasion; for it becomes my duty to warn you that this girl, who might be one of God’s own lambs, is a little castaway—not a member of the true flock, but evidently an interloper and an alien. You must be on your guard against; you must shun her example-”- if necessary avoid her company, exclude her [… ]this girl is a liar! ‘” (chapter 7, page 70) Jane clearly isn’t a favorite. For anyone, really, although she tries her hardest.
There is irony in the scene in which Mr… Brochures punishes Jane and encourages the other school girls to shun her away, claiming that she is a liar, when in truth, by calling her a liar, he is the true liar! By coming back into Cane’s life, she is only reminded of the torment of Gathered; what she strives to forgive and forget, only to have Mr… Brochures take the simple mistake Of dropping something (very similar to her doing nothing and being labeled as naughty and rebellious at Gathered) and reminding her of the torment of living the life she is trying to stray away from.
Her punishment s cruel and uncalled for, the only thing getting her through being Hellene occasional but constant smiles directed at her, every time she looked at her only ascertaining Hellene words to her about completely avoiding that kind of situation by being completely submissive, that it will all play out in the end. Hellene endurance for compassion for all, even those who wrong her, is one that parallels Cane’s belief of self respect. 9 “Ellen, why do you stay with a girl whom everybody believes to be a liar V (chapter 8, page 73) This line accentuates the importance of Hellene role in Cane’s life.
