Lowood
Jenny, Ian, Nick, Hugh, & Kirsten
First Encounter with Helen Burns
•Jane first sees Helen reading a book,
•Rasselas by Samuel Johnson
•- The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia is a
story about young men and their mentors traveling the
world in order to attain happiness
•Right away Jane decides to ask to lend the book
•This shows Jane's curiosity and eagerness
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"Prince of Abyssinia The History of Rasselas." Enotes.com. Enotes.com. Web. 28 Feb. 2012.
First Encounter with Helen Burns
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She knew that the book was too dull for her, as she had a
taste of a "frivolous and childish kind" and "could not
digest or comprehend the serious or substantial"
She understands that as a child, her taste in books
cannot be the most studious
Either way, Jane is struck by how she found "the
hardihood, thus to open a conversation with a stranger"
as "the step was contrary to my nature and habits"
First Encounter with Helen Burns
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Helen Burns is the first character to tell Jane that
Lowood is a charity school, and introduces the adults
• Helen gives a hint to Brocklehurst's ways:
• "Is he a good man?"
•"He is a clergy man, and is said to do a great deal of good."
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Helen points out that Jane asks too many questions;
ends the conversation
Chapter 6: Christian Discussion
• Jane and Helen Discuss revenge and religion
• - Jane says " When we are struck without a
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reason, we should strike back again very
hard; I am sure we should - so hard as to
teach the person who struck us never to do it
again".
- Helen counters this statement by citing the
new testament. Suggesting that Jane " Love
your enemies; bless them that curse you; do
good to them that hate you and despitefully
use you".
Chapter 6 Continued
• Helen explains to Jane her belief that " Life
appears to me too short to be spent in
nursing animosity or registering wrong".
Helen states her Christan views in a long
monologue to Jane, but Jane does not make
her thoughts on the speech known. The scene
is cut off directly after Helen's religious
reflection. A so-called Monitor forces Helen
to leave, and the scene concludes.
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Analysis: Chapter 6
• Helen serves as an intelligent, religious
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influence in this chapter. She preaches to
Jane the Christian values that she stands by
so strongly.
This chapter centers around religion, in
relation to Jane, and sets the stage for the
role of religion in the story later on.
Chapter 8- Helen Assesses Jane
• -After collapsing on the floor, Jane feels as
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though her reputation has been tarnished at
Lowood. Helen says this is not true. "Jane,
you are mistaken..." After the abuse she takes
from Mr. Brocklehurst she essentially has a
emotional breakdown.
-Jane and Helen next speak with Miss
Temple and she comforts Jane, serving her
tea. Together they are able to declare Jane's
innocence.
Jane's Growth in Chapter 8
• -Towards the end of the chapter, she is able
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to finally turn her focus to French and her
drawings. The last half page of the chapter is
focused on French and earlier on her
drawings.
-We see a transition in Jane from a character
who is under constraints to a character who is
free. The renewed interest in French and her
drawings in the final page of the chapter
display Jane's increasing maturity and
internal sense of freedom.
More on Jane's Growth
• -Emphasis put on the comforting nature of
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Helen Burns and Miss Temple. "Miss Temple
had always something of serenity in her air,
of state in her mien, of refined propriety in
her language, which precluded deviation into
the ardent, the excited, the eager,"
-Showing her growth in the end of Chapter 8
"I toiled hard, and my success was
proportionate to my efforts; my memory, not
naturally tenacious, improved with practice"
This shows Jane's development of qualities
she has not had before.
More Quotes and Evidence
• "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,
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than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."
-Quote from proverbs, section of quotes and
sayings.
-Means that it is better to be unspectacular
and poor with love than rich and absent of
love. This is a fitting metaphor as Jane next
explains that she has traded the luxuries of
Gateshead for the "privations" of Lowood.
Chapter X
•"Therefore I now pass a space of eight years almost in silence: a
few lines only are necessary to keep up the links of connection".
After the traumatic death of Helen, Jane goes 8 years without
changing much, until she is ready to leave Lowood as an adult
"I remained an inmate of its walls". Even after they reform the
school Jane doesn't truly enjoy Lowood, and still feels
imprisoned.
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At this point in all the major influences on Janes life are out of
the picture. She is several miles away from her aunt, Helen is
dead, Ms. Temple is now married, and Mr. Brocklehurst is
now under the thumb of a board of directors. Jane is currently
the only character in the book.
Chapter X
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"that my mind had put off all it had borrowed of Miss Temple--or rather that she
had taken with her the serene atmosphere I had been breathing in her vicinity--and
that now I was left in my natural element, and beginning to feel the stirring of old
emotions. It did not seem as if a prop were withdrawn, but rather as if a motive
were gone: it was not the power to be tranquil which had failed me, but the reason
for tranquillity was no more. My world had for some years been in Lowood: my
experience had been of its rules and systems; now I remembered that the real world
was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements,
awaited those who had courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge
of life amidst its perils."-"Then," I cried, half desperate, "grant me at least a new servitude!"
These two quotes show that Jane has matured and is tired
of the closed off world of Lowood. She is ready to experience
the joys of life, but she must relinquish Lowood to do this. She
must become a functioning member of society by finding
work. She is excited for this new life.
Chapter X
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"What do I want? A new place, in a new house, amongst new
faces, under new circumstances: I want this because it is of no
use wanting anything better. How do people do to get a new
place? They apply to friends, I suppose: I have no friends.
There are many others who have no friends, who must look
about for themselves and be their own helpers; and what is
their resource?"
- Although she is ready to leave she has a bit of a quarter life
crisis, she knows that she is going into this harsh world with
no one to have her back.
Chapter X
• In the end Jane gets to leave, and she gets
reunited with an old servant. The reader gets
caught up on the lives of the Reed family and
the tragic irony that has fell upon them.
Georgina loses her man and John loses
control of his life.
Symbols
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Fire is associated with warmth, kindness, and love,
qualities that Helen and Miss Temple possess. This is
reflected in Helen's last name and the fire Jane, Helen,
and Miss Temple are sitting by.
Ice is associated with loneliness and oppression. Jane
arrives in Lowood in the winter and initially has to
adjust to the freezing temperatures. She also has to deal
with the lack of friends, and Mr Brocklehurst's
humiliations.
Themes and Motifs
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Religion
Mr. Brocklehurst is a hypocrite. He forces the
students to live in harsh conditions to get rid of their
pride but he does not hold himself and his family to
the same standards. In this representation of
organized religion, one person dictating the lives of
others does not follow the rules themselves.
Helen Burns preaches love and forgiveness. Despite
her suffering, she bears no ill will towards her
abusers and is very passive. "Life appears to me too
short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering
wrongs." Jane later internalizes this form of
Christianity.
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Themes and Motifs
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Gender Relations
Mr. Brocklehurst is the main antagonist of this part
of Jane's life. Not only is he a religious hypocrite, but
he also uses religion to oppress others. His presence
is a direct threat to Jane's psychological well-being.
His behavior towards the students functions as a
commentary on male dominance.
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Themes and Motifs
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Substitute Mothers
Miss Temple acts as a substitute mother and role model
to Jane. She is a fair and compassionate teacher who
treats students with respect and tries to improve their
circumstances. Jane also notes that "Miss Temple had
always something of serenity in her air, of state in her
mien, of refined propriety in her language, which
precluded deviation into the ardent, the excited, the
eager." Her influence on Jane manifests as the restraint
and self-control Jane adapts over the next eight years at
Lowood.
Themes and Motifs
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Social Class
Even though some of the students, such as Jane and
Helen, are shown to be intelligent and moral, they
thought to be useless because they are poor.
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Romanticism
Helen dies of consumption in Jane's arms. In this
dramatic and emotional scene, Jane loses her only
friend.
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