Jane Eyre

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Image Citation

How would you best describe the central idea of this chapter? Which phrase from the chapter best helps develop the central idea? 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte was written in 1847. This novel is set in England and follows the story of "Jane." Jane, in chapter seven, is worried that Mr. Brocklehurst will call her out. She watches as he interacts with the kind Miss Temple and tears down all that she has done for the children. Then, as her anxiety builds, she drops her slate. Through this accident, she is subjected to ridicule at the hands of Mr. Brocklehurst who shames her and calls her a liar. He then makes her stand on a stool for thirty minutes. Jane only gets by through the kind looks of a friend.

This chapter handles a couple different themes throughout its entirety. One of the central points of emphasis lies within the contrast between the life Mr. Brocklehurst holds and the lives of the girls. He is described in a way that explains his life of luxury. Furthermore, he arrives with weathy guests. These women are dressed in expensive clothes described as "had grey beaver hats, then in fashion, shaded with ostrich plumes, and from under the brim of this graceful head-dress fell a profusion of light tresses, elaborately curled; the elder lady was enveloped in a costly velvet shawl, trimmed with ermine, and she wore a false front of French curls" (Bronte 7). They arrived in the middle of his lecture on describing how the girls were dressing inappropriately and flaunting themselves with their hairstyles. Through this, it shows how hypocritical he is, and alludes to his lavish lifestyle. This ties into the central theme of the chapter-- expressing the ways of their society and the flaws within it. 

Furthermore, he criticizes Miss. Temple for feeding the girls bread and cheese between meals. She tells him that the girls were starving and needed to eat. Instead of showing kindness, he preaches a sermon about how one must go hungry to do right for the Lord. He ends this rant with the words, "...you may indeed feed their vile bodies, but you little think how you starve their immortal souls"(Bronte 7). Again, this expresses how he would rather let the children go hungry than "disrespect" his God. However, he is living a lifestyle in which he does not have to worry about his next meal. Mr. Brocklehurst shows up whenever he pleases, which is rarely, and doesn't care for the girls in the meantime. The way he shows his care is by allowing them to suffer in bad living conditions justified in his self-indulgent religion. Ironically, contrasting the whole idea of religion to begin with. Jane, who has nothing, gives to the starving girls when she herself starves as well. While Mr. Brocklehurst gives to no one. 

Lastly, through the way he interacts and orders around the women, specifically Miss Temple, he is asserting his dominance as a male. Thus, emphasizing the further idea of gender roles and the patriarchy. Additionally alluding to how they play a role in the central idea of painting the "normal" in their society. 

The most effective sentence that conveys this central idea is, "With this sublime conclusion, Mr. Brocklehurst adjusted the top button of his surtout, muttered something to his family, who rose, bowed to Miss Temple, and then all the great people sailed in state from the room" (Bronte 7). In this line, one can note through the choice of diction and imagery his status and control over everyone in the room. The audience can also tell that he believes what he is doing is enlightening and that he is the closet "all-powerful" to God. It also shows the little care the higher status people give to those of lower. They all rose from the room leaving this girl and place to suffer, as they carried on their lives as normal.