Monday, October 7, 2013

Why does Jane feel restless in chapter 4?

As chapter 4 of Jane Eyre opens, our heroine immediately informs us that she feels a change is in the air. And not before time, we might add. Jane is having a truly torrid time of it at the Reed residence. Nasty Mrs. Reed treats Jane appallingly, making her sleep in a small closet by herself, eat her meals alone, and stay in the nursery while her cousins are in the drawing room. It's no wonder that Jane's feeling so restless; she's anxious to be rid of her wicked aunt and begin her schooling.
For two months Jane waits anxiously, hoping against hope that she will soon be delivered of this torture. Finally, she's interviewed by the stern, hypocritical, and insufferably self-righteous school supervisor, Mr. Brocklehurst. As is his wont, he proceeds to give Jane a lecture about the virtue of consistency. Thanks to Mrs. Reed's lies, he's gotten the impression that Jane is a pathological liar and can't be trusted. Jane is devastated at hearing such a patently false allegation. She was actually looking forward to beginning her education, but after being treated to Mr. Brocklehurst's wearisome monologue, she realizes that when she finally starts school, she'll be jumping straight from the frying pan into the fire.

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