Elodie

Orkin
7th Grade English
February 8th, 2018
Ms. Jarvis

Refusing to Make Pudding and Knit Stockings:
Jane Eyre Challenges the Standards of Her Time


“‘No sight so sad as that of a naughty child,
…especially a naughty little girl”’(20).

In Charlotte Bronte’s nineteenth century novel, Jane Eyre, the supervisor of

Jane’s childhood school, Mr. Bocklehurst, shares that at a very young age females are

expected to confine themselves to a certain standard of etiquette. Mr. Brocklehurst

describes to Jane’s abusive aunt, Mrs. Reed, the conditions of Lowood boarding

school. The two of them additionally discuss how Lowood is a perfect place to

correct Jane’s “naughty” behavior. Jane overhears this conversation and learns from

a young age that females are expected to stay silent in matters that upset them. Even

though Jane does not completely agree with Mr. Brocklehurst’s statement, her time

at Lowood affects her personality. Mr. Rochester, Jane’s future employer, notices

Lowood’s, ‘“the Lowood constraint still clings to you somewhat; controlling your

features, muffling your voice, and restricting your limbs”’ (88). What Rochester

notices every so often is that Jane thinks too much about what is appropriate to say

and that she fears to ‘“ speak too freely’” in front of others (88). Despite this

upbringing, however, Jane always maintains an uncommon quality throughout the

course of the story. Her unexpected bursts of unrestrained speech display

themselves regularly. In the same conversations, Rochester acknowledges Jane’s

lack of inhibitions, calling her “‘if not blunt, … at least brusque”’ (88). This inability

to stay silent is arguably Jane’s most singular personality trait.

One example of Jane’s rule-breaking behavior comes out at a very young age

while living with her Aunt Reed at Thornfield Hall. During an argument, Mrs. Reed

calls Jane deceitful, and a nine year-old Jane reacts to this with ferocity: “‘ You think I

have no feelings, and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot

live so: and you have no pity…. You are deceitful!’” (23). Instead of being polite and

listening to her aunt’s abuse, Jane puts Mrs. Reed in her place by letting her know

that she disagrees. Although Jane is a young child and has no power, she still feels

she has the right to speak up for herself.

As Jane continues to grow, she learns to become more careful with her

language while making her point clear. Mr. Brocklehurst notices Jane in her

classroom and publicly humiliates her by calling her a liar. Later that day, Miss

Temple, the headmistress of Lowood, notices Jane’s sad behavior and asks Jane to

explain what Mr. Brocklehurst meant. Jane agrees to explain herself, taking Helen’s,

Jane’s friend’s, advice: “‘Add nothing and exaggerate nothing”’ in order to sound

truthful (45). Jane explains, “My language was more subdued than it generally was….

Thus restrained and simplified, it sounded more credible” (45). Jane realizes that

her argument sounds more believable when she balances the use of emotion and

direct language. This shows how Jane grows and still is able to speak up without

letting emotion overpower her words.

Although Jane has learned to be cognizant of her passion, even in her adult

years, she has difficulty containing her fire. Rochester, Jane’s employer at Gateshead
Hall, engages Jane in conversation and asks whether or not she thinks he is

handsome. In turn, she cannot control her response: “I should, if I had deliberated,

have replied to this question conventionally vague and polite; but the answer

somehow slipped from my tongue before I was aware- ‘No, sir”’ (83). Even though

Rochester is not offended by her direct (if not rude) response, he finds that Jane is

not as acquiescent as she appears. She regrets her statement and wishes she had

taken more care with her reply. Jane has not completely mastered the art of

controlling her impulses while still making her point.

In order to completely understand Jane, it is important to recognize that she

has the ability to understand when it is powerful to stay silent. Even though Jane’s

most notable trait is her voice, she is smart enough know that staying silent can be

more powerful than speaking up. When Jane finds out about Bertha Mason,

Rochester’s hidden insane wife, she decides not to argue with Rochester, “‘ my

unsteady voice warned me to curtail my sentence”’(188). Jane starts to speak, but

stops herself before her emotions take over. By the end of the conversation, Jane’s

silence grows: Rochester asks Jane if she still loves him and if she will commit to

him, and when she does not answer he demands, ‘“why are you silent, Jane?”’ (198).

Jane describes to the reader how intensely distressed she feels. Because Jane

understands that words cannot change their reality, silence becomes her most

powerful tool. Although Jane’s most singular trait is to speak up, she understands

when resorting to silence is necessary.

One of the most profound instances where Jane vocalizes her thoughts is

found near the end of Jane’s journey in the novel. Once Jane resolves the stay in the
Rivers’ home, she confronts their housekeeper, Hannah, so that she can maintain

her place in the house. Jane finds Hannah to be a threat to her security and comfort

in the home. Hannah thinks Jane is a beggar and a thief and Jane decides “that anger

was out of the question, and that I had indeed appeared as a beggar to her, I

answered quietly, but still not without a certain marked firmness-‘ you are mistaken

in supposing me a beggar”’ (214). This shows that Jane does not allow her emotions

to lessen her chances to remain in the Rivers’ home and displays her unbending

stance. Jane’s power of speech ultimately leads Hannah not only to forgive Jane, but

also to accept her into the household. Jane’s inability to stay silent secures her place

in their house, and even further allows her to start a new life with stability.

In Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, Jane reveals many remarkable character

traits. From her strength to her quick-wittedness, the personality of this young,

female protagonist contradicts the expectations of most nineteenth century women.

And her inability to stay silent is possibly her most unparalleled attribute. Jane’s

voice allows for her to hold convictions against the abusive Mrs. Reed, to prove her

believability to the students and teachers at Lowood, to be appreciated by Rochester

for her honesty, and to take authority of her livelihood in the Rivers’ home. Not only

does Jane think it is important to speak up for herself, she also realizes that all

women should have the right to that freedom. Early on in the story, when Jane is

feeling restless, she concludes, “women are supposed to be very calm generally: but

women feel just as men feel…. And it is narrow-minded in their more privileged

fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings

and knitting stockings”(69). It is apparent when Jane cannot stay silent she not only

liberates herself, but also challenges the confines all women.