Life at Gateshead for Jane Eyre

Life at Gateshead for Jane Eyre

From the beginning of the novel we are told about Jane's isolation at

Gateshead. She is an orphaned child after the death of her parents and

is forced to live with her cruel hearted aunty who sees her as nothing

but a poor beggar who should be grateful for her aunts hospitality.

Our introduction to Jane and the Reed family begins with Jane's

isolation in contrast to the Reed children's spoilt ways. She appears

to be shut out in the cold from the rest of the family as they sit

together by the fire and she sits beside the window looking out into

the cold afternoon reading a book in which she observes 'The isolated

rock in the stormy sea' perhaps reflecting her position and how she

feels in the family. Throughout her life in Gateshead she often

appears to be sitting by herself cold and hungry. Sitting by herself

shows us her loneliness followed by her hunger for love and attention.

Mrs Reed rejects Jane because in her eyes she is nothing but an orphan

with no wealth she is affronted by her 'plainness'. She greatly

favours her own children paying no attention to Jane's needs or wants.

Mrs reed sees that Jane is constantly put in her place, reminding her

and without her generosity she would be a penniless orphan in the poor

house. That Jane having no money meant that she had no social status

that she was a charity in her aunt's home ruled by the cruel and

spoilt John reed.

Her description of John reed is unflattering and sarcastic; it shows

her lack of respect and how she herself views him as a person based on

his treatment of her.

Jane is seen as outspoken and rude. Her disrespect is punished by

being locked away in the red room. She is locked away with her fears

and suffers traumatically whilst there. As John behaves how he pleases

abusing not only mentally but physically too, he is not punished. He

is cruel and spoilt while eve Jane's presence alone is seen as an