Jane Eyre is one of the most famous novels written by Charlotte Bronte. This novel is widely popular among all kinds of readers even today despite that it has been first published in 1847. The book has become especially popular among girls and young women because it illustrates the character of a strong woman who bravely faces the injustice and inequality of the world with a head held up and knows how to be a descent human being. Jane Eyre demonstrates the power of personality giving young ladies around the world a good example and an ideal of a woman to aspire (Peel 28). However, the novel is not only about the strong and independent women. It is a mirror of Victorian England with its strict social norms, codes, and hierarchy. Charlotte Bronte’s talent allowed her to represent this great époque in her books brilliantly. Up till now, Bronte’s novels such as Jane Eyre and Vilette stand at the top of the bestsellers for their exciting plots, strong characters, and emotional depth that involves the reader from the first pages. Jane Eyre is a great topic for discussion, and there is a lot of themes in this book to analyze and think about. However, this paper will focus on the fifth chapter of the novel to discuss the most important issues related to lifestyle, rules, and customs of Victorian England.
In chapter 5 of Jane Eyre, we see the heroine of the same name arriving at Lowood, the school for girls. The day of her arrival is gloomy and rainy, and this kind of atmosphere follows Jane throughout the entire story. From the first days in school, Jane discovers that the attitude of teachers towards the students is quite harsh and strict. The system of punishment has the central role in the educational process: “ I saw the girl with whom I had conversed in the verandah dismissed in disgrace by Miss Scatcherd from a history class, and sent to stand in the middle of the large schoolroom.” (Bronte 59). The girls in Lowood mostly come from poor families or orphanages, and this fact allows teachers to have almost unlimited power over them, since no one really cares for these young ladies.
The school building is presented in the novel as a dark and mysterious place for the main heroine where she learns the hardest life lessons and develops the most intense emotional relationships with some of her peers: “Overpowered by this time with weariness, I scarcely noticed what sort of a place the bedroom was, except that, like the schoolroom, I saw it was very long. To-night I was to be Miss Miller's bed-fellow; she helped me to undress: when laid down I glanced at the long rows of beds, each of which was quickly filled with two occupants; in ten minutes the single light was extinguished, and amidst silence and complete darkness I fell asleep.” (50). The description of the Victorian school bedroom may sound to modern readers as if it was some kind of jail or army barack. However, in 19th century England, such arrangements in educational institutions were common. Despite that, Jane Eyre was quite surprised to find herself in such a cold and monotonous place.
The same situation was with the food and uniforms in school. It was all strict, flat, and identical for every student in Lowood: “Ranged on benches down the sides of the room, the eighty girls sat motionless and erect; a quaint assemblage they appeared, all with plain locks combed from their faces, not a curl visible; in brown dresses, made high and surrounded by a narrow tucker about the throat, with little pockets of holland (shaped something like a Highlander's purse) tied in front of their frocks, and destined to serve the purpose of a work-bag: all, too, wearing woollen stockings and country-made shoes, fastened with brass buckles. Above twenty of those clad in this costume were full-grown girls, or rather young women; it suited them ill, and gave an air of oddity even to the prettiest.” (52). Decorations and accessories were forbidden, so that no one could have a chance to excel. The food was far from perfect as well: “ burnt porridge is almost as bad as rotten potatoes; famine itself soon sickens over it.” (51).
Jane Eyre remains one of the greatest novels of all time for its brilliant representation of the Victorian era. The book can be called the model of Victorian England, and it makes it very valuable and interesting not only for book lovers, but for any researcher who has a desire to find out more about this remarkable period of history.
Bibliography
Brontë, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York, N.Y: Penguin Group, 2008. Print.
Glen, Heather. Jane Eyre. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997. Print.
Peel, Katie R. Jane Eyre. Ipswich, Mass: Salem Press, a division of EBSCO Information Services, 2013. Print.
