Jane Eyre Chapters 4-6 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
September 25, 2012

Chapters 4-6

Summary: In chapter 4, Jane is confined to a small closet to sleep in and confined to long days in the nursery. She is called down to the dining room to find out she will be going to school at Lowood. After Mrs. Reed tells the man who teaches at Lowood how awful she is,  Jane yells at her afterwards and Jane wins the argument and Jane wins the argument. Jane and Bessie bond and Bessie almost becomes her friend. In chapter 5, Jane arrives at Lowood, a strict boarding school. She makes friends with a new girl and so ends her first day at Lowood. In chapter 6, her friend Burns is yelled at for not washing her nails even though the water that morning was frozen. She is punished severely and Helen tells Jane to forgive John and Mrs. Reed and move on.

Quotation: "...I abhor the last; with this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation never too deeply disgusts me, injustice never crushes me too low; I live in calm, looking to the end." (57)

Quotation Significance: Helen says this to Jane about how she is always insulted and belittled by Mrs.Scatherd. She is saying that she never lets anything get her down too low and she lives peacefully looking to her death- when she will be in peace. 

Reflection: So far, this book has been very interesting but very sad. The school Lowood, seems very strict and very much like a prison. The girls have to get up early than dawn and are punished very severely for every small thing they do wrong. Helen is treated very badly by Mrs. Scatherd but has decided to forgive Mrs.Scatherd for this and decides it just isn't worth worrying about. She is just looking forward to getting out of school to get a good job and have a good life. Jane feels terrible for Helen and can't understand how she deals with it. Even though Helen has advised Jane to forgive John and Mrs.Reed she isn't sure if she can. I think next, Jane will become to the target of the bullying and will defend herself of something she didn't do and cause trouble for herself.

Discussion Question: Do you think Jane will be the next target of the teachers and students?