Child Abuse in Jane Eyre

Laura McReynolds

For my side of the presentation, I’ve been studying the instances of child abuse in Jane Eyre and how this instances are important in the development of Jane’s character and the progression of the novel. What is particularly interesting about the display of child abuse in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is the combination of physical and emotional abuse, and how it is very apparent that this abuse is rooted in social status. Jane, the orphan of a poor couple, is abused at home and school, while her wealthy cousins enjoy luxury. Helen and the other girls at Lowood share similar stories – all students having lost a parent, if not both, and all are abused, particularly through their lack of nutrition at Lowood. It is interesting to see the stark difference between the lower class abuse and the high class’ lack thereof.

Jane’s triumphs in this novel are made all the more extraordinary when considering the feats she faced as a child and how she made a life for herself independently. The instances of child abuse are important to the novel’s progression because they make a social and economic commentary on the time, but also provide Jane with depth of emotion and a ferocity that she would not have attained otherwise. It is the unpleasantness we experience when we imagine ourselves in Jane’s shoes that makes the novel so captivating.

The 1983 BBC adaption of Jane Eyre does a great job capturing the abuses Jane experienced as well as providing insight into her thoughts, which develop her character throughout the novel as well.

Some instances of the abuse can be watched in the following clips:

Jane Eyre 1983 Episode 1 (Part 1/3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThlLlkv2GTE

John hits Jane: 2:22-2:34

Jane is locked in the room that Mr. Reed died in: 4:40-6:00

Jane Eyre 1983 Episode 2 (Part 2/3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU5FRgRXm1A&feature=related

Mr. Brocklehurst demoralizes Jane: 4:16-6:40