Chapters 1-3

 Jane Eyre Chapters 1-3

Hello everybody, this is Taylor, and I am leading your discussion today. This is going to be so much fun. If I am being honest I kind of have bad comprehension skills. I did not pick up on many things while reading the other books until they were explained to me so if I write something dumb please ignore it.

Chapter 1

I like the way the speaker talks because it reminds me of the movies. But I hate when she says things like “my physical inferiority.” She seems to talk down on herself a lot. Is this based on what she is told? Why is she physically inferior to the other girls, because clearly it can’t have anything to do with the fact she is a woman if they are too right?

They want her to “acquire a more sociable and child-like disposition” so clearly the traditional gender roles are already coming out on page 1. However it says they want her to be more sociable, but then Jane is told that she shouldn’t ask questions and needs to learn to be silent. What is this telling us about the view of women in terms of other people viewing them? 

There are a lot of red undertones so far in the story. The “scarlet” drapery, “red moreen”, (10) and again on page 17 in chapter 2, “deep red damask… carpet was red… crimson cloth… blush of pink…”. What could the color red be symbolizing in terms of this novel so far?

I was originally confused about her age, because it feels like women were made to be childish in the eyes of others, until I learned she was only 10 so she actually is a child. I was very confused. Again though she talks down on herself saying stuff like her brain wouldn’t understand things because she is a child even though she does. (page 11). What is the significance of this view of herself and how did she acquire it?

This stupid John Reed guy just came in the story and called her a “bad animal”. Literally what. And then calls her a rat later on. And then told her to call him “Master Reed”. What are you guys thinking right now about this?

She is “accustomed” (13) to this guy's abuse. What is this saying about the time period and how is it characterizing men?

I love how she stands up to John when he was abusing her, however then the women all came and were on John’s side? Why weren't the women supporting the other women back then? What is this saying on how they view themselves? 

Chapter 2

We experienced a lot of imagery on the red room that she was put in, which makes me think it was important. Why is this important? What do you guys think the author is saying about idk life when she wrote this part? And also it was the room Mr. Reed died, which is creepy.

The appendix says something about the looking-glass described on page 17 as something that she sees a doppelganger in or something. What does this mean I am so confused? 

She talks on page 18 and 19 about how she is the only person, girl or boy, that suffers this abuse. Why is the attention focused on her? I think she even writes about if she was a boy she would not have suffered like this, but the other girls weren’t treated as badly either.

Why is it significant that the one person Jane says would have been kind to her was a man? What is this saying about the complete view of men as this is the opposite of John Reed? (page 20)

So annoying that the stupid women aren’t helping her like wtf.

Chapter 3

Anyone notice she feels more protected and safe when she is with a stranger rather than the people she knows? Yikes.

Based on everything on page 24 and what we learned about women going to mental hospitals for being crazy, I feel like something bad might happen to Jane based on her episode. 

Is she allowed to read? I thought education was hugely frowned upon back then. 

On page 27 Bessie sings her song. There is an orphan child reference I feel like could be talking about Jane, or maybe Bessie herself. What is the significance of the song in terms of the meaning of it, and why was it included in the novel at all?

I think it is important that Mr. Lloyd is noticing that Bessie is treating Jane like a child by saying things like “she is too old for such pettishness…why, that is like a baby again” (28). 

I can’t believe Abbot said she does not feel bad for Jane because she is not nice and pretty. Who does that? (page 31)

What do you think the ending of Chapter 3 is showing readers characteristically about Abbot and Bessie?