Jane Eyre Reading Jornal | Post N°1

I've tried to write an introduction to this reading journal but there are too many things I'd like to have a record of and too many ideas I can't really connect so I'll just write about random thoughts here. In the next post I'll write about the things that came to my mind as I read, in chronological order.

|Ch. 6|

You May Say I'm a (Day) Dreamer, but I'm Not the Only One

"- I am, as Miss Scatcherd said, slatterly; I seldom put, and never keep, things in order; I am careless; I forget rules; I read when I should learn m lessons; I have no method; and sometimes I say, like you, I cannot bear to be subjected to systematic arrangements. (...) One strong proof of my wretchedly defective nature is, that even her (Miss Temple's) exposulations, so mild, so rational, have not influence to cure me of my faults; and even her praise, though I value it most highly, cannot stimulate me to continued care and foresight. (...) your thoughts never seemed to wander while Mis Miller explained the lesson and questioned you. Now, mine continually rove away; when I should be listening to Miss Scatcherd, and collecting all she says with assiduity, often I lose the very sound of her voice; I fall into a sort of dream. Sometimes I think I am in Northumberland, and that the noises I hear round me are the bubbling of a little brook which runs through Deepden, near our house; - then, when it comes to my turn to reply, I have to be awakened; and having heard nothing of what was read for listening to the visionary brook, I have no answer ready."

"-Yet how well you replied this afternoon."

"It was mere chance; the subject on which we had been reading had interested me. This afternoon, instead of dreaming of Deepden, I was wondering how a man who wished to do right could act so unjustly and unwisely as Charles the First sometimes did; and I thought what a pity it was that, with his integrity and conscientiousness, he could see no farther than the prerogatives of the crown. If he had but been able to look to a distance, and see how what they call the spirit of the age was tending! Still, I like Charles - I respect him - I pity him, poor murdered king! Yes, his enemies were the worst: they shed blood they had no right to shed. How dared they kill him!"

I am very identified with this aspect of Helen's personality, "I cannot bear to be subjected to systematic arrangements" Uhh so clever! This is my new favourite quote. I liked seeing these feelings in written because if I ever had to explain why I am the way I am, I could never say it so well. Helen's day dreams when she's not interested about what some lessons are about and her reflections upon other subjects that do interest her have a lot to do with what I feel, think and do in class ever since I was a child. A

J.E, Don't Ever Change.

"... If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their own way, they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but would would grow worse and worse. When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should - so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again."

I've found many instances of rebellion in this book so far. I dare say that Jane Eyre seems a true rebel. I like that and I specially liked the quotation above. The awful way in which Jane is treated by Mrs. Reed and her children is so well portrayed by the author that it actually hurts the reader, rather, it actually hurt this particular reader. The way she confronts her antogonists, however, fills one with pride and makes one really want to go on reading to find out whether she will go on being as contestatary as she is when she's a child.

Miss Scatcherd, a Symbol Standing for Society.
"Neat, punctual and particular" is the way Helen Burst describes Miss Scatcherd, whom might well be a symbol of British Society and expectations by that time.