Foils Throughout Jane Eyre
In Charlotte Brontë’s novel, Jane Eyre, Brontë develops many different characters to serve as foils to the main character, Jane, to fully characterize her. Jane, as we know, does not come from a very well off background. Even though many do not see her as the typical girl—pretty, skinny, and well dressed, she is known for her intelligence, honesty, and plain features. Throughout the novel, Jane becomes increasingly good at making her opinions known on certain subjects she feels strongly about. While doing this, she learns to maintain her principles of justice, human dignity, and morality. With much evidence throughout the novel, it is clear that Brontë intentionally uses these characters to act as foils to Jane to …show more content…
Georgiana Reed is one of the first people to be used as a foil in the novel to begin bringing out the different aspects of Jane’s true character. Georgiana Reed, Jane’s overconfident cousin, is known for being attractive, spoiled and very self-centered—characteristics that many do not strive to attain. Georgiana also makes it known, through several instances, that Jane is not a true family member. In fact, they see Jane as “a heterogeneous thing, opposed to them in temperament” (20). While Jane busies herself with being the “family servant”, Georgiana pays no attention whatsoever to her, and continues to do what she pleases. This shows just how caught up Georgiana is with herself. She could care less about Jane and the way she is treated. The distinctions found in their likings and professions portrays Jane as a compliant, respectful child who endlessly suffers in the dominating Reed household. A little later on in the novel, upon moving out of the Reed household, Jane is again sent for by Mrs. Reed, who is now on her death bed. Jane arrives to the house, …show more content…
Reed, to bring out two unusual sides of Jane’s personality. While Miss Temple acts as a mother figure to Jane, providing love and support at a school where Jane has nobody to turn to, Mrs. Reed never even attempts to make an emotional connection with her. Jane depicts Miss Temple as always having “something of serenity in her air...” (104). Miss Temple, in fact, is the closest thing to mother figure Jane has had and will ever have. She was the person that helped clear Jane’s tainted name at the school she attends, and Jane will always remember her for being kind-hearted and concerned with others’ feelings. Directly contrasting to Miss Temple’s compassion, Mrs. Reed, when on her Jane visits her on her deathbed, says, “I disliked you too fixedly and thoroughly ever to lend a hand in lifting you to prosperity” (356). Ever since Jane was a young child, Mrs. Reed has always treated her different. She has treated her as if she is a piece of trash on the ground—excluding her from family conversations, family events and even family meals. Jane never got the chance to receive the same love that Mrs. Reed showed her own children, she was always seen as an inferior to the others. The hatred Jane receives from Mrs. Reed, throughout her childhood, does eventually take a toll on her. Jane, becoming so overwhelmed with the anger building up inside of her towards
In Charlotte Brontë’s novel, Jane Eyre, Brontë develops many different characters to serve as foils to the main character, Jane, to fully characterize her. Jane, as we know, does not come from a very well off background. Even though many do not see her as the typical girl—pretty, skinny, and well dressed, she is known for her intelligence, honesty, and plain features. Throughout the novel, Jane becomes increasingly good at making her opinions known on certain subjects she feels strongly about. While doing this, she learns to maintain her principles of justice, human dignity, and morality. With much evidence throughout the novel, it is clear that Brontë intentionally uses these characters to act as foils to Jane to …show more content…
Georgiana Reed is one of the first people to be used as a foil in the novel to begin bringing out the different aspects of Jane’s true character. Georgiana Reed, Jane’s overconfident cousin, is known for being attractive, spoiled and very self-centered—characteristics that many do not strive to attain. Georgiana also makes it known, through several instances, that Jane is not a true family member. In fact, they see Jane as “a heterogeneous thing, opposed to them in temperament” (20). While Jane busies herself with being the “family servant”, Georgiana pays no attention whatsoever to her, and continues to do what she pleases. This shows just how caught up Georgiana is with herself. She could care less about Jane and the way she is treated. The distinctions found in their likings and professions portrays Jane as a compliant, respectful child who endlessly suffers in the dominating Reed household. A little later on in the novel, upon moving out of the Reed household, Jane is again sent for by Mrs. Reed, who is now on her death bed. Jane arrives to the house, …show more content…
Reed, to bring out two unusual sides of Jane’s personality. While Miss Temple acts as a mother figure to Jane, providing love and support at a school where Jane has nobody to turn to, Mrs. Reed never even attempts to make an emotional connection with her. Jane depicts Miss Temple as always having “something of serenity in her air...” (104). Miss Temple, in fact, is the closest thing to mother figure Jane has had and will ever have. She was the person that helped clear Jane’s tainted name at the school she attends, and Jane will always remember her for being kind-hearted and concerned with others’ feelings. Directly contrasting to Miss Temple’s compassion, Mrs. Reed, when on her Jane visits her on her deathbed, says, “I disliked you too fixedly and thoroughly ever to lend a hand in lifting you to prosperity” (356). Ever since Jane was a young child, Mrs. Reed has always treated her different. She has treated her as if she is a piece of trash on the ground—excluding her from family conversations, family events and even family meals. Jane never got the chance to receive the same love that Mrs. Reed showed her own children, she was always seen as an inferior to the others. The hatred Jane receives from Mrs. Reed, throughout her childhood, does eventually take a toll on her. Jane, becoming so overwhelmed with the anger building up inside of her towards