Chapters 1-8

In the beginning of the book, it opens up on a dreary afternoon in Gateshead in a wealthy home that belongs to the Reed. We are introduce to the protagonist and main character of the book, Jane Eyre. While reading the first eight chapters, we are introduce to who Jane is. I feel sorrow for her. Everything that she is put through is morally wrong. One major theme that I picked up within the first eight chapters was the idea of being loved. At Gateshead, Jane wasn't shown any affection at all. She also didn't have the sense of being valued, or belonging. At Gateshead, she was not wanted. Although she lived with the family, she wasn't part of it. When she goes to Lowood, she feels as if what she felt before. With enduring the harsh conditions, the cruel teachers and the whole scene caused with Mr.Brocklehurst, she is not receiving the love and attention she has longed for. When we are introduced to Helen Burns, she seems to represent an "angel". When Jane is mad and wants to seek revenge, Helen tells her she should forgive because that is the right thing to do. It seems Ms.Temple represents a mother figure in ways to Jane. She is very understanding about the situation and lets Jane tell her story, which she never got to go when she was at Gateshead.

Jane Eyre

When first opening the book, I saw an immediate connection to Charles Dicken's, Great Expectations. Both Jane and Pip were orpans who lived in a society that they did fit into. Both characters endure many situations while trying to find their own "idenity". In both the books,both characters feel a passion to someone who is of a higher class then they are. For Jane it is Mr.Rochester while for Pip it is Estella. Both Mr.Rochester and Estella are from a life of wealth and culture that both Jane and Pip strive for. In the beggining of Jane Eyre, Jane is introduced as a young girl struggling to cope with the harsh punishments placed on her by her caretaker also aunt, Mrs.Reed and her children. Jane, since the beginning, always spoke her opinion, forgetting what might happen to her. ( Talking back to John Reed). However, when it came to herself, she always bottled up her emotions until when she met Mr.Rochester and eventually tells him how she really felt about him. I feel as if Jane Eyre is more than just a love story, it is about achieving happiness,finding one's true idenity and essentially freedom. Jane Eyre is somewhat of a hero. She endures many hardships throughout the book (the physical abuse from John Reed,the loss of her best friend, the horrific truth she finds out about her true lovr), she manages to keep a bold and inner strength in her and keeps coming over her problems.This,personally, is one of my favorite books along with Great Expectations.