Assignment 4

I like the beginning of this chapter because it was a nice shift in the story. I thought we really saw her break down as a character because she had been so strong and independent for such a period of time in the last couple of chapters. I did not like to see that she was broken up, but I just thought it was weird because of what we said in class about that notion of being without parents as a main character. Not knowing what to do because she does not have anyone for support, and being in this new environment at Lowood feels almost like a trap. However I liked how everything seemed to change for her because of how Helen treated her. Unfortunately, Jane Eyre being the gothic novel it is, had to crush the good moment faster than it took to come into the picture, with Helens death. I think that Jane Eyre's situation is fairly similar to fairy tale princesses due to similar situations in their stories. I think that the only difference is that Jane has found more adversity more often than anything, despite her somewhat feminist attitude. I thought that the use of Mrs. Fairfax's descriptions of Rochester seem to affect my thoughts of the story. I think that because of that it creates a fear for Jane because you don't exactly know what could potentially happen to her, and because you do not know Mr. Brocklehurst. I think that Charlotte Bronte establishes this affect with all of her description, as well as her build up in the story. I think it was interesting how she saw a spirit, which led her to meet Mr. Rochester who was somewhat the same as what Mrs. Fairfax had said about him. But somehow despite that he and Jane are similar in some ways as a result of family history. I'm somewhat intrigued by Rochester and Jane's relationship because it appears really shaky at the moment and almost a mystery.