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As Jane is locked into the
red-room, Bessie says to her “What we tell you, is for your good” (70). While I
am sure that the adults of the house think their methods are good, I am
persuaded to ask them if they think that what is “good” is also, what is “right.”
The adults see “good” as abiding by their rules and a “good” child is one who
is “useful and pleasant” (70). A “good” child also listens and does what she is
told. “Right” in this context is what is morally right, meaning what is fair
and just. The adults see Jane’s behavior as anything but good, but to Jane, her
actions are right.
The moments in Jane’s life where
she is criticized for her behavior are moments where Jane’s voice is not heard.
Jane is only viewed as a burden and not as someone that can be loved. She does
not have a “sociable and childlike disposition” (63) according to Mrs. Reed.
Jane is separated from the Reed children and is always in a state of
disagreement. The adults chastise her (mostly Mrs. Reed), place her inside of a
box marked evil (Mr. Brocklehurst’s dramatic scene), and ship her away. Jane
might fight back and claim a victory; she is still abiding by the rules endowed
to her by her guardians. Jane admits that the adults do not know what they are
doing, and they “thought [they] were only up-rooting [her] bad propensities”
(77). Jane knows that the adults think that what they are doing is okay, but in
Jane’s eyes, good does not always equal right. Unlike Jane, Helen reacts
differently to these rules established by the adults. The difference between
Jane and Helen is that Helen is willing to play by their rules and Jane is not.
Jane believes that the adults
should be treated the way they treat her, while Helen believes that there is no
reason to waste life hating other people, but to simply follow instructions and
not make life harder than it needs to be. Helen also knows that the adults are
not always right, but they are the adults, and they are the ones that make all
the decisions. Unlike Jane, she is willing to bear what is given to her, “it is
weak and silly to say you cannot bear
what is your fate to be required to bear” (117). Helen relinquishes control to
the adults and eventually Jane does the same, in order to get through this
experience.
It may not be fair to Jane that
Mr. Brocklehurst sees her as an evil child, but in his eyes, it is what she
needs for they must “punish her body to save her soul”(129). Therefore, for the
adults, it is about the good, it is about correcting a child until they behave
according to their ideals. For Jane, it is about what is right. She thinks that
she deserves the chance to start over at Lowood, she deserves to be treated
right by Mrs. Reed, and since she is not, she sees no loyalty to being good.
Jane knows what is right, but has a hard time understanding what is good.
In Jane Eyre, there is a sense that
the kids know what is right. Jane and her friend Helen both endure what “is for
[their] good.” So maybe what is good is not always right, depending on who is
in charge, but what is good is, so far in Jane
Eyre, the standard for Mrs. Reed and Mr. Brocklehurst.
-Porschae Chitmon
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