Chelsea's Blog by Chelsea Lin https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu Blog on Jane Eyre for AP Lit en-us 2021-02-09 17:59:22 UTC 2025-10-15 10:31:16 UTC hello@padlet.com Blog #1 Section 1 (02/11) clin20211_1 https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1195416742 "Eliza, who was headstrong and selfish, was respected. Georgiana, who had a spoiled temper, a very acrid spite, a captious and insolent carriage, was universally indulged. Her beauty, her pink cheeks and golden curls, seemed to give delight to all who looked at her, and to purchase indemnity for every fault. John no one thwarted, much less punished; though he twisted the necks of the pigeons, killed the little pea-chicks, set the dogs at the sheep, stripped the hothouse vines of their fruit, and broke the buds off the choicest plants in the conservatory: he called his mother "old girl," too; sometimes reviled her for her dark skin, similar to his own; bluntly disregarded her wishes; not unfrequently tore and spoiled her silk attire; and he was still "her own darling." ." (Bronte 19).

As I read this passage of the novel, I made a peculiar connection to the movie, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," in which Dudley throws a tantrum over the number of presents he has, yet the parents coddle him, claiming that they will buy him two more presents. I saw Dudley as the Reed siblings, people who can perform any monstrosities, yet be given respect by those around them. I was even more surprised to see the similarities between Jane Eyre and Harry Potter. Both are orphans living with their cousins, and both treated unfairly: Harry in the cupboard under the stairs and Jane in the nursery/red room. 

I realized that these traumatic backgrounds also played a role in how the characters develop later on in the novel. Harry becomes a symbol of good and bravery trying to help out his schoolmates, and Jane starts to save her meals for other hungry girls at the Lowood school. I fathomed that it may be that these characters strived to become the opposite of their abusers, which led me to question the extent to which child neglect is reflected in one's personality.


]]> 2021-02-12 06:57:54 UTC https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1195416742 Blog #2 Section 1 (02/11) clin20211_1 https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1195462171 Since the book is from the perspective of Jane, I really became protective and worried for her mental state as I delved deeper into her troubled childhood. When I searched up this article on the symptoms of depression in children, I found a lot of relation to Jane's emotions. One that stood out to me was "feelings of worthlessness or guilt," which was shown when Jane claimed, "My habitual mood of humiliation, self-doubt, forlorn depression, fell damp on the embers of my decaying ire" (Bronte 20).
 
Jane, who was physically and verbally tormented by the Reeds, still felt like it was herself to blame in these situations. In my position, I felt frustrated because the Reeds were clearly the antagonists, but her self sense of worthlessness as an orphan was a clear cause of depression. 

Other symptoms I noticed were a decreased appetite with the tart from Bessie, suicidal thoughts from when thinking about starving to death and impaired thinking from claiming she saw a ghost.

The perfect connection between this WebMD article and Jane's life made me incredibly sad because I had to remember that she was only 10 years old. Depression in children can oftentimes be inherited, but the fact that Jane's depression is mainly because of her environment made me question how much abuse would I child be able to withstand.
]]> 2021-02-12 07:30:49 UTC https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1195462171 Blog #3 Section 2 (02/22) clin20211_1 https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1229521564 "It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it... Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex (Bronte 112)” 

As I read this passage of the poem, I felt a sense of gratefulness that I could live the life I am living. Seemingly normal aspects of my life seem like such radical thoughts in the Victorian era, and I couldn't imagine myself confined to "making puddings and knitting stockings." 

However, I realized that most women followed this traditional way of thinking, going along with societal expectations of the role of women even if they feel trapped behind the freedoms of their husbands. I pondered what seemingly acceptable standards and expectations we have as a society today may change in a century. 
For instance, right now I strongly believe bugs can be squashed, and that is the general consensus of society. The bug may feel like this is unfair treatment, however, society accepts this treatment to bugs, so its opinions are invalidated.
 
This bug's rights of today could be compared to women's rights in the Victorian Era...looked down upon. Unfair. Now, women are accepted by society to achieve the same things as men. So, will we as a society value bug's rights in 100 years? And in 100 years, will people look back at us and call us monsters for acting this way? Women of the past shouldn't be judged for not breaking the social norm just like how you should be judged for killing bugs. This was just a random train of thought I had while reading.]]> 2021-02-23 03:09:20 UTC https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1229521564 Blog #4 Section 2 (02/22) clin20211_1 https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1229598394 This is really random but when I read about how Rochester disguised himself as a gypsy and interviewed all the women, I immediately thought of a recent Tiktok trend. In this Chinese trend, people wait for the interviewer in a room and when an interviewee needs help, the other people laugh at her. However it turns out that this interviewee was just the interviewer in disguise. This is similar to Rochester's disguise because he did it to see people's true colors. The interviewees and Blanche would not have reacted as they did if they knew who they were talking to.

I think this is an interesting topic because it made me question who was in the right and wrong here. Obviously we can see that Blanche put on a facade, putting all her interactions with Rochester in question, but I think we also have to question Rochester. Is it right to deceive his "friends" like this, and does it show anything about his character? As I was reading I felt like I was on Rochester's side, but I realized I would've thought Rochester as insecure or untrustworthy if Blanche wasn't caught red-handed. Sometimes as a reader I let actions go when it seems like the protagonist is winning in the novel, but I have to remember to look at all characters objectively.

]]> 2021-02-23 03:41:58 UTC https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1229598394 Blog #5 Section 3 (03/04) clin20211_1 https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1272636535 When the chestnut tree was struck by lightning, it reminded me of "How to Read Literature Like a Professor," that weather can have different connotations. In this case, the lightning as they kissed seemed to be foreshadowing a destructive future for their relationship. I realized that this was also used in current media. In horror movies, often lightning an thunder signify something bad is going to happen.

Then I started to think about how weather played a role in the rest of the novel and found that Bronte consistently used weather to foreshadow upcoming events. For instance, after she was punished at Lowood by Mr. Brocklehurst, "Some heavy clouds swept from the sky by a rising wind, had left the moon bare; and her light streaming in through a window near, shone full both on us." Shortly after we see Mrs. Temple comes to Jane, showing that the good weather coincided with happy experiences with Jane. 

This makes me more sure of the fact that the lightning from the proposal could not have had a positive connotation.]]> 2021-03-05 06:52:55 UTC https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1272636535 Blog #6 Section 3 (03/04) clin20211_1 https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1272646776 I found it really interesting how Jane embraced religion and the effect Helen still has on her. I would have assumed that she would reject religion, as her childhood did not seem like God was ever giving to her. However instead of blaming her issues on an unfair God, she looks to religion as a way to help her through her troubles.

It also troubled me how Rochester was so quick to take importance to religion when Jane was trying to push him away. I didn't like how the male figure could take up so much space in Jane's devotion to herself and God.]]> 2021-03-05 07:00:42 UTC https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1272646776 Blog #7 Section 4 (03/15) clin20211_1 https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1314517926 I'm so so happy that Jane did not settle for being a mistress! I'd rather die alone than be second to someone else.

It's interesting how self-aware she is and how she doesn't care for societal standards. She makes decisions about Rochester based on her heart rather than based on expectation. 

I loved how Rochester's money couldn't buy Jane. Through being his mistress, she would have been set for life in terms of financial stability, which is why I admire how she had the amount of self-integrity to reject his offer.

I also appreciate how her morals never really changed because of a man. From her childhood, she has always longed for independence, but the temptation of love was almost enough to put that into question.

https://www.damemagazine.com/2019/03/19/women-of-a-certain-age-dont-have-to-settle/]]> 2021-03-16 08:30:57 UTC https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1314517926 Blog #8 Section 4 (03/15) clin20211_1 https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1314962970 I found that there were parallels between the characters in these chapters.

For instance, Jane lies about her identity to Rivers in order to hide her past and to feel like she's moving on. This parallels to how Rochester hides Bertha and acting like everything is okay. But just like Rochester,  it is an illusion that she could start a new life. And with both, the truth eventually catches up to them: Jane finds out about Bertha and St. John finds out about Jane's true identity.

Another parallel is between Jane and the River sisters. Both parties don't have their parents and they all end up pursuing governess jobs. It was interesting to see how Jane became a teacher to the sisters like how Miss Temple was a mentor to her but also a friend like Helen was.]]> 2021-03-16 11:05:18 UTC https://padlet.com/clin20211_1/xcq1ksgdgn65krmu/wish/1314962970