Jane Eyre And Victorian Era
...wrote her classic book Jane Eyre during the Victorian Era in 1846. Particular qualities of this time period were found in Jane Eyre. In reading this book we find the social economics, moral conditions, and literary elements of the Victorian Era. All these play a part in Charlotte Bronte’s successful novel of that time.
The Victorian Era is named after the Queen of England, Queen Victoria. She ruled from 1837 to 1901 when she died. That era, which followed the Regency time period, is characterized by reforms in the government, industrialization in the factories, economic prosperity, and moral decline. Charlotte Bronte was born in 1816 and grew up during the early Victorian period. This time was marked by reform troubles but also by technological progress from 1848 to 1870.
In Jane Eyre, the main character, Jane, is a ten year old orphan. She was taken in to live with her Aunt Reed. Jane’s Aunt was not a horrible person, but Jane’s cousins were. Specifically, Jane’s cousin John Reed was cruel to her. John was never punished for his mean actions towards Jane, but Jane was. Jane did not understand the unjust behavior toward her. Jane did understand that she was supposed to be grateful to her Aunt for feeding her and giving a roof over her head. However, Jane never seemed grateful enough for her Aunt to allow her to keep living with the family.
Jane was sent to a charity school for orphans called Lowood. Jane was not much better off at the poor school which had little food or heat. But Jane worked hard at her school work through the hard winter and the sickness of tuberculosis that took Jane’s friend Helen Burns. Jane excelled in her education and after six years became a teacher at Lowood. After two years as a teacher, Jane advertised to become a governess. She was hired by Mrs. Fairfax at Thornfield Hall and started a...
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