Education in Jane Eyre
... says John Reed to Jane. This statement educates Jane to the fact that she is a “dependant,” and therefore inferior to the rest of her relatives. This label is indoctrinated into Jane; so much so that it remains to her a constant reminder of her social class and inferiority. At Lowood Institution, Mr. Brocklehurst also socially indoctrinates Jane. “Humility is a Christian grace, and one particularly appropriate to the pupils of Lowood.” Brocklehurst attempts to breed conformity in his pupils, exercising his power of hegemonic control. He does this to crush any hope of success or progression of wealth in their lives. Thus by keeping the poor destitute, the rich remain wealthy. “I may depend upon this child being received as a pupil at Lowood, and there being trained in conformity to her position and prospects?” By being a member of the clergy, Brocklehurst uses religion to his advantage. Essentially, he blackmails children into his ideals by threatening them with eternal suffering in hell. “Do you know where the wicked go after death?” Nonetheless, Jane rebels against such teaching. Jane is often described as “passionate”, and she demonstrates this in her rebellion against those who are seen to oppress her. Brocklehurst’s hidden curriculum of education has a constraining effect on Jane, but there are also liberating instances of informal teaching at Lowood. Helen Burns, a pupil at Lowood, offers Jane a different form of teaching. She is a stoic, and educates Jane to her philosophy of life. This teaching has a positive effect on Jane, who listens attentively, even though she finds it difficult to accept. “It is far better to endure patiently a smart which nobody feels but yourself, than to commit a hasty action whose evil consequences will extend to all connected with you.” Education in Jane Eyre is often described in terms of teacher-pupil relationships. Miss Temple is one of Jane’s teachers in Lowood. She is not harsh like Brocklehurst, and so is kind to Jane. Miss Temple has a positive influence on Jane, and could be described as a liberating experience. She is a breath of fresh air from the constraining education of Jane’s other teachers, up to this point in the novel. “Miss Temple has generally something to say which is newer than my own reflections: her language is singularly agreeable to me, and the information she communicates is often just what I wished to gain.” Jane later becomes the governess of Adèle. Jane becomes a mother figure to Miss Varens, and acts many times as a shield between her and the sometimes-harsh Mr. Rochester. While in Lowood Institution, Jane is taught grammar, history, geography and arithmetic. None of these lessons, however, will be of use to her. Jane’s education at Lowood is not designed to “broaden her horizons,” but to restrict and constrain her. Jane lacks real experience in life and is ill equipped to deal with the outside world. She says, “I desired more of practical experience than I possessed.” When Jane leaves Lowood, she embarks on a journey to complete her moral education. The first teacher Jane encounters after leaving Lowood is Mr. Rochester. Before Rochester arrives at Thornfield, Jane longs for change or excitement in her life. She has already become restless at Thornfield. “Having reached the leads, looked out afar over sequestered field and hill, and along dim skyline: that then I longed for a power of vision which might overpass that limit; which might reach the busy world, towns, regions full of life I had heard of but never seen.” Rochester brings this excitement to Jane’s life, and she feels liberated when she is with him. Jane refers often to him as “master.” This is symbolic, as she is obliquely referring to him as a teacher. Rochester plays games with Jane and sets her challenges, bringing out the best in her. He places Jane in different situations to see how she will react. For example, he pretends to plan a marriage with Blanche Ingram, to provoke a reaction from Jane. Rochester teaches Jane that she is no...