Religion and Evangelicalism in Jane Eyre
When orphans of the nineteenth century were able to receive an education, it usually came from a charity instution. These charity institutions were founded on a basis of religion. This is the case in Jane Eyre for Mr. Brocklehurst is a clergyman who owns and overlooks the Institution that Jane became a part of. Jane's conversation with the newly met Helen Burns exposes this to the reader. Jane asks the question, "Who was Naomi Brocklehurst?" The reader finds out that she was the lady who built the new part of the Institution. It is her son, Mr. Brocklehurst who "overlooks and directs everything." At Lowood he "is the treasurer and manager of the establishment." It is also at this time that Jane finds out Mr. Brocklehurst is a clergyman (82; ch.5).
The goal of charity schools was to teach religion and morals to orphans. Knowing this, and feeling as though Jane needs more moral and religious instruction, Mrs. Reed tells Mr. Brocklehurst that "this little girl has not quite the character and disposition I could wish: should you admit her into Lowood school, I should be glad if the superintendent and teachers were requested to keep a strict eye on her, and, above all, to guard against her worst fault, a tendency to deceit" (65; ch. 4).
However, religious and moral teaching were secondary to grammar. Before the Elementary Act of 1870, religious instruction was limited to the beginning or the end of the school sessions (Curtis 386). This is true at Lowood. After the girls get up and wash, they go into a "dimly-lit schoolroom" and the prayers are read. Then, "Business now began: the day's Collect was repeated, certain texts of Scripture were said, and to these succeeded a protracted...
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...d takes great care to be plain and dress neatly. Before she leaves her room, she checks to make sure that everything is neat and orderly. She is "still by nature solicitous to be neat" (130; ch. 11). After Mr. Rochester asks her to marry him, when he says that he will send for the family jewels, her relpy is, "No, no, sir! Think of other subjects, and speak of other things, and in another strain. Don't address me as if I were a beauty; I am your plain, Quakerish govnerness" (287; ch. 24). She cannot have jewels because it would upset her plainness and she would no longer look like that "plain, Quakerish" type of girl. Lowood had quite an impact on her life as it was sure to have had on the other children that went there.
Works Cited:
Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. London, Penguin Books Ltd.: 1996. (Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Michael Mason).
In the beginning of Jane Eyre, Mrs. Reed tells the owner of Lowood Institution, Mr. Brocklehurst, that Jane has, "'a bad character, a deceitful disposition; and to let everybody at Lowood know what [she] is, and what [she] has done'" (34). Jane already despises Mrs. Reed for treating her so poorly, but now she is infuriated. If Mr. Brocklehurst describes Jane as Mrs. Reed instructs him to do, Jane will never make friends at Lowood because all of the children will fear her. Jane battles back by saying to her aunt, "'I am glad you are no relation of mine. I will never call you aunt again as long as I live. I will never come to see you when I am grown up; and if any one asks me how I liked you, and how you treated me, I will say the very thought of you makes me sick, and that you treated me with miserable cruelty'" (33). Jane...
Mr Brockleurst is the head teacher of the school. He is another extremely religious figure that Jane comes across. He talks about the deadly sins Jane has commited, yet he does not see his own actions are far worse. Mr Brocklehurts is a harsh and dishonest man, forcing the school to live in squallid conditions, so he can support his own lavish lifestyle.
As a child, Jane Eyre suffered from much torment from her Aunt Reed and her callous cousins. She never received the love she deserved and longed for. She felt the need to escape from the misery and torture that she got at Gateshead from her so called family. In a way, Mrs. Reed helped Jane in her process of growing and maturing. Jane was determined to find something better for her in life because she did not want to feel that rejection from the Reeds. With that rejection, Jane was motivated to become someone better than they were. Jane Eyre was sent to Lowood, an orphanage school, and met Miss Temple and Helen Burns.
This feeling intensifies when Mr. Brocklehurst arrives to take Jane away to Lowood School. Her aunt is pleased to see her go, but manages to influence Jane's life even after Jane is settled in at the charity school, by informing Mr.
The debate over the use of school uniforms in public schools is one that has raged on for decades, and still hasn’t come to a conclusion. School uniforms are increasingly being enforced in public schools throughout the country, amidst a slew of opposition. Some people believe that school uniforms do not help our schools and their students, but hurt the schools and smother the student’s freedom. More specifically, some schools in the Greeley/Evans School District 6 have adopted school uniforms to try and improve the respective schools problems while some schools haven’t adopted uniforms. This leads people to question, should the Greeley-Evans School District adopt a school uniform policy?
One of the greatest controversies that is spreading throughout high schools in the United States is parents and their children against the enforcement of their school’s uniform policy. More schools have been adopting uniform policies within the past decade. Rules contained in the policy that are implemented range from wearing certain types of tops (shirts) in specified colors to students being required to tuck in their shirts. In the past, uniforms were exclusively for students who attended private schools because they were “well-off”, but now uniforms are being seen more frequently in public schools on students of all economic levels. Having gone through a school system that considered adopting a uniform policy, I would have to press against the issue of mandated uniforms, because it is simply un-American and unjust.
When Jane is shunned by Mr. Brocklehurst in front of the entire Lowood population, Helen is the one person that does not immediately judge Jane. In fact, she makes her feel more comfortable in a place that is filled with punishment and hypocrisy. Though Lowood does not truly feel like home, Helen is able to provide Jane with not only all the compassion she needs as well as support and respect. This is one of the first loves Jane experiences on her journey and it allows her to become more open to the love she finds in her future endeavors.
In summation, I don’t feel that school uniforms are necessary at this juncture in time. Sure, one school district has seen positive results, but can these results be contributed to a single factor called school uniforms? Extremely doubtful in my mind. Besides, school uniforms while making everyone look alike and boosting esteem in this manner, do not eliminate the socioeconomic differences between students. Therefore, there will always be a distinction between students. Uniforms may decrease the distinction but individuality is what makes America the land of opportunity. Individuality is what America is all about. If you can’t find who you are and express yourself for the entire world to see while living or spending time in America, you are doing something wrong. Preventing this would be a horrible national crime; it would be un-American.
Uniforms in public schools are becoming more and more accepted around the world. “Over the last two decades, the debate over the implementation of school uniform policies in public schools has been a consistent presence in schools and districts around the United States.” (Sanchez, 345). Teachers, parents and school administrators feel the need for school uniforms as a positive way to increase school safety and increase academic performance. Even though school uniforms are not the most popular choice among students and parents, the positive impact school uniforms make on students and the school outweigh the negative opinions.
Victorian society could be quite pleasant, but only if one were fortunate enough to be born into the upper or at the very least the upper middle class. Members of the upper class lived in grand mansions on great estates; they kept busy with parties, dances, and keeping track of what other people in the same social class were doing. The only career for a woman in this society was marriage. Society wives were expected to represent their husbands with impeccable manners and grace and provide no hint of scandal. Etiquette was a full time occupation; what to wear, who to speak to, and when to curtsy, was of the highest importance. One of the biggest fears of the socially aware was ostracism. (Rose, 1999- 2012)
School uniforms in public school have long been debated for many years throughout America. Should school policy makers force their students to wear uniforms that were once only required in private schools? That depends on who you speak to. Many who are in favor of uniform policies in a public school believe that it helps promote a positive learning environment in the school, it helps curve school violence due to gangs, and it helps children feel as though they belong.
School uniforms can be extremely beneficial to a school or just a waste of time. The pros and cons of having school uniforms in public schools has many pros and cons that equal out for the most part. Having uniforms mandatory for schools would be a big decision for lawmakers because the decision of whether uniforms should be mandatory is a local issue, and rules and regulations would have to be thought of for every school. Students, parents of students, and teachers of the communities that have uniforms could be affected a lot based on their opinions towards the issue. Whether uniforms should be mandatory or not all depends on the issue of why they are needed and a persons opinion of why they are needed.
At the beginning of the book, Jane was living with her aunt Mrs. Reed and her children. Although Jane is treated cruelly and is abused constantly, she still displays passion and spirit by fighting back at John and finally standing up to Mrs Reed. Even Bessie ‘knew it was always in her’. Mrs. Reed accuses Jane of lying and being a troublesome person when Mr. Brocklehurst of Lowood School visited Gateshead. Jane is hurt, as she knows she was not deceitful so she defends herself as she defended herself to John Reed when he abused her, as she said “Wicked and cruel boy! You are like a murderer – you are like a slave driver – you are like the Roman emperors!” to John Reed instead of staying silent and taking in the abuse, which would damage her self-confidence and self-worth. With the anger she had gotten from being treated cruelly, she was able to gain ...
School uniforms have become more common nowadays than before. They used to be worn in private schools only it was very rare to go to a public school and see students wearing the same designated outfit. But not everyone is fond of wearing uniforms to school, many people see it as teachers and school administration taking away the rights of self-expression from students. But that shouldn’t really matter because kids and teenagers go to school to gain knowledge and be prepared for the real world not to show off their new pair of shoes to other kids.
...ckquemore. "The Effect of Student Uniforms on Attendance, Behavior Problems, Substance Use, and Academic Achievement." The Journal of Educational Research 13 Feb. 1998. The Parental Action Committee of Polk County, Florida. 5 Apr. 2000 <http://www.members.tripod.com/rockqu/ uniform.html>.