To what extent does Jane Eyre’s past affect her fate?

To what extend does Jane Eyre’s past affect her fate?

Charlotte Brontë uses many different ways to affect Jane Eyre’s fate.

By giving Jane a difficult and tiresome childhood from a very young

age it has an effect on her adult life.

From a very early age Jane Eyre had a very unusual childhood. She

started in a very unloving family with her aunts and cousins. She felt

unloved and had a sense of refusal. Her cousin John beat her and she

always hit back. When she did so, she was often caught and locked in

the red room. Her auntie sent her to Loward boarding school. This was

a very worrying time for Jane because already at the age of around 10

she has had no love and care in her life. The boarding school didn’t

aid her in anyway.

At boarding school Jane did not fit in. Again she was not cared for.

She felt unsafe, unhappy, but does find her first friend. Helen Burns

is a real turning point in Jane’s life. Jane really stood up for her

new friend too. When Helen gets punished Jane stays with her. Little

bits like this help to shape Jane into a Lady and who she will be when

she is older. Jane’s new friend was a good believer in God. When Helen

was very ill, Jane realises that Helen is in trouble and could die,

Helen tells Jane what will happen when she dies.

“I am very happy, Jane; and when you hear that I am dead, you must be

sure and not grieve: there is nothing to grieve about.”

This scene takes part in Helen’s bed, and is a very touching scene of

the two girls bonding. The scene is clam and relaxed. By using long

sentences, you can get a feel that Helen’s voice is soft, and that

there is there are no interruptions. Helen goes on later to say,

“I have only a father, and he is lately married, and will not miss me.

By dying young, I shall escape great sufferings. I had not qualities

or talents to make my way very well in the world: I should have been

continually at fault”

Jane and Helen have something in common here. The girls both have the

sense that their families don’t love them and that they are in life on

their own. But, now they have found each other, the girls are

comforted that they are not the only ones.

Helen has her own beliefs and opinions too.

“…my Maker and yours, who will never destroy what He created. I rely