Saturday, March 29, 2014

In Jane Eyre Chapter 4, how are Eliza, Georgiana, and John characterized as children?

In the book Jane Eyre Eliza, Georgiana, and John are the Reed children.  Their father is deceased and they are being reared by their mother with the assistance of her servants.  Eliza, Georgina, and John have been raised to regard the poor as being beneath them.  Their compassion of the poor is limited by their circumstances.  They have been taught that being poor as a very bad thing.  John is more of an antagonist against Jane.  He is spoiled and likes to start trouble by making fun of others.  Yet, when he has a consequence for his actions from another child, he runs to his mother or the servants.  The girls are always dressed nicely showing their parent's wealth. 


I do not believe that the children will become anything but what their circumstances will allow.  If the girls find a proper mate with money, they will continue to live in the higherlevel of society.  They may change as they grow older to have compassion for those with less than themselves, but it is doubtful based on the attitudes in their home.  Georgina is already selfish evident by her desire not to share her doll house toys with Jane. Eliza sells her chicken eggs to the servants and hoards the money demonstrating her greed.  John will continue to be spoiled as the male in the household.  He will most likely dominate his mother and perhaps even be a bully among others as he grows to age.  Bullies tend to target people weaker than themselves who have no from of defence.  Since he does not like to have someone fight him back, I imagine that he will fit that pattern well as an adolescent and adult.




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