Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre †A Story of One Abused Child :: Jane Eyre Essays

Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre A Story of One Abused ChildAccording to Alexandrias daily newspaper, The Town Talk, approximately 34,910 cases of suspected pip-squeak abuse were reported in Louisiana alone last year (Crooks). Charlotte Bronte tells of one victim of child abuse in her novel Jane Eyre. In Jane Eyre, Bronte chronicles the feel of Jane, a notoriously plain female in want of love. After being abused, Jane portrays many characteristics which other victims of abuse often portray. Throughout the novel, Jane is reclusive, pessimistic, and self-deprecating. Although Jane does display much(prenominal) traits through most of her life, she is finally able to overcome her past. By facing her abusive aunt, Jane rises above her abuse to become truly happy. In his essay Jane Eyre The necessitate for Optimism, Frederick L. Ashe writes, It is hard to imagine anyone learned enough to read Jane Eyre who would consider her first ten years emotionally healthful ones (Ashe). Ashe, whose cr iticism appeared in Novels for Students, Volume 4, is worsen in his opinion. Janes abuse first begins in her own home. Her life until age ten is filled with abuse from her cousin John beating-reed instrument, the mockery of the class servants, and the physical and mental abuse of her Aunt Reed. Johns first abuse of Jane comes when he throws a heavy book at her head. Bronte writes in Janes voice, I saw him lift and poise the book and stand in act to hurl it, I instinctively started aside with a cry of apprehension not soon enough, however the volume was flung, it hit me, and I fell, striking my head against the door and cutting it. The cut bled, the pain was sharp (Bronte 13). Johns physical abuse of Jane is not the only abuse she receives, though. After Jane recovers from the abuse bestowed upon her by John, Miss Abbot, a servant, says of Jane, If she were a nice, pretty child, one might tender-hearted her forlornness but one really cannot care for such a little toad as that (B ronte 28). Although this abuse pains Jane, it is the abuse of her Aunt Reed that hurts Jane the most. Aunt Reeds first maltreatment of Jane is on the first page of the novel. Aunt Reed gathers her children around her for a happy family moment. Jane, however, is left alone. Jane says, Aunt Reed regretted to be