- In Chapter VII, Jane has adjusted herself to life at Lowood Institution. She notes that she has difficulty getting used to the new rules and mundane tasks. The meals continue to be barely filling and hardly nutritious. Going to church on Sunday proved to be a dreary task as the girls were required to walk two miles to Brocklebridge church and back. Jane had been fearing a visit of Mr. Brocklehurst to Lowood Institute as he would very well make her "devious" nature known to everyone. She mentioned a nickname for him as the "Coming Man." He arrived one afternoon as Jane was preoccupied with completing long division on a slate. Jane overheard him speaking with Miss Temple on the discrepancies of the institution. He made comments on the upkeep of clothing and washing. Also giving a long lecture to Miss Temple on the grave mistake she had made in feeding the girls a meal of bread and cheese when the meals were far less than adequate. His reasoning was that the institution is supposed to shape girls to be "hardy, patient, and self-denying." To him there is no use in giving the body the "luxuries" of a good meal; the only thing that matters is the feeding of the soul. Mr. Brocklehurst then, noticing a girl with natural curls, decides that no girl should have curly hair even if it is natural. He states that even though her hair is natural, "we are not to conform to nature." His goal is to, "mortify in these girls the lusts of the flesh; to teach them to clothe themselves with shame-facedness and sobriety." However, right after he makes this statement his wife and daughters enter dressed in the fashions of the day and curls. Jane, still trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, drops her slate on the ground and cracks it in half. Mr. Brocklehurst notices her and calls her to be put on a stool. He then proceed to make a public embarrassment of her, degrading her every ability and proclaiming that she is a liar and one to be wary of. He commands her to stay on the stool for half an hour more and forbids anyone to speak to her for the remainder of the day. As the girls were dismissed to their other activities, one girl passed her and gave her a look that conveyed a common understanding. When Helen Burns passed she looked at Jane with a smile that lit up her whole face.
2. "Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs." Read the last paragraph on page 62 for the context. What do you think of this quote?
- I think that this quote means that there is so much time wasted in harboring ill feelings towards other people and thinking of ways to act our revenge. Tomorrow is not guaranteed for everyone and the time here on earth is likened to a vapor. It is very short and does not last long. Helen Burns is saying that there are so many other things in life to think about. Things that happened in the past cannot be changed and revenge will ultimately do a person no good. Time can be much better spent doing productive things than in storing up anger and plotting revenge.
3. Do you agree with Helen when she says "...it is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what it is your fate to be required to bear"?
- I do agree with Helen when she says this. God places trials in our life and He does not give us more than we can handle. So for one to say that they cannot bear what it is happening to them is foolish. Although trials and tribulations may seem to come "out of the blue" in some cases, God has a specific reason for them. Hardships help give us perseverance, character, and hope. Everyone has the ability to bear what is required of them to bear.
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