Alienation in Lowood

An image of Jane Eyre from JSTOR Daily

Jane Eyre is a novel set in England, written by Charlotte Bronte, and published in 1847.  The novel centers around Jane’s life as an orphaned child and being employed in a wealthy household.  Bronte's work displays the differences in wealth in 19th century England. However, in order to do this, Bronte had to publish the novel as, “Currer Bell” (York Notes).

In Chapter 7 of the book, Jane Eyre is embarrassed in front of her teachers and classmates. In the beginning of the chapter, there is a heavy allusion Lowood, a very religious town. At the arrival of Mr. Brocklehurst, it becomes evident Christianity is morphed into society. Then, when the Clergymen become present, there is a slight sense of mystery and suspense.  This is portrayed when Jane hides behind her slate and hides her thoughts.  

At one point, Jane accidentally drops and breaks her slate.  This causes an immediate backlash by Mr. Brocklehurst.  Once Mr. Brocklehurst recognizes Jane, she is also personally scrutinized.  This leads to public embarrassment of Jane, which leads her teacher, Miss Temple, to condole Jane. Bronte writes that "the kind whisper went to [Jane's] heart like a dagger." This use of figurative language, specifically the simile, creates a sense of the reader being brokenhearted, as it infers Jane has not ever acknowledged being loved, further revealing she has been alienated in both life and society. Therefore, even though Jane is surrounded by those in a society that is supposed to have perfect Christian values, their actions are far from Christian values, which makes those alienated in society feel unloved.

When Julia Severn is spotted by Mr. Brocklehurst with her curly hair down, he angrily forces her to cut her hair. He argues that the only way to be a Christian child is to refrain from individuality and fit in with all of the girls. Then following Julia's severe punishment, three women, two of whom were teenage girls bearing long hair with extreme curls, while the older woman styled a “false front of French curls." The metaphors used to describe the women's hair reveals how those characters are rich, and like to flaunt their ability to show individualism.  It is later revealed that those women were Mr. Brocklehurst's wife and daughters, showing extreme irony that right after Mr. Brocklehurst scolded Julia for her hair, his daughters and wife appear with excessive hairstyles flaunting individualism. The irony presented in the two situations portrays how the young girls are alienated in society for Bronte to argue the differences in the treatment and perceptions of the different social classes, the family representing a higher social standing and the alienated girls being in the lower class.  

Over time in Lowood, the morals and values of the members of the church, have altered from typical Christian beliefs. This is seen in Jane Eyre's alienation by Mr. Brocklehurst, as her characterization of being a outcast in society is revealed and demolished by a member of the church.  Then, the irony that Mr. Brocklehurst enforces rules in the school that girls are to be uniform in order to be Christian, then allows his family to express extreme individualism, reveals further the alienation of the young girls in society and communicates Bronte's argument that religious realm on society is corrupt, since the town is practically run by religion, however the people don't actually portray Christian values.