Jane Eyre Victorian Era Critique and Analysis By Adam Herabi, Alyssa Engles, Angelina DeCoro, Joana Kapaj, Robert Caamano English II Honors Block 4B

Religious Conformity Views: Victorian Views vs. Brontë's Common Victorian Views Quote Mr. Brocklehurst thinks highly of those who are perfect practicing Christians Practicing Christians are thought highly of at this time Mr. Brocklehurst himself is a stereotypical religious Christian who follows how was customary during the Victorian Era "For the most part, nineteenth century families were large and patriarchal. They encouraged hard work, respectability, social deference and religious conformity" (Victorian Era Passage, Shepherd).

Religious Conformity Views: Victorian Views vs. Brontë's Brontë's View Quote She is religious but does not follow the strict rule of Christianity. Most religious person (Mr. Brocklehurst) but is a hypocrite; starves children meanwhile his daughters flaunt expensive clothes "The two younger of the trio (fine girls of sixteen and seventeen) had grey beaver hats, then in fashion, shaded with ostrich plumes, and from under the brim of this graceful head-dress fell a profusion of light tresses, elaborately curled; the elder lady was enveloped with a costly velvet shawl, trimmed with ermine, and she wore a false front of French curls" (Brontë 61).

Question 1. On page 31-32, what is unexpected in Jane's answer to how she plans to avoid Hell? What does this show about Brontë's views of religion in Victorian times? (Ch. 1-6) Jane responds "I must keep in good health, and not die." This proves that she does not rely on religion to avoid Hell. Brontë does not worship/follow the strict rule of Christianity but still remains religious.

Question 2. How does the anecdote of the "little psalm angel" (32) heighten our contempt for Brocklehurst? Brocklehurst's statements about the quote "little psalm angel" makes the reader dislike him even more because he is using Jane's religious knowledge against her. By comparing her to a younger boy who knows all the psalms by heart, Brocklehurst then proceeds to say that she has a wicked heart since she does not know the psalms.

Question 3. Compare the religious creed that Helen expresses to Jane in Chapters 6 and 7 to the creed that Mr. Brocklehurst states to Miss Temple in Chapter 7. With which of these creeds do you think Brontë wants her readers to sympathize? (Ch. 7-10) While Helen believes that angels watch over us and the afterlife with God, Mr. Brocklehurst believes in a plan and that suffering will lead to an afterlife in heaven. Brontë wants her readers to sympathize with Helen's more relaxed approach rather to Mr. Brocklehurst's strict and more Victorian point of view.