Jane Eyre- Chapter 5
Extract
I stood and warmed my numbed fingers over the blaze, then I looked round; there was no candle,
but the uncertain light from the hearth showed, by intervals, papered walls, carpet, curtains, shining
mahogany furniture: it was a parlour, not so spacious or splendid as the drawing-room at Gateshead,
but comfortable enough. I was puzzling to make out the subject of a picture on the wall, when the
door opened, and an individual carrying a light entered; another followed close behind.
The first was a tall lady with dark hair, dark eyes, and a pale and large forehead; her figure was partly
enveloped in a shawl, her countenance was grave, her bearing erect.
"The child is very young to be sent alone," said she, putting her candle down on the table. She
considered me attentively for a minute or two, then further added —
"She had better be put to bed soon; she looks tired: are you tired?" she asked, placing her hand on
my shoulder.
"A little, ma'am."
"And hungry too, no doubt: let her have some supper before she goes to bed, Miss Miller. Is this the
first time you have left your parents to come to school, my little girl?"
I explained to her that I had no parents. She inquired how long they had been dead: then how old I
was, what was my name, whether I could read, write, and sew a little: then she touched my cheek
gently with her forefinger, and saying, "She hoped I should be a good child," dismissed me along
with Miss Miller.
The lady I had left might be about twenty-nine; the one who went with me appeared some years
younger: the first impressed me by her voice, look, and air. Miss Miller was more ordinary; ruddy in
complexion, though of a careworn countenance; hurried in gait and action, like one who had always
a multiplicity of tasks on hand: she looked, indeed, what I afterwards found she really was, an under-
teacher.
This extract begins after Jane has travelled through unpleasant weather, as Brontë employs pathetic
fallacy to mirror her fear, and to foreshadow how the students are regarded at Lowood. Jane was
guided inside by a servant, before being left alone once more. Victorians would associate light with
Christianity, but Jane remarks that “there was no candle”, implying that there was a sense of
hopelessness. Then, however, Miss Temple enters, “carrying a light”, which could serve to represent
how Miss Temple is refuge for Jane- as her surname suggests.
Jane describes Miss Temple as being “a tall lady with dark hair, dark eyes, and a pale and large
forehead”, all of which would’ve been regarded as attractive features for women at the time.
Additionally, as Brontë endorsed the notion of physiognomy, it could be said that her having a “large
forehead” would serve to reflect her intellect and honesty; both being traits admired by Jane.
The first thing Miss Temple says is that Jane seems “Very young to be sent alone”, which shows her
compassionate nature, as no one in Jane’s life seemed concerned by this (aside from Bessie). Miss
Temple goes on to address Jane directly, asking her: “Are you tired?”. This further conveys how
much Miss Temple cares, in contrast to other figures that Jane had encountered, as they hadn’t
given much consideration to her needs.
