Context Flashcards
Charlotte was a Governess
clearly links to Jane’s position. Charlotte knew the family she was working for and so expected to be accepted as more than a governess, but was in fact met with less respect than she would like. Jane on the other hand ends up frequently attending parties and conversing with the Master, perhaps she is acting out a fantasy?
Lowood
Lowood is basically just the Clergy Daughter’s School that Charlotte went to. The elder children attended this school that was built specifically for the clergymen’s daughters to gain a basic education. It was the same as Lowood in the way that the food was poor, living conditions were poor, and many children died of illnesses. Including Charlotte’s two older siblings
Charlotte hated teaching
Charlotte taught children on a Sunday afternoon after church but apparently she said she would rather teach her dog than teach children. Jane seems to adopt this attitude herself when it comes to teaching the poor village children as ordered by St John. She thought she was above it, perhaps Charlotte did too.
Charlotte thought herself plain
Jane cannot see herself as anything but, and constantly describes herself that way. As do other characters in the book, namely Rochester.
Charlotte had a strong character
She fought for her beliefs, like Jane. Even though she was said to be a shy person around company, like Jane. She also had high moral values, like Helen Burns passed on to Jane.
Marriage gone wrong
Charlotte fell in love with his teacher but he was already married, and so her feelings for him were not reciprocated. Rochester already had a wife, and so Jane left him and went away like Charlotte went back to Haworth. However in Jane Eyre, Rochester does love Jane, and they do end up marrying. Perhaps Charlotte wanted her life to pan out this way and is living vicariously through Jane.
Anne and Helen
Both very sickly children but were both hugely religious. However, Anne went on to live a short but accomplished life. Helen did not.
