Techniques Bronte Uses to Evoke Sympathy from the Reader in Jane Eyre E

Techniques Bronte Uses to Evoke Sympathy from the Reader in Jane Eyre The essay looks at ways and especially the people that evoke sympathy for the reader in Jane Eyre’s younger life. Bronte uses many ways to provoke the reader’s empathy and compassion. People and techniques used to do this, are shown in the following. Sympathy is evoked in the reader through Mrs Reed. Although we are given no details on Jane’s childhood before she comes into Mrs Reeds care, we may presume it was a happy one. The contrast is shown when Mrs Reed kept and held Jane separately from her own children. Jane knows that â€Å"She (Mrs Reed) regretted to be under the necessity of keeping me at a distance†. Also â€Å"She must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy little children†. Jane is trying to empathise with Mrs Reed and understands that she does not belong with the family, and therefore feels lost and unhappy. Many adults in the novel dislike Jane because she is an outspoken individual. She is a non-conformist and goes against the grain of the typical female child of her time. She was told to do as she was told and not to think for herself. Today she would be more accepted by having her own views. She is told that â€Å"There is something truly forbidding in a child taking her elders in that manner, be seated and until you can speak pleasantly remain silent. Jane hides and reads behind some curtains to escape what she perceives as her captors. Her favourite book is Bewicks History of British Birds. She dreams she is visiting islands and far off shores as she travels the globe. The reader can almost visualise her journey and also longs for her freedom. As she reads it is noted that outside the weather is dull... ...l to cut her beautiful locks off, she remonstrates and passes a hanker chief over her lips as though she is trying to hide or brush away her feelings of the stupid accusations. Jane is humiliated in front of the whole school because of Mr.Brocklehurst for false accusations. Mrs.Temple later announces to the school and reassures Jane and everyone that she is a good girl and that what Brocklehurst said was not true, the reader feels vindicated for Jane. Bronte describes her characters knowingly and with insight. The reader is drawn into the sad unjust world of an orphan, especially the female orphan in Victorian England. I feel that Jane is a determined young woman someone who I would like to become friends with, not because we would have much in common but that her life philosophies are wise and she is the product of a well experienced short life time.