When Jane returns to see Aunt Reed she sees Aunt Reed’s condition and feels sympathy. Jane is willing to forgive her for the years she spent at Gateshead; however, Mrs. Reed is still bitter towards Jane but wants to discuss some matters with her. Mrs. Reed begins to talk (she seems to be a little delirious) to Jane as if she was another person. The reason why Mrs. Reed dislikes Jane is reveled in this chapter. Jane’s mother was Uncle Reed’s sister and because of the class difference between Jane’s mother and father, Jane’s mother’s family were ready to disown her if she made such an arrangement. Uncle Reed supported his sister and at the time of her death, Uncle Reed kept his watch on young Jane. It appears that because of all the attention Jane received as a child from Uncle Reed, Mrs. Reed was jealous for herself and her own children. She goes on to discuss her son, John Reed, whom she may not know is dead. After a couple of days, Jane is able to talk to Mrs. Reed once more. Mrs. Reed apologizes to Jane about how she broke her promise to Mr. Reed and failed her responsibility of caring for Jane. Additionally, Mrs. Reed apologizes for keeping a letter from Jane’s uncle, John Eyre which discusses his will and fortune. Mrs. Reed states that she was still bitter and angry towards Jane that she lied to John saying that Jane died from typhus at Lowood. Jane still forgives her but Mrs. Reed dies some time later.
Katie McNaughton I was surprised both in the fact that Jane returned and the Aunt Reed felt no remorse or guilt for tormenting Jane. I feel Jane returned to seek closure and answers from her aunt, but Aunt Reed candidly admitted the she believed "[Jane] was born to be her torment" This reveals just how selfish Aunt Reed is. Even on her death bed, she admits thats she withheld every comfort she could provide out of spite and jealousy.
I definitely agree with both Katie and Merlin. There is a double or split reaction from Aunt Reed in this part that almost was confusing. Aunt Reed seems apologetic at one point for not treating Jane better and not keeping her promise with her husband, Jane's uncle, along with lying and not telling Jane about the letter from John Eyre. Then on the flip side of that Aunt Reed also appears still bitter towards Jane and then appears to not have any remorse towards her actions on Jane and believes that Jane was born to be her torment, which is pretty harsh. I think that this conflicting point of view is showing up because she is... on her death bed. I think that Aunt Reed truly is selfish and has a harsh bitterness about her and about Jane, but when on her death bed she is considering all of the things she did wrong, which is a pretty normal thing when you're dying. For Aunt Reed to pretty much see her own children not amount to a ton before she dies is a hard thing to watch, and then to have the one person you hate be the person who travels and cares to see you when you're dying is probably not an easy thing to swallow. So Aunt Reeds conflicting emotions and feelings towards Jane in this part I think really show a lot more about her life and her own struggles since Jane has been away. For me it kind of opened my eyes to realize she is not totally heartless, but she is human too, and I think everything caught up to her that she had done in life while she laid on her death bed.
I wonder if Aunt Reed is so candid BECAUSE she is dying and therefore feels no need to lie OR if its because she isn't quite lucid from the stroke and opium (in the book she reffers to Jane in the third person) and therefore is much more honest and harsh. I wonder too about the letter telling of Jane's connections to her supposedly wealthy family. I wonder if her life would have been any better with her uncle in a foreign country alone. What if he died as well. She would truely be destitute. The irony is that she still becomes wealthy theough rochester
I feel as if their encounter really showed how these characters felt about each other. Aunt Reed of course despised Jane and this is further proof that she is not willing to be a "nice" mother figure to her. Jane is trying to have Mrs. Reed have peace with herself and have her die without any anger on her. It shows how Jane is truly trying to make things better even her relationship wasn't a good one before. Additionally for Mrs. Reed to keep all her secrets (Jane's father information) and literally take them to her grave further prove her remorse towards Jane.
This just shows the true nature of their relationship as a whole. If there was any doubt in the beginning of the novel that Aunt Reed despised Jane than this scene sealed the deal. I almost get a sense that Aunt Reed may not have loved her husband after they took in Jane because it might seem as Uncle Reed loved Jane more and showed her more love then their own children. So to instead of fulfilling Uncle Reed's wishes he does everything against them and make sure that Jane is miserable and she will never find out the truth about her past.
It was very interesting how Jane despite all what Mrs.Reed to her she still tried to mend her relationship with her before she died. Jane felt some conflicting feelings but, she felt like because, Mrs.Reed was dying that it would only be natural to try to fix their relationship. But Mrs.Reed still wanted to be that bitter woman and declined Jane's hand. I felt like Mrs. Reed couldn't accept Jane because, her husband seemed to favor her over the other children. Because of this Mrs.Reed felt jealously towards Jane.
This scene really reveals just how bitter Miss Reed is and always has been. Admitting to mistreating Jane and going against her husband's dying wishes simply due to jealousy caused by Jane being Mr. Reed's favorite. It seems that Miss Reed and her son John somewhat got what they deserved, though it is harsh to say considering death is a harsh punishment, I believe it is okay to assume that the bitter and evil people they were when Jane lived there, were who they grew into and became as they got older. It is so unfortunate that Miss Reed is still very bitter towards Jane, and it is pitiful that she refuses to make a sincere apology, not one that is due to her dying. I believe that this was good closure for Jane, and it showed her that she must let go of the past, and let is help her and not hinder her, because everyone will get what they deserve.
When Jane returns to see Aunt Reed she sees Aunt Reed’s condition and feels sympathy. Jane is willing to forgive her for the years she spent at Gateshead; however, Mrs. Reed is still bitter towards Jane but wants to discuss some matters with her. Mrs. Reed begins to talk (she seems to be a little delirious) to Jane as if she was another person. The reason why Mrs. Reed dislikes Jane is reveled in this chapter. Jane’s mother was Uncle Reed’s sister and because of the class difference between Jane’s mother and father, Jane’s mother’s family were ready to disown her if she made such an arrangement. Uncle Reed supported his sister and at the time of her death, Uncle Reed kept his watch on young Jane. It appears that because of all the attention Jane received as a child from Uncle Reed, Mrs. Reed was jealous for herself and her own children. She goes on to discuss her son, John Reed, whom she may not know is dead. After a couple of days, Jane is able to talk to Mrs. Reed once more. Mrs. Reed apologizes to Jane about how she broke her promise to Mr. Reed and failed her responsibility of caring for Jane. Additionally, Mrs. Reed apologizes for keeping a letter from Jane’s uncle, John Eyre which discusses his will and fortune. Mrs. Reed states that she was still bitter and angry towards Jane that she lied to John saying that Jane died from typhus at Lowood. Jane still forgives her but Mrs. Reed dies some time later.
ReplyDeleteKatie McNaughton
ReplyDeleteI was surprised both in the fact that Jane returned and the Aunt Reed felt no remorse or guilt for tormenting Jane. I feel Jane returned to seek closure and answers from her aunt, but Aunt Reed candidly admitted the she believed "[Jane] was born to be her torment" This reveals just how selfish Aunt Reed is. Even on her death bed, she admits thats she withheld every comfort she could provide out of spite and jealousy.
I definitely agree with both Katie and Merlin. There is a double or split reaction from Aunt Reed in this part that almost was confusing. Aunt Reed seems apologetic at one point for not treating Jane better and not keeping her promise with her husband, Jane's uncle, along with lying and not telling Jane about the letter from John Eyre. Then on the flip side of that Aunt Reed also appears still bitter towards Jane and then appears to not have any remorse towards her actions on Jane and believes that Jane was born to be her torment, which is pretty harsh. I think that this conflicting point of view is showing up because she is... on her death bed. I think that Aunt Reed truly is selfish and has a harsh bitterness about her and about Jane, but when on her death bed she is considering all of the things she did wrong, which is a pretty normal thing when you're dying. For Aunt Reed to pretty much see her own children not amount to a ton before she dies is a hard thing to watch, and then to have the one person you hate be the person who travels and cares to see you when you're dying is probably not an easy thing to swallow. So Aunt Reeds conflicting emotions and feelings towards Jane in this part I think really show a lot more about her life and her own struggles since Jane has been away. For me it kind of opened my eyes to realize she is not totally heartless, but she is human too, and I think everything caught up to her that she had done in life while she laid on her death bed.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Aunt Reed is so candid BECAUSE she is dying and therefore feels no need to lie OR if its because she isn't quite lucid from the stroke and opium (in the book she reffers to Jane in the third person) and therefore is much more honest and harsh. I wonder too about the letter telling of Jane's connections to her supposedly wealthy family. I wonder if her life would have been any better with her uncle in a foreign country alone. What if he died as well. She would truely be destitute. The irony is that she still becomes wealthy theough rochester
DeleteI feel as if their encounter really showed how these characters felt about each other. Aunt Reed of course despised Jane and this is further proof that she is not willing to be a "nice" mother figure to her. Jane is trying to have Mrs. Reed have peace with herself and have her die without any anger on her. It shows how Jane is truly trying to make things better even her relationship wasn't a good one before. Additionally for Mrs. Reed to keep all her secrets (Jane's father information) and literally take them to her grave further prove her remorse towards Jane.
ReplyDeleteThis just shows the true nature of their relationship as a whole. If there was any doubt in the beginning of the novel that Aunt Reed despised Jane than this scene sealed the deal. I almost get a sense that Aunt Reed may not have loved her husband after they took in Jane because it might seem as Uncle Reed loved Jane more and showed her more love then their own children. So to instead of fulfilling Uncle Reed's wishes he does everything against them and make sure that Jane is miserable and she will never find out the truth about her past.
ReplyDeleteIt was very interesting how Jane despite all what Mrs.Reed to her she still tried to mend her relationship with her before she died. Jane felt some conflicting feelings but, she felt like because, Mrs.Reed was dying that it would only be natural to try to fix their relationship. But Mrs.Reed still wanted to be that bitter woman and declined Jane's hand. I felt like Mrs. Reed couldn't accept Jane because, her husband seemed to favor her over the other children. Because of this Mrs.Reed felt jealously towards Jane.
ReplyDeleteThis scene really reveals just how bitter Miss Reed is and always has been. Admitting to mistreating Jane and going against her husband's dying wishes simply due to jealousy caused by Jane being Mr. Reed's favorite. It seems that Miss Reed and her son John somewhat got what they deserved, though it is harsh to say considering death is a harsh punishment, I believe it is okay to assume that the bitter and evil people they were when Jane lived there, were who they grew into and became as they got older. It is so unfortunate that Miss Reed is still very bitter towards Jane, and it is pitiful that she refuses to make a sincere apology, not one that is due to her dying. I believe that this was good closure for Jane, and it showed her that she must let go of the past, and let is help her and not hinder her, because everyone will get what they deserve.
ReplyDelete