PLOT POINT 1:

Jane Eyre Hook

 

WARNING: Spoilers Below

Jane Eyre

 

Opening Scene(s) Refresher: Jane is hiding from her cousin, reading a book behind a curtain. Her cousin finds her, commands her to stand still while he berates her, and then he throws a book at her head. Jane attacks him in self-defense and as punishment is forcibly dragged to an abandoned room (the “Red Room,” which hasn’t been actively used since her uncle died and therefore is deemed haunted) on her aunt’s orders and told she must learn to be more passive and submissive.

But how does her introduction accomplish the 8 important elements? Click on each of them below to find out!

Want

Jane wants a family (a unit that will bring her love, belonging, and mutual respect).

Normal World

Jane begins as an orphan in her aunt's house.

  • What makes this unique to Jane? Jane's situation highlights her loneliness and subserviant status juxtaposed with the relative comfort she has been brought up in (her aunt's home). It highlights her love of reading, along with several distinctive character traits.

Ghost

Jan'es Ghost is the fact that her aunt withheld her love from Jane.

Internal Conflict

Jane cannot get what she wants (time alone, love, someone to believe her). She also has a fear of her cousin, frustration at not being believed, and ultimately, fear at being tossed into a frightening room and left alone despite her protests.

External Conflict

There is a physical altercation with Jane's cousin, as well as the servants who drag her to the Red Room and threaten to tie her down when she continues to fight them.

  • How does this introduce the Ghost? Jane's aunt orders for Jane to be dragged to and locked in the Red Room. Despite Jane's protests and claims that she only acted in self-defense, and then her pleas to be let free when terror seizes her in the room, her aunt steadily witholds her love. Jane is told (by her nursemaid, Bessie), "you should try to be useful and pleasant, then, perhaps, you would have a home here; but if you become passionate and rude, Missis will send you away, I am sure.”

Character Traits

  1. Obedient - RELATABLE - Jane begins the scene in obedience to her cousin. We’ve all felt the need to obey someone out of fear at some point.

  2. Willing to stand up for herself - ADMIRABLE - When Jane's cousin pushes her to far, she fights back, showing she has a limit and is willing to stand up for herself.

  3. Long-suffering - LIKABLE - Jane's obedience despite her abuse also highlights another trait that comes into clearer focus throughout her story: long-suffering. We like people who don't make a stink when things don't go exactly their way (as long as they're not complete pushovers, which Jane instantly demonstrates she is not).

Theme

I consider one of Jane Eyre's primary Themes to be self-love. Jane cannot receive love from anyone until she learns to value and love herself. Here we are able to see the source of Jane's lack of self-love.

Stakes

Jane wants family. The opening scene threatens this because the only family she has rejects, abuses, and belittles her.