The Distribution of Power at Gateshead in Jane Eyre
At Gateshead, the Reed family holds power over Jane Eyre. The Reed's power comes in several forms, including limiting Jane's social contact as well as bullying her. The Reeds also psychologically abuse Jane by attacking her value. Mrs. Reed does not allow Jane to interact with her cousins saying that not until, "by her own observation that I was endeavoring in good earnest to acquire a more sociable and child-like disposition, ...she really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy, little children." (p.7) This line not only shows the limit of Jane's social contact, but also her exclusion from the family as well as a psychological attack against her. Jane's cousin John is the member of the Reed family that physically holds power over her. "He bullied and punished me: not two or three times in the week, nor once or twice in the day, but continually: every nerve I had feared him ..." (p.10) Up until Jane's fight with John, she was expected to remain silent until she could "speak pleasantly," she also took all of her abuse without reply. Throughout John's bullying, Jane's, "care was how to endure the blow which would certainly follow the insult." (p.10) She realizes that reacting will do her no good and that
All of this abuse causes Jane much psychological harm. There are several elements that contribute to Jane's psychological abuse. First is Jane's separation from her cousins, this element points out that she is different from the Reeds and lays a foundation for more damaging abuse. The second element is the verbal and physical abuse, this element shows Jane that she is below the Reeds. The verbal abuse comes in two forms, first the passive abuse, such as when John points out that Jane has nothing, the second is a more direct abuse, this is when she is told that she is below the Reeds, an example of this is, "you are less than a servant, for you do nothing for your keep." (p.12) The third element is showing Jane that she is powerless against the Reeds. The clearest example of this is when she fights with John and she is punished, while John receives no punishment. This is not a single example of this type of abuse, we are told that in all other times when John physically abuses her that, "Mrs. Reed was blind and deaf on the subject: she never saw him strike or heard him abuse me; though he did both now and then in her very presence." (p.10) This suggests that Mrs. Reed is aware of John's abuse, however she does not disapprove or stop it, and there for encourages it. Jane
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Approximate Word count = 861
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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