21

Summary

Jane is summoned back to Gateshead by Bessie’s husband, John Reed has committed suicide and Mrs Reed has had a stroke. She talks to Mrs Reed.

Themes

Religion- Eliza has a strong faith. It seems to fill her days and keep her content but her faith isn’t very active, what use is faith without action?

Character

Georgina- Beauty isn’t everything. She’s completely self involved and thinks only of being popular and having nice things. She is like a spoilt child, she hasn’t grown up, she didn’t leave Gateshead, unlike Jane, definition by comparison. She wants desperately to be ‘Happy’, but, as a consequence perhaps, she is not.

Places

Jane being back at Gateshead provides the perfect opportunity for Bronte to show the reader how much Jane has changed. It allows Jane the scope to mature and rise above the things that in her childhood would have prompted her to react ‘passionately’.