because of her love of books...

Jane in Chapter 5, page no.87, initiates conversation with a stranger merely because of curiosity and not because of loneliness or being gregarious by nature. This can be concluded from the lines preceding the conversation: “I stood lonely enough: but to that feeling of isolation I was accustomed: it did not oppress me much.”

Jane seems to love books and reading as it seems to be the only reason for her to start a conversation with a stranger in a sea of strangers. She herself finds it surprising that she started a conversation as can be inferred from these lines: “I hardly know where I found the hardihood thus to open a conversation with a stranger. The step was contrary to my nature or habits”. She only read childish and frivolous kinds of books and could not comprehend serious tests. She seems to like magic with her reference to fairies and genii as something she liked to read about.

In the entire length of the conversation it can be seen that Jane keeps questioning about different things, from the tablet she found to the stranger’s personal life. She is very inquisitive by nature, and also very curious. Jane is neither diplomatic nor does she have enough tact while questioning the stranger, “Are you an orphan?”

Jane wishes to know all about her new environment and the people who are there. She is a child with the childish tendency of opening her mouth before thinking through what she wants to say. She is honest. (“I cannot pronounce her name as you do”; “But Miss.Temple is the best – isn’t she?”)

The book "Rasselas" attracted her...

Jane was introduced to a new institution called “Lowood Institution”. The name of the institution and a verse written along with it made Jane think that there is some connection between the name and the verse. When she was thinking so, she heard a cough close behind her and turned her head. Jane saw a girl reading a book with the title “Rasselas”. This title struck Jane and also attracted her. That girl who was reading the book was Helen Burns. When Helen looked up, Jane did not see her as a stranger but started to converse with her. First, she spoke about the book in Helen’s hand and next asked about the institution. Their conversation continued for a long time about the issues relating to the institution. 

The reason for Jane to initiate the conversation with a stranger was, firstly, the book which attracted her. The next reason was, she wanted to know the connection between the name of the institution and the verse written on the stone over the door.

Observations on the character of Jane: Jane is a good natured girl. She was ill-treated by Mrs.Reed in front of all her cousins. Jane fell sick in the former days and was looked after by Mr.Lloyd who was a doctor. He felt pity for the sake of Jane but Mrs.Reed said bad things about Jane to Mr.Lloyd. Finally Bessie, servant of Mrs.Reed, told him that these allegations were not true. Looking at the character of Jane Eyre, here, we find that she was calm and obeyed Mrs.Reed. Even though she was asked to stay in the nursing room and not allowed to mingle with others, Jane did not mind it. She felt everything inside her heart, but did not show anything out.

In the course of her conversation, Jane was very much bothered about the things which are around her and she is eager to know her surroundings. In her first conversation itself, she tries to know fully about Helen Burns and her character. She is asking questions above questions, but Helen answers her quietly. So she likes Helen but when Helen was punished, she is made to think about her. From the above conversation we come to know that Jane was entirely different from others.

She needs a companion to have peace in life...

Jane Eyre didn’t have any peace and happiness in her aunt’s house. She wants to escape from there. This is the cause for her to join in that institution. So, she will be joining with the imagination that she can be happy with others there. This is the first reason for Jane to communicate with a stranger for a friendship. Moreover, she also feels lonely in that new place. In that new place she may have wanted to be a jovial person because she was not at all happy in Mrs.Reed’s house. I feel that she was in need and in search of friendship. Every normal human being needs a companion. Everyone needs someone to share our joys, sorrows, opinions and everything. She is in search of that because in Mrs.Reed’s house, she was alone. She didn’t have anyone to share her feelings and emotions. Mrs.Reed and her children dislike Jane. They always ill-treat her. Even Bessie will scold her in some circumstances. So, she feels she must need a companion to have a little peace in her life. And, I also feel that, Jane particularly selected Helen Burns because she saw her alone. Burns was reading a book. It may be an impression for Jane to talk to her. Because when she was in Mrs.Reed’s house, books were her only companions. She reads lots and lots of books. It is not only an hobby for her, but also a job that she does full-time. These are the reasons which I feel about the conversation of Jane with Helen and about Jane and Helen.

She did it more for selfish reasons...

Jane Eyre reads the words in the stone tablet over the door bore. It was written ‘LOWOOD INSTITUTION – This portion was rebuilt by Naomi Brocklehurst, of Brocklehurst Hall, in this county. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven” – St.Mathew 5:16. After reading this, Jane was confused and pondered over it. She wanted to know the connection between the first words and the scripture. So Jane was very curious to know about that. She was finding a clue to get the reason for that verse. By the time she saw that girl, the book in that girl’s hand was a means of connecting them. As Jane wanted to know about the words written, she finds that the book in that girl’s hand may have any clues to know about the connection between the first words and the Scripture.

I think that this would be the reason for Jane to initiate this conversation with a stranger. I don’t think that Jane felt lonely at that time and also by reading the novel. I don’t think Jane is very gregarious by nature and loved socialising because Jane’s brought up is not like that. She had a sense of loneliness and isolation is evident in the way she hides herself behind thick curtains in a deserted room, ostracised by her aunt and cousins.

As Jane travels to Lowood School, she was alone and friendless. She sees the harsh treatment of the girls, the bad food and the regimented systems. Jane clearly recognises another kindred spirit. She is, however, confused by Helen’s acceptance of a seemingly unjust punishment. So Jane was to know what is happening around her in Lowood School. She wants to know whether everyone is bad. She fears that everyone there was unkind. She was in need of comfort and so she was asking questions to the girl. I think that the character and nature of Jane in the course of the conversation with Jane is little selfish. She wanted to know about the Lowood School not only for the sake of enquiring about the residence of girls. The main reason is that, she wants to survive. So I say that Jane was little bit selfish in this conversation.              

Because Jane is gregarious by nature...

Jane at first interacts with Helen by saying “Is your book interesting?” In this we come to know that already Jane is hated and she is now all alone, and Lowood is a new place to her and she feels lonely and so she wants to have company. From my perspective, that is the reason why she is initiating a conversation with Helen.

In page 46 Jane begins to make conversation with Helen. Now Jane herself initiates the conversation by asking the question. She says, “I hardly know where I found the hardihood thus to open a conversation with a stranger. The step was contrary to my nature and habits."

So from this we are able to know that Jane is a socialising person and now the situation is two way, because Jane is a socialising person by nature and now she is left alone and it is very easy for her to make conversation with Helen. Jane doesn’t stop there. Again she is asking a question to Helen: “Can you tell me what the writing on that stone over the door means?” So far, this Helen gives her a full view of what the Lowood is, and why they are in that institution and all the other things related to that institution. In this stage, the conversation becomes a little more closer because it is not a one way conversation. Since Helen is describing about Lowood, Jane also, not wishing to keep quiet, had her own questions to ask, like: “Why do they call it institution? Is it in any way different from other schools?

In the course of Jane Eyre’s conversation with Helen, it seems that Jane is eager to be a friend of Helen and also enthusiastic to know more information about Lowood Institution. From the observations of Jane’s character, from my point of view, we come to know that she is a social person who likes to interact with others.

II BA Eng.Litt, students shine...

I am of the firm view that in a flexible and creative atmosphere, students think originally, and with a vast inventory of knowledge, give some of their finest thoughts through pen to paper. Given below are uploads of the answers that my students of II BA English have written as part of their internal tests. For the sake of preserving their identity, I just give the answers alone without their names. It's upto the students to find their own creative vibes :-) Happy Reading..!

And, the question was:

The hardest part of socializing, for many people, is initiating a conversation. And, the most important part of initiating conversation with a stranger is, arguably, having confidence. Moreover, getting to know people before initiating a conversation is not always practical.

Now, in this particular chapter, you find Jane initiating a conversation with a girl by asking her “Is your book interesting?’

What do you think were the reasons for Jane to initiate this conversation with a stranger? Was it because she felt lonely, or was it because she was very gregarious by nature and loved socialising, or was it because of any other reason, that you feel was the real ca(u)se? What are your observations on the character and nature of Jane in the course of the conversation?

Jane - attracted to the world of fantasy...

In Chapter 5, Jane arrives at Lowood and she starts her life there. That time, when she is in need of a companion, she starts her talk with the girl sitting on a stone bench bear with a book. That is none other than Helen Burns. The reasons for Jane to initiate this conversation is just because, she is in need of a companion. Her way of imitating the conversation as for asking about the book, makes the stranger also to answer her question. Moreover, Jane is interested in

reading books that can be seen in Chapter 1 and also she found the book in Helen’s hand interesting because of its title “Rasselas” and she even had the plan of asking her to lend it someday.

The way the conversation goes is all about the book Rasselas. It an also be seen that, that book looked dull to her taste. “Rasselas” looked dull to my trifling taste; I saw nothing about fairies, nothing about genii; no bright variety seemed to spread over the closely printed pages.’

It can be seen that, Jane is very much attracted by the world of fantasy and that this book does not please her sense. As the conversation moves, they both get to know each other. Thus, Jane’s motive of initiating the conversation is also fulfilled.

Endurance factor played a role...

Here we can see how Jane Eyre starts off her conversation with Helen Burns. As it is said in the question, it is difficult to start a conversation. We usually have the starting trouble. Sometimes, it is not possible to know about the person first before initiating a talk. Some people are introverts and some extroverts. Only people who have the talent of socialising are usually seen to quickly start off any conversations.

But here the situation is different. It is not that Jane Eyre is feeling lonely, neither because she is a very socialised person that she is going and talking to Burns but according to me the real cause is different. I feel when Jane would have met her in class, she would have seen herself in her; how Jane used to get abused for anything and everything by Reeds, how Helen is getting scolded by her teacher etc. Helen was constantly getting abused in her class which made Jane remember her past in Gateshead. Helen is sent out of her class and even when she answered all questions, she was scolded for some other reasons.

Also, another thing which would have attracted Jane towards Helen may be Helen’s level of endurance. Jane who used to be very reactive for everything and also who used to be a very emotional girl is attracted to a girl who is opposite to her in character, a girl who has reasoning capacity, who is very patient and understanding and a girl with full Christian or religious understanding which was not there in Jane.

In the course of the conversation Jane learns to understand situations and to reason out and to be pro-active. She learns another lesson from Helen that “not to judge by appearances”.

Her passion for books was a reason...

I comprehend Jane Eyre to be a very lonely girl who has got many emotions suppressed within herself. She doesn’t seem to be friendly that easily because she got used to her solitude right from the childhood. She is much passionate towards the books. I reckon, that passion for

books made her to start the conversation with a girl who is a stranger. The title of the book “Rasselas” in the hand of the girl has attracted her, though she felt strange the attraction made her to take the effort to start the conversation. The quoted lines, make me feel that she isn’t friendly, only the book (attraction) made her talk. Pg.53 ‘I hardly know where I found the hardihood thus to open a conversation with a stranger; the step was contrary to my nature and habits.

 

The above lines mean that she doesn’t actually love socialising and she is not gregarious by nature according to my point of view. She is lonely, but the attraction for the title ‘Rasselas’ and the passion for books made her start the conversation with a girl who is a stranger.  

Loneliness was a probable cause...

I assume that one of the reasons for Jane to begin her conversation was loneliness. Although she says that she does not feel lonely, later when she speaks about the surroundings and climatic conditions, she wasn’t “the wind to howl more wildly, the gloom to deepen the darkness, and the confusion to rise the clamour’. Usually, people when they feel lonely they would feel the same way like the room to become more darker and so on.

And I feel that when Jane stayed at Mrs.Reed’s house, Jane was always left alone. As she was not given much freedom or love etc. And as she was bullied by John Reeds, I think maybe Jane has forgotten what was loneliness. 

Most probably when we are with a group of friends, we don’t usually try to think about the climate around or to look around and mind others. Jane here as she is alone she looks around the room then speaks about the climate and so on. So, I assume that Jane feels lonely and thus, when she finds Helen with a book, she immediately approaches her and tries to converse with her. If Jane had not felt lonely she can also be simply looking at Helen and turning away from her. Although she felt outwardly that she was not alone, her heart yearned for companionship.

In one way, we can say that Jane is courageous and bold but in this case I assume that although Jane Eyre begins the conversation only as she doesn’t know anyone there and as she feels lonely she is one way compelled into this conversation. But she is also courageous as she tries to converse with one of the seniors in age and in stay.

Jane is not worried about anything. She just presents her views while conversing with Helen. 

She is not a type who first says few things and watches the person to react and then share the matters, but Jane is straightforward. She shows herself more courageous while saying about what would be her reaction if Mrs.Scratched would behave with her as with Helen. When she makes this point it is clear that only she is courageous behind and not while facing because when she was with Mrs.Reed, and when John throws the book at her she can be acting against him but she is not very bold. And when Brocklehurst says all sorts of bad things about her in front of all she just keeps quiet.

 

On the religious perspective, I assume that Jane didn’t know much about religion. Although she was a Christian (name sake), she didn’t follow the principles or the lessons in the Bible. She listens to Helen and she also analyses herself. One way she is unaware or may be does not know anything about religion as she was young and no one to teach her about it. She is ready to accept what she hears. And she understands things more clearly and easily. 

Birds of a feather... (having the same tastes) was a reason...

Jane Eyre, the protagonist of the novel finds in Helen Burns, a friend and a mentor (as the novel progresses). Jane and Helen are brought in contact at LOWOOD INSTITUTION.

The reference to this initiation of conversation between Jane and Helen can be found in chapter5, pg.53.

The question is the reason/reasons for Jane to initiate this conversation with a total stranger.

It is not the nature of Jane to socialise as Jane herself admits in pg.53 (ch.5)

“The step was ... and habits”.

This nature of not ‘socialising easily’ can be attributed to her life at Gateshead. She was always left in the nursery alone (by Reeds). “She really must ... happy little children” (Ch. 1)

This probably would have made her ‘reserved’.

I personally feel it’s partly because she is alone that she herself opens up a conversation and partly because of the same taste, she assumes Helen shared with her (reading habit: same taste). To justify this, the very line,

“Is your book interesting” can be taken into consideration.

Maybe the isolation that was thrust upon her at Gateshead would have made her a bookworm. Secondly, if we observe the conversation its typically a child’s conversation (or one can say a conversation that suited her age). Trivial things as it may appear to the adult may matter a lot to them. She is very eager to read the nature of the authority around. This she does, maybe to make herself well-acquainted to the place or maybe to make-out how different is it from Gateshead.

She is very childish though impulsive at times. Her childishness and her immaturity is seen when she makes a comment (to herself) on the book Rasselas. When she examines the book she calls it disinteresting just because “nothing about fairies, nothing about genii” (pg.54, Ch.5)

The eagerness she has makes her pose so many trivial questions which Helen kept on answering.

Eg: ‘Do you like the teachers?’

‘Are you happy here?’ etc.

To sum up my observations, I find Jane totally immature and eager to know more about people and surroundings.

Frustration due to loneliness was a cause...

Jane Eyre was a girl who was left in isolation. It is really very hard to overcome the pain of being pushed back and ill-treated. There was none to console her and have some concern for her affairs.  Now as she entered the Lowood School she knew that everyone who was there might have gone through Jane’s problem because obviously it was an orphanage. Even after going there she felt the loneliness. As for me, she was frustrated that much because of loneliness that she initiated to go and question a stranger. Maybe she couldn’t muster the strength to bear any more pain of being in isolation. Before coming to Lowood it was fair to digest that she was left alone because the family was not ready to accept her because she was an orphan and she was not as pretty as Georgina. But Bessie Lee and Mrs. Abbott had some sort of concern for her.

But after boarding Lowood it is fair to be alone as there were many other children of the samwe way. I don’t think  that Jane Eyre loved socialising. Generally, people who are social would never feel loneliness as such.

And grasping into the conversation, Jane Eyre also had the habit reading books. She also wanted to have the book where the line clearly says, ‘I had already formed the intention of asking her to lend it to me some day” (Pg 53, Peacock Books

And to denote Jane Eyre who was not a person who loved socialising, this line states that, “I hardly know where I found the hardihood thus to open a conversation with a stranger; the step was contrary to my nature and habits. But I think her occupation touched a chord of sympathy

Socialising is one character, hard to create but will always be helpful to live in this world. Every day one meets various people. It might not be practical to go speak to someone when you see them for the first time of your life, but a smile on your face can be the first step. Having self confidence in one self is essential to socialize. We must always be ready to get to know different people and this will lead to having many friends and dear ones in life.

Here in this chapter, we find Jane Eyre taking her first step to start a conversation with Burns. According to me, Jane is curious to know the place where she has come for the first time.

She does not know a single person. She is too young to be all alone. She realizes that this is her new home and wants to know it better. She had no one around her whom she knew to even ask where she was. Little children are always excited and curious when they are placed in a new environment. I feel this excitement has driven Jane to talk to Burns. We also find that Jane after her long conversation with Helen about the Institution and the teachers asks her what her full name was. This itself makes me feel it has not been just for the sake of starting a conversation that Jane talks to Helen. Jane learns a lot from Helen about the school teachers and also little on spiritual topics. Jane’s little conversation had made them intimate friends. When Jane was sad it was Helen who came forward to wipe her tears. A true friend like Helen was something very precious to Jane at the totally new place.

 

From this conversation of Jane and Helen, Jane seems to me a girl of courage. She wanted to start a happy life forgetting her past. She wanted ‘Love’ above all, as her past life was full of sad times. This new place was her only Hope. She was friendly always ready to mingle. She was one person who felt sorry for her friend Helen as we see she feels really bad when Helen was punished. Jane’s character is just an ordinary girl but with extraordinary courage and boldness. Her heart is innocent and she seems to be a person worthy to be called a Friend.

Jane's inclination towards reading was a cause...

Jane Eyre is a character of great complexity. She is not a heroine in the literal sense of that word. She is definitely not of the gregarious, socialising type and she is not averse to loneliness as she has been subjected to it, all her life. In this instance, an incident of great rarity happens, as Jane initiates the conversation. We later come to know that this character has an essential role to play in Jane’s life and influences her greatly. The cause for the conversation, I believe, is none other than Jane’s inclination towards reading. People who love to read are always on the lookout for a new book. Helen Burns’s (for such was the name of the stranger) book had a rare intriguing title (Rasselas) which aroused Jane’s interest and she was already thinking of borrowing it. This need could not be met unless a conversation was initiated. In Jane’s own words (as found in Chapter 5), “I hardly knew where I found the hardihood... for I too, liked reading, though of a frivolous and childish kind”. The conversation after this tells us that Jane is a very inquisitive child. She is strange in that she does not solely think of food and shelter like a normal 10 year old but also about who owns the institution she is studying at and other such details. She is also eager to find out Burns’s opinions, to lay ground, to form her own opinions. Though not a conversationalist by nature, we find that once Jane ventures to talk, she is not bothered about the other person’s discomfort but only about quenching her own curiosity.

II BA Think Tank...:

I am of the firm view that in a flexible and creative atmosphere, students think originally, and with a vast inventory of knowledge, give some of their finest thoughts through pen to paper. Given below are uploads of the answers that my students of II BA English have written as part of their internal tests. For the sake of preserving their identity, I just give the answers alone without their names. It's upto the students to find their own creative vibes :-) Happy Reading..!

And, the question was:

Question 1. (b)

The hardest part of socializing, for many people, is initiating a conversation. And, the most important part of initiating conversation with a stranger is, arguably, having confidence. Moreover, getting to know people before initiating a conversation is not always practical.

Now, in this particular chapter, you find Jane initiating a conversation with a girl by asking her “Is your book interesting?’

What do you think were the reasons for Jane to initiate this conversation with a stranger? Was it because she felt lonely, or was it because she was very gregarious by nature and loved socialising, or was it because of any other reason, that you feel was the real ca(u)se? What are your observations on the character and nature of Jane in the course of the conversation?