Excerpt from Jane Eyre (#3) Charlotte Bronte 3 "For shame! for shame!" cried the lady's-maid. "What shocking conduct, Miss Eyre,
to strike a young gentleman, your benefactress's son! Your young master.” 4 "Master! How is he my master? Am I a servant?" 5 "No; you are less than a servant, for you do nothing for your keep. There, sit down, and think over your wickedness." 6 They had got me by this time into the apartment indicated by Mrs. Reed, and had thrust me upon a stool: my impulse was to rise from it like a spring; their two pair of hands arrested me instantly. What did Jane do that caused her to be locked in the room? A) Stole from her mistress B) Refused to do her chores C) Spoke rudely to her mistress D) Struck her mistress’s son
The answer is d, Mrs Reed walks in on Jane reacting to abuse from Master Reed but gets into trouble due to it being unladylike, especially in comparison to the context of the novel
Jane is being raised by her very cruel aunt, Mrs Reed.She is wealthy and considers having Jane around a burden she cannot tolerate.Consequently she mistreats the girl and punishes for minor causes.At the time of the dialogue Jane has been fighting with her violent, bullying cousin Jhon Reed.As a punishment she is locked in a room , the red room , where she will experience the sight of a ghost.
