‘Jane, your little feet are bare; lie down and cover yourself with my quilt.’
I did so: she put her arm over me, and I nestled close to
her. After a long silence, she resumed, still whispering -
‘I am very happy, Jane; and when you hear that I am dead, you must be sure and not grieve: there is nothing to grieve about. We all must die one day, and the illness which is removing me is not painful; it is gentle and gradual: my mind is at rest. I leave no one to regret me much: I have only a father; and he is lately married, and will not miss me. By dying young, I shall escape great sufferings. I had not qualities or talents to make my way very well in the world: I should have been continually at fault.’
‘But where are you going to, Helen? Can you see? Do you know?’
‘I believe; I have faith: I am going to God.’
‘Where is God? What is God?’
‘My Maker and yours, who will never destroy what He
created. I rely implicitly on His power, and confide wholly in His goodness: I count the hours till that eventful one arrives which shall restore me to Him, reveal Him to me.’
‘Good-night, Jane.’
Her grave is in Brocklebridge churchyard: for fifteen
years after her death it was only covered by a grassy
mound; but now a grey marble tablet marks the spot,
inscribed with her name, and the word ‘Resurgam.’
Why I chose this excerpt:
Jane Eyre is told from the point of Jane Eyre herself. She is the only narrator in this story. The author has chosen to use the main character as the narrator, in order to effectively use first person pronouns.
I chose this passage because it exemplifies the power of the first person story telling that is used in Jane Eyre. In this scene Jane's best friend, and at this point only friend, ties of disease. It pulls on the emotional strings of the reader because Jane Eyre wasn't asleep, "I was asleep, and Helen was - dead." Bronte's use of first person personal pronouns instead of third person sterile ones, makes this tragic scene and the overall story more emotional. Instead of simply observing the story take place, the readers can insert themselves into the story.
This book was not written for an intense plot that will captivate the minds of readers all across the globe. It is the story of a modest girl who lives slightly above average. But the book is still read today because of the emotional draw it has on it's readers. This is just one of many scenes that the reader feels for Jane and the reader is only able to fully feel Jane's distraught throughout the entire book because of the use of the first person pronouns.
‘I am very happy, Jane; and when you hear that I am dead, you must be sure and not grieve: there is nothing to grieve about. We all must die one day, and the illness which is removing me is not painful; it is gentle and gradual: my mind is at rest. I leave no one to regret me much: I have only a father; and he is lately married, and will not miss me. By dying young, I shall escape great sufferings. I had not qualities or talents to make my way very well in the world: I should have been continually at fault.’
‘But where are you going to, Helen? Can you see? Do you know?’
‘I believe; I have faith: I am going to God.’
‘Where is God? What is God?’
‘My Maker and yours, who will never destroy what He
created. I rely implicitly on His power, and confide wholly in His goodness: I count the hours till that eventful one arrives which shall restore me to Him, reveal Him to me.’
‘You are sure, then, Helen, that there is such a place as
heaven, and that our souls can get to it when we die?’
‘I am sure there is a future state; I believe God is good; I can resign my immortal part to Him without any misgiving. God is my father; God is my friend: I love Him; I believe He loves me.’
‘And shall I see you again, Helen, when I die?’
‘You will come to the same region of happiness: be received by the same mighty, universal Parent, no doubt, dear Jane.’
Again I questioned, but this time only in thought. ‘Where is that region? Does it exist?’ And I clasped my arms closer round Helen; she seemed dearer to me than ever; I felt as if I could not let her go; I lay with my face hidden on her neck. Presently she said, in the sweetest tone -
‘How comfortable I am! That last fit of coughing has tired me a little; I feel as if I could sleep: but don’t leave me, Jane; I like to have you near me.’
‘I’ll stay with you, DEAR Helen: no one shall take me way.’
‘Are you warm, darling?’ ‘Yes.’
‘I am sure there is a future state; I believe God is good; I can resign my immortal part to Him without any misgiving. God is my father; God is my friend: I love Him; I believe He loves me.’
‘And shall I see you again, Helen, when I die?’
‘You will come to the same region of happiness: be received by the same mighty, universal Parent, no doubt, dear Jane.’
Again I questioned, but this time only in thought. ‘Where is that region? Does it exist?’ And I clasped my arms closer round Helen; she seemed dearer to me than ever; I felt as if I could not let her go; I lay with my face hidden on her neck. Presently she said, in the sweetest tone -
‘How comfortable I am! That last fit of coughing has tired me a little; I feel as if I could sleep: but don’t leave me, Jane; I like to have you near me.’
‘I’ll stay with you, DEAR Helen: no one shall take me way.’
‘Are you warm, darling?’ ‘Yes.’
‘Good-night, Helen.’
She kissed me, and I her, and we both soon slumbered. When I awoke it was day: an unusual movement
roused me; I looked up; I was in somebody’s arms; the nurse held me; she was carrying me through the passage back to the dormitory. I was not reprimanded for leaving my bed; people had something else to think about; no explanation was afforded then to my many questions; but a day or two afterwards I learned that Miss Temple, on returning to her own room at dawn, had found me laid in the little crib; my face against Helen Burns’s shoulder, my arms round her neck. I was asleep, and Helen was—dead.
She kissed me, and I her, and we both soon slumbered. When I awoke it was day: an unusual movement
roused me; I looked up; I was in somebody’s arms; the nurse held me; she was carrying me through the passage back to the dormitory. I was not reprimanded for leaving my bed; people had something else to think about; no explanation was afforded then to my many questions; but a day or two afterwards I learned that Miss Temple, on returning to her own room at dawn, had found me laid in the little crib; my face against Helen Burns’s shoulder, my arms round her neck. I was asleep, and Helen was—dead.
Why I chose this excerpt:
Jane Eyre is told from the point of Jane Eyre herself. She is the only narrator in this story. The author has chosen to use the main character as the narrator, in order to effectively use first person pronouns.
I chose this passage because it exemplifies the power of the first person story telling that is used in Jane Eyre. In this scene Jane's best friend, and at this point only friend, ties of disease. It pulls on the emotional strings of the reader because Jane Eyre wasn't asleep, "I was asleep, and Helen was - dead." Bronte's use of first person personal pronouns instead of third person sterile ones, makes this tragic scene and the overall story more emotional. Instead of simply observing the story take place, the readers can insert themselves into the story.
This book was not written for an intense plot that will captivate the minds of readers all across the globe. It is the story of a modest girl who lives slightly above average. But the book is still read today because of the emotional draw it has on it's readers. This is just one of many scenes that the reader feels for Jane and the reader is only able to fully feel Jane's distraught throughout the entire book because of the use of the first person pronouns.
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