If Helen Burns seems "too good to be true" to you, how does that reflect on either the narrator's perception or the author's development of character? Are there other characters in the first 8 chapters that seem too "flat" to you? What expectations do you have of the balance of the novel, given the characters you've met so far?
Like Jane, Helen is an orphan who longs for a home, but Helen believes that she will find this home in Heaven rather than England. Helen is extremely intelligent, calm, and caring, but her most important aspect is her devout religious faith all of these qualities impress Jane. However, her ability to remain calm and "turn the other cheek" even in the face of punishment makes the greatest impression on Jane and make her believe that Helen Burns seems "too good to be true" Jane Eyre is very strong willed, most of her life she lived with people who never really cared for her and she never had the love of a real family or the hope and that Helen has; Jane basically judges people without knowing them. Based on what's been happening in the novel so far, I have a feeling that things are just going to get worst; but deep inside i think that Jane will overcome those challenges and become a stronger person.
I agree with every detail you say about Jane Eyre, strong-willed. Her actions are done for her own good reasons such as the time when she told Her Auntie all the cruel things she has done to her which was to maybe make her Auntie feel bad or reflect on her personality. I do though, disagree with how Jane judges people without knowing them. The fact is that Jane knows the persons name but not know them personally, she does judge on how she views the person on their daily life.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Jane says Helen is too good to be true, though she doesn't understand how Helen can be the way she is. My question about "too good to be true" is questioning the realism of the fictional character, while Jane was face to face with the reality, so she couldn't question if she existed. Or, I suppose she could wonder if Helen was truly as patient and good as she seemed.
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