Chapter 7

Summary

Jane tells us about the harsh life the Lowood girls lead. Now that it is winter, the girls suffer from insufficient clothing to protect them from the bitterly cold weather, and they still do not have enough food to be healthy. Sundays are the worst; the girls must walk in the snow to church and back, and suffer through long sermons. Anyone who fails to pay attention to the sermon is punished. Worst of all, Mr. “I’m a hypocritical preachy dude” Brocklehurst soon shows up for a visit. Yes, the same man I refused to blog about a few chapters ago, the overseer of Lowood. At first, he takes no notice of Jane, and instead finds fault with the school in general. He objects to the meal of bread and cheese that Miss Temple handed out because he thinks proper meals are earthly pleasures. Miss Temple is disgusted, but she must obey him. Ol’ Brockles, having lost what little reason he might possess, goes on to demand that the girls cut off all their hair. The man actually claims that “vanity itself might have woven” (69) the girls’ plain buns and they need to be removed. 

Then, Jane unfortunately happens to drop her slate, calling attention to herself. Brocklehurst, recognizing her, makes good on his promise to tell the school about Jane’s supposed immorality. He tells the girls that Jane is in cohorts with the devil, and is a liar. To top it all off, he makes her stand in front of the school until class is dismissed. Finally, Brocklehurst leaves the school. Jane is rendered mortified and miserable by the false accusation and her ruined reputation, but Helen comforts her subtly by smiling at her whenever she passes by.

Reaction

I told you guys that Mr. Brocklehurst is evil. But I know what his problem is. He’s jealous! He must be balding or something, because he sure is fixated on the girls’ hair. In addition, the part about Helen smiling is confusing at first. Jane refers to Helen as “a girl” (72) and then talks about her as if she is a stranger for a line or two. It is very poetic, but I had a moment of confusion – seriously, read it. But the last sentence is awesome; want some ice for that burn, Miss Scatcherd?