The Distribution of Power at Gateshead in Jane Eyre
At Gateshead, the Reed family holds power over Jane Eyre. The Reed's power comes in several forms, including limiting Jane's social contact as well as bullying her. The Reeds also psychologically abuse Jane by attacking her value. Mrs. Reed does not allow Jane to interact with her cousins saying that not until, "by her own observation that I was endeavoring in good earnest to acquire a more sociable and child-like disposition, ...she really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy, little children." (p.7) This line not only shows the limit of Jane's social contact, but also her exclusion from the family as well as a psychological attack against her. Jane's cousin John is the member of the Reed family that physically holds power over her. "He bullied and punished me: not two or three times in the week, nor once or twice in the day, but continually: every nerve I had feared him ..." (p.10) Up until Jane's fight with John, she was expected to remain silent until she could "speak pleasantly," she also took all of her abuse without reply. Throughout John's bullying, Jane's, "care was how to endure the blow which would certainly follow the insult." (p.10) She realizes that reacting will do her no good and that
There are several elements that contribute to Jane's psychological abuse. 27)All of this abuse causes Jane much psychological harm. Reed comments that, "she is not worthy of notice; I do not choose that either you or your sisters should associate with her. is shown when she does react to John throwing the book at her, Mrs. This is not a single example of this type of abuse, we are told that in all other times when John physically abuses her that, "Mrs. Jane displays several of the colonies reactions to being under British rule, including showing some of the methods that the colonies used to gain freedom from the British Empire. Jane is also reminded of how she is not apart of the Reed family. Like the Reed family, the British Empire holds power over their conquered colonies. The clearest example of this is when she fights with John and she is punished, while John receives no punishment. While visiting her dying aunt, Jane attempts to mend the past with her aunt. This psychological freedom is almost a more important step in gaining her freedom because she now longer lives with the idea that she is below anyone. The first is when Jane does leave; she is no longer under their control.
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