Jane Eyre - Chapter 9 Study Guide
This study guide covers key elements of Chapter 9, focusing on themes, vocabulary, and important quotes to analyze.
Themes / Big Ideas
- Presentiments & the Supernatural: The chapter opens with Jane’s belief in premonitions, dreams, and signs. This introduces a gothic element of foreshadowing and suggests an unseen force at play in her life. The recurring infant dream is a central example, hinting at the arrival of Adèle or perhaps even a deeper connection to her past.
- Guilt & Secrets: The revelation of John Reed’s wild life and suicide, coupled with Mrs. Reed's deception about Jane’s uncle, highlights the power of hidden truths and their destructive consequences. The chapter explores how guilt can fester and shape relationships.
- Family & Alienation: The chapter deeply explores the complexities of family—both biological and chosen. Jane’s lack of familial connection, her strained relationship with the Reeds, and the potential for a new family through Mr. Eyre all contribute to this theme. The idea of “sympathies” between estranged relatives is also introduced.
- Social Class & Reputation: The discussion of John Reed’s ruin and the sisters' concern for their social standing underscores the importance of class and reputation in Victorian society.
- Forgiveness & Reconciliation: Jane’s desire to forgive Mrs. Reed, despite the years of mistreatment, is a key theme. However, the chapter also demonstrates the difficulty—and perhaps impossibility—of achieving true reconciliation when one party is unwilling to change.
- The Power of the Past: The past continues to haunt Jane, shaping her present and influencing her future. Memories of Gateshead and the trauma she experienced there are constantly resurfacing.
Vocabulary List
| Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Presentiments | Noun | A strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something bad. |
| Sympathies | Noun | Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else; connections between people. |
| Aught | Pronoun | Anything |
| Iteration | Noun | The repetition of something. |
| Apparition | Noun | A ghost or ghostly image. |
| Evinced | Verb | Showed or displayed (a quality or feeling). |
| Indelibly | Adverb | Permanently; in a way that cannot be erased. |
| Kin | Noun | Relatives |
| Thriving | Verb | Growing or developing vigorously; flourishing. |
| Extravagance | Noun | Excessive spending or wastefulness. |
| Knaves | Noun | Rogues; dishonest or unscrupulous people. |
| Apoplectic | Adjective | Relating to or characterized by apoplexy (stroke); caused by sudden intense anger. |
| Lethargy | Noun | A state of sluggishness, inactivity, and apathy. |
| Remittent | Adjective | Intermittent; stopping and starting repeatedly. |
| Voluptuous | Adjective | Full of delight or pleasure; sensual. |
| Ascetic | Adjective | Characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence. |
| Supercilious | Adjective | Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others. |
| Quiz | Noun | A person with strange or eccentric behavior; an object of curiosity. |
| Deglutition | Noun | The act of swallowing. |
| Quiescent | Adjective | In a state or period of inactivity. |
| Betake | Verb | To go to; resort to. |
| Vanguard | Noun | The leading position in an advance or movement. |
Quotes to Look For & Analyze
- “Presentiments are strange things! and so are sympathies; and so are signs; and the three combined make one mystery to which humanity has not yet found the key.” – This opening sets the tone for the chapter and introduces the idea of unseen forces influencing Jane’s life. Consider how this foreshadows future events.
- “Sympathies, I believe, exist (for instance, between far-distant, long-absent, wholly estranged relatives asserting, notwithstanding their alienation, the unity of the source to which each traces his origin)” – This quote explores the idea of familial connection beyond blood relation. How does this relate to Jane’s search for belonging?
- “I did not like this iteration of one idea—this strange recurrence of one image, and I grew nervous as bedtime approached and the hour of the vision drew near.” – This demonstrates Jane’s growing anxiety about her dreams and foreshadows the arrival of news from Gateshead.
- “‘Mr. John died yesterday was a week, at his chambers in London.’” – This is the catalyst for Jane’s return to Gateshead. Analyze the impact of this news on the plot and Jane's emotional state.
- “‘I have had more trouble with that child than any one would believe.’” – This quote reveals Mrs. Reed’s long-held resentment towards Jane and sets the stage for her confession of past wrongs.
- “‘I could not forget my own sensations when you thus started up and poured out the venom of your mind.’” – This highlights Mrs. Reed’s inability to forgive Jane and her own bitterness.
- “‘I wash my hands of you: from the day her coffin is carried to the vault in Gateshead Church, you and I will be as separate as if we had never known each other.’” – Eliza’s declaration reveals her cold and calculating nature. What does this say about the dynamics of the Reed family?
- “‘You are born, I think, to be my torment: my last hour is racked by the recollection of a deed which, but for you, I should never have been tempted to commit.’” – This is a powerful statement of Mrs. Reed’s guilt and resentment. How does it affect Jane's feelings towards her aunt?
- “‘Love me, then, or hate me, as you will,” I said at last, “you have my full and free forgiveness: ask now for God’s, and be at peace.’” – This demonstrates Jane's capacity for forgiveness, even in the face of deep-seated animosity.
- “There was stretched Sarah Reed’s once robust and active frame, rigid and still: her eye of flint was covered with its cold lid; her brow and strong traits wore yet the impress of her inexorable soul.” – This final image of Mrs. Reed is stark and unforgiving. What does it suggest about her character?
This study guide should help you analyze the key themes, vocabulary, and quotes from Chapter 9 of Jane Eyre. Remember to consider how these elements contribute to the overall narrative and character development.