...or she's afraid
Posted by Courtney on September 28, 1997 at 16:35:42:
In response to Mrs. Reed & punishment, written by Denise on September 27, 1997 at 15:33:04
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] ] I do believe that she was afraid of Jane Eyre. It's true what they say that the people whom you act the most malicious to, is indeed the ones whom you are afraid or jealous of. I think that Mrs. Reed is jealous that her late husband loved Jane more than his own children, and demanded that his estate pay for the young Eyre to be brought up the way he wanted. I think that Mrs. Reed was angry that the money "wasted" on Jane could have gone to spoil her own little swines. I also believe that Mr. Reed must have let her know that he wore the pants in the family (if you know what I mean), and that she was to obey him. I think that however faithful she is, she believes that he still is watching her, and it scares her. Otherwise, if she didn't still have her husband's control on her, there was nothing stopping her from tossing poor Jane into the street.
] ] This is all IMHO :)
]
] ]Mrs. Reed was definately jealous of Jane. But I don't think she obeyed the last request of husband because he wore the pants; it was because it was the last wish that she did it. She gave a promise and felt bound to keep it. People were just superstitious enough to believe that the dead would "revisit the earth to punish the purjured and avenge the oppressed." This is more clear when we get to the part where Mrs. Reed is dying and reveals her motives and feelings. I believe and by her own statements that she was the stronger of the two (she and her husband). Yet he had compassion and she had none. She may have been the stronger character but his would be more valuable.
I'm not as inclined to think about the superstitious part, but I think that perhaps she is quite worrried about what Jane will be telling people about her (Mrs. Reed). After all, I think she worried about that prior even to Brocklehurst's visit. She covered for herself saying Jane was a liar, if he thought she was a liar, then he of course wouldn't believe Jane's accusations. Also, Mrs. Reed guessed that Jane's true spirit would be discovered eventually, which it did. Mrs. Reed, in my opinion, was afraid of Jane.
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