Jane Eyre

2. How would you best describe the central idea of this chapter? Which phrase from the chapter best helps develop the central idea?

I would say that the central idea of this passage can be summed up with the final sentences in the passage: “Such is the imperfect nature of man! such spots are there on the disc of the clearest planet; and eyes like Miss Scatcherd's can only see those minute defects, and are blind to the full brightness of the orb” (Brontë). In this passage, Mr. Brocklehurst visits the orphanage and has nothing to say but criticisms.  Criticisms about the way their dress, their meals, even something as “minute” and involuntary as someone’s naturally curly hair! Let’s not forget that the people he’s mercessiliy criticizing are little girls, yet he expects them to impossible standards and orders privation in his mission to “mortify [them] in the lust of flesh” as well as make them “hardy, patient, and self-denying” (Brontë). In my opinion, it’s pretty hypocritical to expect the world of someone when they have none. It’s also good to note that these established rules don’t seem to apply to his wife and daughters, who wear “velvet, silk, and furs” with “light tresses [that are] elaborately curled” (Brontë).  

Mr. Brocklehurst seems to ignore the fact that these are young girls he’s objectifying, which might be the cause of him only seeing them as orphans. They’re poor and have nothing to their name, inferring that Mr. Brocklehurst sees the poor and lower classes as inferior. But the orphans are people too.  They have personalities, hopes, dreams, and hopefully hobbies and passions (though based on the chapter they’re not allowed to do much). But because there are these faults to them or “spots on their discs”, Mr. Brocklehurst sees past them as human beings with all these dynamic characteristics and only sees them as clay he can mold to fit his principles. He’s ignorant to the “full brightness of their orb”. Everyone has spots on their discs, Mr. Brocklehurst and his hypocritical self certainly isn’t perfect. Even if he comes from a higher socioeconomic class. Just because the girls are impoverished or “imperfect” doesn’t mean that they don’t have the right to basic necessities or should be changed to fit someone's standards.