Chapter 2

People:

• Bessie
• Miss Abbot
• Jane Eyre
• Mrs. Reed
• Phantasm of some sort

How does Jane relate to these people?

-  Upon assumption that Bessie and Miss Abbot are governesses in the Reed Household , they relate to Jane as her primary care taker, though she is much closer to Bessie. Mrs. Reed is merely the proprietor of the house she lives in and the benefactor to her unfortunate situation. The phantasm though is Jane’s first encounter with the supernatural and possibly the manifestation of the hate and ignorance in the Reed house.

Places:

1. Describe the red-room. Give physical description and the atmosphere created.

• The red room is dark and gloomy. The carpets and objects in the room were red hence "red-room". In addition, the atmosphere created an illusion to Jane; this is probably why she sensed her dead uncle in the room.

      2.  Why does Jane have such a fear of the room?

• Jane fears the room because it was her dead uncle's room and where his casket was.

Summary:

• As punishment for having "assaulted" John, Jane is being sent to the red-room by Bessie and Abbot. Rather than quietly endure her punishments, Jane decides to resist the room in every way possible as she recalls what had happened last in the room. As its name implies, the red-room is almost entirely covered in the blood red color. This is the room where Jane's uncle passed away and made his wife promise to care for Jane. So while Mrs. Reed may feel some resentment towards this room, Jane is reminded of her uncle's kindness. The redness of the room can stand for not only the death that had passed, but also for a type of passion that filled Jane's uncle and now Jane. The fact that Jane is the only one present in the room shows that she is more passionate and fierce than her aunt or cousins. Also, the "rushing of wings" that she hears after fainting is that of her freedom and escape approaching closer to her.

Personal Reaction:

1.) What do you think is the significance of Jane being sent to the room where her uncle died?

• It serves as a context for Jane's family background to be introduced.  The room is characterized as the place in which her uncle died.  Mr. Reed's death had a significant effect on the life of his niece.  It placed her in the care of her aunt.  It is an appropriate setting for her punishment since the past event that occurred in that room had an impact to her present miserable condition. (Nicole)
•  (Ryan): The significance of Jane being sent to her Uncle's old room is to serve as a way to discuss how and why Jane is where she is. Doing this gives the author the chance to give a background history about Jane's family basically. Also, it is the only room in the house where Jane has some kind of family left because her own cousins do not even count as her family.
• I think it allows for more depth on how Jane came to be in the situation she is in. Also, this gives for more characterization to take place as Jane's uncle can now be compared to both Jane and the other Reeds. Being in the same room where her uncle once was empowers Jane to attempt to assert more control in her life and the way she is treated.  (Gloria)
• The significance lies with the fact that her uncle was the person that wanted Jane to be treated well, and the irony is that they punish her in the room that he died in.  She enjoys living in isolation, but in this room the ghost manifests itslef in her fears, tormenting her even worse than John Reed (Becca)  

2.) What do you believe caused Jane's reaction in the red-room?

• I think the room was oppressing her due to the knowledge that her uncle died there.  I think knowing he could have improved her life if he was still alive distressed her.  I doubt whether she did see a ghost.  It might have merely been an impression to her unsettling thoughts about what her life could have been like.  I think her interpretation of a supernatural phenomena occurring was her own creation as a result of disturbing thoughts. (Nicole)
• (Ryan): I believe the illusion created by the red-room with the color and and how everything is set up and the history in that room caused Jane to start seeing things provoking her to react that way. Being alone like she always is, heightened her fear of being alone in there.
• I think Jane may have been overwhelmed with passion as well as power. Although at first it may have scared her to be in such a ghastly, red room, she then considers the disposition of her uncle and remembers that her life had not always been this horrid.  (Gloria)
• As i said earlier, i think that it is a manifestation of her fears. Her reaction to the room is more like Adela's reaction to the caves, where it is mostly because of something in her pychology and she perceives it as an actual tangible experience. (Becca) 

Vocabulary:

1.  "Miss Abbot turned to divest a stout leg of the necessary ligature"
• divest: v. deprive (someone) of power, rights, or possessions.
2. "This preparation for bonds, and the additional ignominy it inferred..."
• ignominy: n. public shame or disgrace.
3. "...I might say never, indeed, unless when a change influx of visitors at Gateshead Hall rendered it necessary..."
• influx: n. an arrival or entry of large numbers of people or things.
4. "...stood out like tabernacle in the centre..."
• tabernacle: n. (in biblical use) a fixed or movable habitation, typically of light construction.
5. "...all his mother's aversion..."
• aversion: n. a strong dislike or disinclination.
6. Georgiana, who had a spoiled temper, a very acrid spite, a capitous and insolent carriage..."
• capitous: adj. (of a person) tending to find fault or raise petty objections.
7. ...seemed to give delight to all who looked at her, and to purchase indemnity for every fault"
• indemnity: n. security or protection against a less or other finanical burden.
8. "...he called his mother "old girl," too; sometimes reviled  her for her dark skin..."
• reviled: v. criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.
9. "...and because I had turned against him to avert farther irrational violence, I was loaded with general opprobrium"
• opprobrium: n. harsh critcism or censure.
10. "...I had nothing in harmony with Mrs. Reed or her children, or her chosen vassalage"
• vassalage: n. a holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance.

Chapter 2

• People: Rebecca
• Places: Ryan
• Summary: Gloria
• Personal Reaction: Nicole
• Vocabulary: Monica