The Journal of Jane Eyre: Chapter 30

People:

Jane finds out that they are rather poor especially in comparison with Mr. Rochester. They don't have enough financial stability that would allow the family to stay living at Moor House. Both Mary and Diana are humble governesses and St. John does mostly charity work.

Jane finds out that St. John wishes he could be doing more superior work rather than the simple and usual task of attending to the poor. He knows he is ambitious and is disappointed that he is not in a position where he can use more of his potential. He also believes the same to be of Jane which is why he knows that she will not stay there permanently.

Places:

St John’s Church: St John makes wonderful speeches there

School: it is the place of Jane’s future

I think Jane will become better acquainted with St John without his sisters around. I think she will lack female company without them.

Summary:

While staying at the Moor House, Jane became close friends with Mary and Diana. However, Mary and Diana is going to return to their roles as governesses. St John presents Jane with a job as an instructor at a school for girls. She takes the position. St John receives a letter about the recent death of their uncle. St John, Mary, and Diana will not receive an inheritance since it will all go to their unspecified cousin.

Personal Reaction:
Why is it easier for Jane to befriend the sisters rather than St. John?

Jane befriends Diana and Mary more quickly then St. John because the girls are more open and friendly. St. John is kind, however, he is very quiet and to himself. (Gloria)
The sisters share much in common with Jane. Jane held the position of governess. They are governesses. She sees them trying to learn German. She also has experienced learning a new language. She had to learn French. I think she sees what she once was in them. (Nicole)

Do you think Jane settled for less by working at the school, or did she just appear desperate enough to take it?

I think that working at the charity school was degrading to her usual standards. However, she was not in a position to be picky of her work place. The school does provide Jane with a new and more humble prospective in her life. (Gloria)
I think she is desperate for the job. i think she would fell it is wrong to live freely under the Rivers' roof. I think by working at the school, Jane feels like she is repaying Mr Rivers for his service to her.(Nicole)

Vocabulary:
"They loved their sequestered home"

"by flower-sprinkled turf, by brilliant bracken, and a mellow granite crag."

Bracken: a tall fern with coarse lobed fronds that occurs worldwide and can cover large areas.

"then she would take a lesson: and a docile, intelligent, assiduous pupil she made"

"but that it was perturbed and exciting might be seen in the frequent flash and changeful dilation of his eye."

Dilation: the action of dilating a vessel or opening or the process of becoming dilated.

"all the patrimony remaining to me will be this crumbling grange"

Grange: historical an outlying farm with tithe barns, belonging to a monastery or feudal lord.

"for in your nature is an alloy as detrimental to repose as that in mine."

"that God gave me, contravened; m6y faculties, Heaven-bestowed"

Contravened: violate the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct).

"which seemed decreed by fate purposely to prove the truth of the adage"

"In a week Mr. Rivers and Hannah repaired to the parsonage"

"its latticed casements, its mouldering walls, its avenue of aged firs"

Chapter 30

The Journal of Jane Eyre