wee_mango | Jane Eyre Ep 1

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Orphaned as a child, Jane Eyre is placed with her wealthy aunt Mrs Reed who neglects Jane in favour of her own three spoiled children. Jane is continuously beaten, called a liar and sent to the Red Room by her 3 cousins John, Eliza & Georgiana. She is the black sheep of the family and is excluded from family events such as getting a portrait done. Mrs Reed has Jane sent to Lowood School with a Mr Brocklehurst.

When Jane arrives at Lowood, she immediately makes friends with 12 year old Helen Burns. The morning after her arrival, Brocklehurst singles Jane out in front of all the pupils and calls her a liar. As a 'punishment', she is made to stand in the main hall on a stool with her head bowed until midnight with no food or water. However one of the other girls slips some food into Jane's hand as they pass through the hall later. Not long afterwards, a fever sweeps the premises and unfortunately claims Helen as one of its victims during the night when Jane stays with her.

8 years pass and Jane is a teacher of art to the local girls. She receives a letter during meal time offering her a position as governess at Thornfield Hall, the home of the alluring and unpredictable Edward Rochester. She arrives during the night and is warmly greeted by Rochester's housekeeper, Mrs Fairfax, who cannot believe Jane when she claims that she hasn't eaten a decent meal beside a fire for eight years. The master, it seems, is hardly ever at home and is often away travelling.

The next morning Jane explores her new 'home' and whilst in the courtyard thinks she sees someone looking out from one of the windows. Mrs Fairfax introduces her to her pupil, a little French girl called Adele and the lessons commence. Three months pass and it is soon February.

Out walking one foggy afternoon to deliver a letter, Jane is almost run down by a rider. Startled, the horse stops at the last minute, falls and throws its rider. Jane helps the dark, enigmatic stranger to his feet and back onto his horse, saying she won't leave until she sees he can get back onto the animal again. The man, his dog and horse head towards the direction from where Jane was coming.

On returning to Thornfield, Jane recognises the same dog from the road in the kitchen and Mrs Fairfax gets her ready as Rochester has returned from his travels and wishes to see her. When she meets her new master for the first time, Jane notices that they've met before; he was the rider who nearly ran her down. Rochester looks through Jane's unusual sketchings then dismisses both her and Adele. Mrs Fairfax frets that Jane will be scared off by Rochester's rough manners but Jane thinks otherwise.

On finding Jane in his library the following day, Rochester interviews her but warns her that she might not like what she finds. He is also quickly impressed by Jane's spirit and is increasingly drawn to her. Jane, in turn, is captivated by Rochester's outspokenness and dangerous edge.

The next day Rochester takes Adele, Mrs Fairfax, Jane and Sophie (Adele's other tutor) out by the river for a biology lesson. He tells Adele about a mysterious firebird and that she might find one in the gardens of Thornfield. Jane scolds him for teasing Adele & says that he shouldn't judge the little girl because of what her mother was like. Rochester however thinks otherwise.

That night Jane is awoken by rattling and scratching at her door, only to discover it's Pilot, Rochester's dog who quickly disappears when his master calls him. The following morning Jane keeps Rochester company while he tells her about Adele's parentage and where she comes from; her mother was a former mistress of Rochester and left Adele as a baby with him in Paris. He has raised her from birth although he is not the father.

Later, Jane kisses Adele goodnight and sees Rochester taking a stroll in his garden. That night she is again woken by scratching but it isn't Pilot this time round. She follows strange noises, including running footsteps, that lead to Rochester's bedroom. On opening the door, Jane is greeted by the sight of Rochester lying asleep with his bed on fire and his life in grave danger...

Screencaps by

lilycup
Plot outline by me

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Fave bits:

- Jane's first encounter with Rochester.

- Rochester: "Look carefully. If I were to tell you that I'm worth £20,000, surely the light from the fire would soften my features? Do I not seem to you now the very model of a fashionable man?"

- Mrs Reed = teh evil! O_O

- Rochester's chuckle/smirk after Adele says to Mrs Fairfax about other ladies thinking she is disgusting. ;)

- Young Jane punching the crap out of her cousin John after he hits her (hard) round the head with her book.

- Jane's comment about Helen when asked by Rochester if she has any friends: "I had a friend once, but she died." :(

- Rochester comparing Adele to a meragine (sp?).

- Jane telling Rochester Adele looks nothing like him when he asks. XD ♥

- Rochester getting Jane to put Adele to bed, then complaining "And my foot hurts like the blazes!"

- Rochester: (talking to Jane) "Sit."
(Pilot the dog sits instead)
Rochester: "Not you, Pilot!" XD

♥