In Chapter Four of this novel we are presented with the
character of Brocklehurst, and the overwhelming impression we receive of him, and in
particular his "brand" of Christianity, is that he is a massive hypocrite. Of course,
Jane as a character who feels she must speak the truth and stand up against injustice
and hypocrisy does not help herself in her conversation with Brocklehurst. You will want
to pay attention to how Brocklehurst is introduced by the first person narration - we
first see him from Jane's point of view and he is described as
follows:
...I looked up at - a black pillar! - such, at
least, appeared to me, at first sight, the straight, narrow, sable-clad shape standing
erect on the rug: the grim face at the top was like a carved mask, placed above the
shaft by way of capital.
The
reference to Brocklehurst as a "black pillar" indicates the harsh, unyielding nature of
his Christianity and character, and the face being described as a "carved mask" likewise
reinforces impressions of his hypocrisy. This is emphasised by the allusion to "Little
Red Riding Hood", when Jane comments:
What a face he had, now that it was almost on a
level with mine! what a great nose! and what a mouth! and what large prominent
teeth!
This echo of this
famous fairy tale compares Brocklehurst to the wolf who is dressed up as the
grandmother, thus making us doubt his words and seeing him for the dangerous character
he really is.
Thus, before we come to the part you have
highlighted, we already have ample evidence to condemn and despise Brocklehurst.
However, let us look at the anecdote. In response to Jane's dislike of the Psalms,
Brocklehurst tells her this story:
"I have a boy, younger than you, who knows six
Psalms by heart: and when you ask him which he would rather have, a ginger[bread nut to
eat, or a verse of a Psalm to learn, he says: 'Oh! the verse of a Psalm! angels sing
Psalms;' says he, ' I wish to be a little anger here below;' he then gets two nuts in
recompense for his infant
piety."
First this shows the
manipulation Brocklehurst uses to promote "infant piety" in his charges, but it also
presents an overly naive child who supposedly prizes piety over food. As we discover
when Jane moves to Lowood, this is something that is core to Brocklehurst's beliefs
about his charges spiritual education. Food is not a necessity according to him, and
would only spoil the girls. Starvation, apparently, is good for the
soul.
This story them continues to develop the contempt
that both Jane and we as readers feel for Brocklehurst by presenting Brocklehurst's
hypocrisy and unthinking approach to Christianity.
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