John Reed, Character Analysis
John Reed is a troubled person throughout the story of Jane Eyre. He is Jane's cousin and household companion for the first part of her life. John indulges himself in bullying, hitting, and busing Jane as well as demising her in various ways. One example of such behavior occurs while Jane is reading a book in the breakfast room. When John finally finds Jane, he snatches the book from Jane's hands hits her and says the book is his and she is not to touch it. Weather or not this is true we do not know. However the blow that John dealt to Jane was sufficient enough to draw blood, and thus was probably a well practiced strike.
John's behavior though detestable to the highest extent is not unexpected. His mother, Jane's Aunt Reed, is a cold hearted woman who only cares for herself and what others can do for her. Growing up with this figure over him, John would have learned to exert his force of will on others and "correct" them when they step out of line. Mrs. Reed also neglected to teach John that there are some things that respectable society does not do. One such instance of this that has been immortalized in the code of Chivalry is not striking or harming women in any way.
Though John has been a problem at home, he causes problems elsewhere. He had many troublesome encounters with his headmaster at the educational institution where he was sent. In addition once he became the true master of Gateshead Hall, he squandered the family fortune and then committed suicide. Weather this was an attempt to escape the evil he had done in his life, or simply a tactic for not facing what he had done and actually earning the money he spent, nobody truly knows.
John's behavior though detestable to the highest extent is not unexpected. His mother, Jane's Aunt Reed, is a cold hearted woman who only cares for herself and what others can do for her. Growing up with this figure over him, John would have learned to exert his force of will on others and "correct" them when they step out of line. Mrs. Reed also neglected to teach John that there are some things that respectable society does not do. One such instance of this that has been immortalized in the code of Chivalry is not striking or harming women in any way.
Though John has been a problem at home, he causes problems elsewhere. He had many troublesome encounters with his headmaster at the educational institution where he was sent. In addition once he became the true master of Gateshead Hall, he squandered the family fortune and then committed suicide. Weather this was an attempt to escape the evil he had done in his life, or simply a tactic for not facing what he had done and actually earning the money he spent, nobody truly knows.