What advice did Helen give Jane in Jane Eyre?

Question

I'm lost. I understand Shakespeare and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, but I can't make heads or tails of Charlotte Bronte. I am enjoying this book so far (I'm at chapter 8 right now), I'm stuck on one part, which is what advice did Helen give Jane help at all is greatly appreciated.

""If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you, and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends."

"No; I know I should think well of myself; but that is not enough: if others don't love me I would rather die than live--I cannot bear to be solitary and hated, Helen. Look here; to gain some real affection from you, or Miss Temple, or any other whom I truly love, I would willingly submit to have the bone of my arm broken, or to let a bull toss me, or to stand behind a kicking horse, and let it dash its hoof at my chest--"

"Hush, Jane! you think too much of the love of human beings; you are too impulsive, too vehement...""

Thank you so much! That really cleared it up! And now I can go continue the novel. Thanks again!

Answer 1

What Helen is trying to tell Jane is that if you don't have repsect for yourself first, no one else will respect you, either. That is what the first quote means.

That is the lesson that Jane took with her during her adult life. That was her guiding influence in the Rochester household and in the Rivers household later on. Her mantra became to live to please herself--to be as good of a person as she could be for herself.

This lesson really came to light when Jane was forced to choose between living with Mr. Rochester as his consort or doing the morally correct thing and leaving Thornfield. She chose to leave, which her "own conscience approved " of.

I hope that helps a little.

Alexis

Answer 2

Helen is basically telling Jane to turn the other cheek.
Wait till you get to about Chapter 18, when Jane puts this advice into practice.

Cheers!