Childhood Perspectives in Jane Eyre and Hideous Kinky Essay -- Jane Ey

Childhood Perspectives in Jane Eyre and Hideous KinkyCharlotte Bronte was born in 1816 in Hamworth in Yorkshire. Her fatherwas the vicar of the village she lived in. Her mother died when shewas very young. With her two sisters, Maria and Elizabeth she was sentto a very strict boarding school where she was very unhappy. Both hersisters died of tuberculosis, which made her very upset. Jane Eyre was base on Charlotte Brontes own experience and is a fictionalautobiography.Esther Freud was born in London in 1963 al just about 150 years afterCharlotte Bronte. She spent most of her childishness in Sussex, she wastaken to Morocco when she was very young but says she cant remember.Hideous Kinky was published in 1992, although its not anautobiography its base on her childhood experiences in Morocco.Jane Eyre is set in the middle of the Victorian period where childrenhad no rights and social class was everything. As the book goes on wesee Jane grow from a rebellious and boisterous young girl t o asensible and determined woman. We see Jane move from place to placemeeting and losing people. Although we do see Jane growing into ayoung woman we are only concentrating on the first 10 chapters inwhich we follow her childhood.Hideous Kinky is set in the 1960s, in Morocco .The book gives a viewof life on the road to Morocco is put across through the eyes of asincere but often disconcert hippies five year-old daughter. As thesmall family seeks food, shelter and friendship wherever they can andtheir adventures unfurl, there grows between them a strange yetunshakeable bond.The contrast between the historical and social period in which the twobooks are set is stark, particularly with regard to th... ...y. In the evening, Janespeaks to Helen, she asks her why she puts up with Miss Scatcharedsbullying and she explains the principles of endurance, duty and self-control to Jane, as based on the New Testament Gospels.A lot of the first few chapters when Jane starts Lowood consist of t heconverse between Helen and Jane. Though this dialogue covers almostcomplex theological ground, it is nonetheless quite naturalistic andprovides us with a deep insight into Helens character. Helen offersone solution to Janes problem - the need to quell her fervidnature and Jane does learn from her, as we begin to see in thefollowing chapters. But Helens faith is also essentially inward -looking, as indicated by her purpose to slip into reverie, andpotentially death - willing she looks forward to death as anelevation, I live in calm, looking to the end.