Jane Eyre Onion Peel

At this point in the novel, Jane leaves Thornfield and ends up at Marsh End.  To get to Marsh End however, Jane has had to sleep in the woods and eat cold porridge, living as if in a lower class than what she is in.  When Jane first appears at Marsh End, she is rejected right away by Hannah, one of the servants at the house.  Jane knocks on the door and begs Hannah to let her stay for the night, but Hannah fears that Jane will bring others with her.  Jane is soon let into the home.  Although Jane forgives Hannah for shutting her out in the storm, Jane maintains resentment for her and validates this by saying, "But I do think hardly of you, and I'll tell you why as because you just now made it a species of reproach that I had no 'brass' and no house," (397). Hannah believes that someone without money or a place to live must be a beggar. This judgment irritates Jane who has never had any kind of wealth, but has been able to work and support herself.  In this section, Jane also recognizes the spiritual value of her experience of absolute poverty, which has stripped her of all markings of class.  Jane was judged at first sight by Hannah, who saw her dirty clothes and desperate state of mind, and immediately closes the door on her, not taking anything else into account.  She judges her based on her appearance, which is something that still happens today in the modern world. 

I feel like I can connect this to my own life, since many will judge me when they first meet me as well.  Little did Hannah know, Jane was actually in a higher class than she thought, even though she did not appear to be.  Little do many know, I am actually Hispanic, despite the fact that I look completely Caucasian.  When people first meet me, they see that I appear to be very pale with freckles, speaking English without an accent.  They immediately assume that I am a complete white girl.  When people get to know me, they soon learn that yes, I am white, but I also am very Hispanic.  

 

I say very Hispanic, since I am very in touch with that side of me;  I am a spitting image of my Hispanic mother, I speak fluent Spanish, and I overall relate to those who are Caucasian and Hispanic.  People always judge based on appearance, especially when meeting someone for the first time.  I very much can relate to Jane, who also felt unrightfully judged at a certain moment in time; when Hannah rejected her for appearing poor.

 

The first picture is of a stereotypical Hispanic woman.  The second picture is of my brother and me, two people who many do not assume to be Hispanic, based on our pale complections and based on certain characteristics we have.