Jane Eyre: An Autobiography: An Autobiography

Ten-year-old orphan Jane Eyre lives unhappily with her wealthy relatives the Reed family at Gateshead. Resentful of the late Mr. Reeds preference for her Janes aunt and cousins take every opportunity to neglect and abuse her as a reminder of her inferior station. Janes only salvation from her daily humiliations is Bessie the kindly servant who tells her stories and sings her songs. One day Jane confronts her bullying cousin John and Mrs. Reed punishes her by imprisoning her in the red-room the room in which her uncle died. Convinced that she sees her uncles ghost Jane faints. When she awakes Jane is being cared for the apothecary Mr. Lloyd who suggests that she be sent off to school. Mrs. Reed is happy to be rid of her troublesome charge and immediately sends Jane to the Lowood School an institution fifty miles from Gateshead.