Miss Scatcherd in Jane Eyre

In Charlotte Brontë‘s classic novel, Jane Eyre, Miss Scatcherd is portrayed as a stern, unforgiving teacher who personifies the oppressive and cruel treatment that Jane and her fellow pupils endure at the school. Brontë uses Miss Scatcherd to exemplify the strictures and abuses of power prevalent in Victorian education systems, particularly for girls and women. Miss Scatcherd stands in stark contrast to Miss Temple, who represents one of the few beams of kindness in the harsh world of Lowood Institution.

Miss Scatcherd’s interactions with students, especially with Helen Burns, provide a clear insight into her character as someone who suppresses tenderness and demands rigid adherence to rules. Her behavior highlights the moral and social expectations of the time. In her rigidity, she becomes a foil to the novel’s protagonist, Jane Eyre, who values freedom, passion, and justice. The depiction of Miss Scatcherd serves not only as a criticism of the educational practices of the era but also as a vehicle for exploring broader themes of authority, individuality, and rebellion.

Recommended: Read Jane Eyre at PageVio

1. Miss Scatcherd Character Analysis

Miss Scatcherd is a pivotal character in Jane Eyre. She is a teacher at Lowood Institution, where her interactions with Jane and Helen Burns are instrumental to the story’s exploration of compassion and development.

Miss Scatcherd in Lowood Institution

At Lowood Institution, Miss Scatcherd is a strict and often harsh teacher who embodies the school’s oppressive authority. Her role is crucial in illustrating Lowood’s educational system’s rigidity and lack of sympathy.

Interactions with Jane and Helen Burns

Miss Scatcherd frequently criticizes and physically punishes Helen Burns, affecting Jane’s experience at Lowood. Jane observes these interactions, contrasting with her developing views on justice and compassion.

• Interaction with Helen Burns:
  • Public humiliation
  • Corporal punishment
• Observation by Jane:
  • Builds a sense of injustice
  • Shapes moral perspective

Influence on Jane’s Development

As a negative foil to Jane’s character, Miss Scatcherd inadvertently pushes Jane to consider the role of compassion in strength. Jane’s progression from a student to a strong-willed individual parallels her increasing disapproval of Miss Scatcherd’s methods.

Character Analysis and Portrayal

Miss Scatcherd is portrayed as devoid of compassion, a stark contrast to characters such as Helen Burns and, eventually, Jane herself. She is a static character, meant to showcase the flaws in a system that privileges discipline over empathy.

• Portrayal: Unyielding, unsympathetic
• Contrast with other characters:
  • Lacks Helen Burns’ acceptance and compassion
  • Opposes Jane’s evolving sense of morality

The analysis of Miss Scatcherd’s character provides insight into the social commentary present in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. She symbolizes the oppressive structures of her time, impacting the heroine’s quest for self-fulfillment and understanding of compassion.