2022年Charlotte Bronte 1 and “Jane Eyre”2-夏洛蒂·勃朗特和《简·爱》.doc
Charlotte Bronte 1 and “Jane Eyre”2|夏洛蒂·勃朗特和简·爱Charlottes experience at school was far from pleasant, and these unhappy memories were reflected6 in her novel “Jane Eyre”, the most famous one of her works. It was an immediate success shortly after its publication in 1847. She wrote three other books in the following years, but they were less notable7.Charlotte became a governness8, but later returned to Haworth, Yorkshire, her native place, planning to start a school with her sisters. In 1842, she went with her sister Emily to study languages in Brussels9. They failed to carry out their plans, however, and instead Charlotte became a teacher in Brussels. In 1854, Charlotte finally overcame her fathers objections10 and got married, but unfortunately she died a year later, in 1855, at the age of 39.The following is an adapted11 chapter from the novel “Jane Eyre”. Jane Eyre was an orphan12 child, the heroine13 of the novel. She was under the care of her aunt Mrs Reed, a wealthy lady with three children: Eliza, John and Georgiana. They were unkind, and even cruel to her, treating her not as a cousin, but as a servant. The author expressed, through the mouth of the little girl, her own sufferings14 in childhood and her stubbornness15 in nature. It was a cold winter day. The wind had brought dark clouds and heavy rain, so it was impossible to take a walk. Eliza, John and Georgiana were gathered round their mother in the sitting-room. She lay on a sofa by the fireside, looking perfectly happy with her darlings17 about her. But she told me not to come near them because I was not a good child.I went to a small room next to the drawing-room. Taking a book from a bookcase, I climbed up into the window-seat. Here I sat behind the curtains18 and started reading. I was quite happy until I heard the voice of John Reed.“Where is she?” he said, calling to his sisters. “Eliza! Georgiana! Jane is not here.”I was glad that I had drawn19 the curtains, and I prayed20 that I should not be discovered. But Eliza was quicker than John. She said at once: “She is in the window-seat of course.”I came out immediately. “What do you want?” I asked.“Say what do you want, Master21 Reed,” was his reply. “I want you to come here,” he added. And he sat down in an armchair.John Reed was a schoolboy of fourteen: four years older than I, for I was only ten. He was big and stout22 for his age, with a large face and an unhealthy skin. John had not much love for his mother and sisters, but he really hated me. As I came up to his chair, he spent about three minutes in putting out his tongue23 at me. Then he hit me suddenly and hard.“What were you doing behind the curtains?”“I was reading.”“Show me the book.”I returned to the window and brought the book. “You have no business to read our books.” John Reed continued. “You are a dependent24, Mama says. Your father left you no money. You ought to beg, and not live with a gentlemans children. Go and stand by the door.”I did so. I turned round and saw that he was going to throw the book at me; I tried to avoid it, but it was too late. I was knocked over, and fell against the door, striking my head and cutting it badly. The pain was very sharp.“Wicked25, cruel boy!”I said. “You are like a murdereryou are like a slave-driver26!”“What!” he cried. “What did you say to me? Did you hear her, Eliza and Georgiana? Ill tell Mama. But first”He ran at me and grasped my hair and my shoulder. But I was desperate27 now. I dont know what I did with my hands, but I heard him cry for help.Mrs Reed came. “Take her away to the red room and lock her in,”28 she said. Four hands then quickly carried me upstairs.“For shame29!” cried the maid. “To strike a gentleman, your young master!”“Master? How is he my master? Am I a servant?”“You ought to know, Miss,” said the nurse, “that you owe much to Mrs Reed. She keeps you. If she turns you away, you will have to go to the poorhouse30.”These words were not new to me; so I did not answer. =
