Both Jane Eyre and Oliver Twist are characters from classic works of literature that are frequently referred to as examples of the cruel treatment of orphaned children during the Victorian era. Both Jane and Oliver are orphans who are subjected to abusive and cruel treatment as children in the orphanages where they are raised. Specific incidents of cruelty occur when both of these children attempt to stand up for themselves, or behave in ways that...
Both Jane Eyre and Oliver Twist are characters from classic works of literature that are frequently referred to as examples of the cruel treatment of orphaned children during the Victorian era. Both Jane and Oliver are orphans who are subjected to abusive and cruel treatment as children in the orphanages where they are raised. Specific incidents of cruelty occur when both of these children attempt to stand up for themselves, or behave in ways that are seen as being insubordinate. For example, when Oliver Twist asks for more gruel because he is hungry, he is ridiculed and punished. He doesn't understand why he should be punished for this, and Oliver has a deep streak of compassion that seems strengthened by his own suffering. The same can be said for Jane Eyre, whose compassion is partly due to her suffering unfair treatment.
Jane Eyre is punished for having wavy hair, as well as for trying to spend time at the bedside of her friend Helen, who is dying of consumption. The cruel treatment she receives as a child strikes Jane as unfair, and she becomes quite outspoken when she sees unfair or cruel treatment of others. She does not allow herself to be treated unfairly when she reaches adulthood: she speaks firmly to Rochester when she thinks he is disregarding her feelings for him, and she refuses to live as his wife while Bertha is still alive, knowing she deserves better treatment.
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