Week 1: Coming of Age as a Worker

 

With my first week in London coming to a close, let's just say the city has left a fantastic first impression on me. The people, the atmosphere, the scenery, the food, every day gives me something new to look forward to! This week we looked over Jane Eyre, and we analyzed the topic of coming of age as a worker.

On our first day, we visited The Foundling Museum. At this stop, we learned about The Foundling Hospital, which used to help care for and bring up orphans. This museum demonstrated the difficulties of growing up as an orphaned child, and this idea correlates to the book we are currently discussing in class this week: "Jane Eyre."  The Foundling Museum in London, England, tells that orphans at the Foundling Hospital received generous care, as the workers there did what they could to develop each child’s potential. However, this was not the case for Jane, and she begins to show signs of strength and rebellion during her upbringing at Gateshead, where she resides with her cousins and her Aunt Reed, whom she does not get along with. 

                                               
Although the orphan's at the Foundling Hospital may have received more generous care then Jane did in her upbringing, they still had difficulties growing up, and this can be seen in the photo above. In this photo, you can see the tokens that the parents left behind for their children at the Foundling Hospital. Many times, this would often be the last time that a parents would see their child, so it is hard to imagine how difficult this would be as an orphan to have a single to token to remind you of where you came from.

On our second day we visited the Geffrye Museum. This Museum supplied us with more information about the common roles of working women during the time period of "Jane Eyre."  
                                 
This is a photo of the inside of one of the rooms at the Geffrye Museum. At the Geffrye Museum, it is shown that Victorian woman of the middle class were often placed below the men of the household, as they were only allowed to venture inside of their domain. However, Jane begins to notice that she is beginning to be treated as an equal when working at Thornfield, and Mr. Rochester speaks to her on the same intellectual level. This is the opposite of what she has seen as common in her time, and this helps her embrace her role as governess even more.

This is a photo of the location where we stopped on our third day, The Tate Britain Museum. At this museum, we were able to view famous paintings, which provide imagery and insight so that we can better relate to the roles of the working woman during the time period of "Jane Eyre" as well
                                          
Here are two particular paintings that demonstrate the idea of the role of a middle class woman in the society of Jane Eyre. In one, the "working man" has had something occur, and this seems to be on his mind. In the other, he is now an old man and is in need of assistance. In both, since the home was the domain of the middle class woman at the time, she is at his side making sure to take good care of him.


London has been an incredible adventure so far, and I look forward to what the future holds! Stay tuned!