Creating a Scene

 It was Halloween night. There was a cold breeze swirling around all of the orange, brown , and red leaves. Rumor has it that a street named Ghost Street was haunted. On Halloween night this street had an eerie feel. The street was complexly quiet and there wasn’t any life on the street. There were bowls full of candy on each step with a sign that said “Only take one.” This was because no one wanted to go out of their house on Halloween night because of the rumor haunted ghost that roamed the street. 
    A new girl named Annie moved on to the street. She was very eager to go out trick-o-treating; she could hardly contain her excitement. She stepped out of her house and down the street to where all the bowls are. She at first was excited, but then with each step down the street, she felt more and more cautious. The wind was whipping around and the wind chimes on the trees seemed to be dancing on the trees. There were crows in the sky above her, chirping away like madness, maybe trying to warn her of something that was about to happen.  





  

Jane's Symbole

The symbol I chose for Jane was a beautiful flowered tree in a thunder storm. I chose this because it represents Jane’s character. Even through all of the hard times she manages to stay strong through out it. Through all the fights and the troubles Jane remains as strong and as confident as she was once before. This is what the picture represents. The thunder storm is all the fights and troubles she had to go through and the beautiful flowered tree representing Jane’s strong unchanged personality. A quote I chose to help represent this was “Love me, then, or hate me, as you will…you have my full and free forgiveness; ask now for God’s; and be at peace (210).” This quote shows how strong she is and matures. She is willing to let go the hard times and struggles in order to make it out of situation in a positive way. She remains strong and mature even though the toughest of times and this quote show that. 

Onion Peal

              Dear Jane, 

                              

              Clearly right now is a tough time for you. You were about to die! Good thing you came across the River's house, lord only knows what would have happened to you. I think it was very gutsy of you to just grab your purse and run away from Thornfeild. I definitely would not have had the guts you did to do that. You may even be a little crazy for doing that.  

               As for Rochester, you keep having reoccurring nightmares about him, which should tell you something. If you go back to Rochester I would be very disappointed in you. He treated you so unfairly and even threatened you with physical violence. If someone really did love you, they would never do that to you. Rochester is probably at home right now so sad and broken hearted that you left, but you know what? He deserves it! He never should have treated you this way. I was so surprised when we found out about Bertha. Some people felt bad claiming “he was tricked into marriage” and all these other theories, but that still doesn’t give him the right to lie to your face. Maybe if he told you earlier then things would have different. But, in the end you did the right thing by leaving. You have self respect and that is why you left. That is a great quality to have. 

               Also, I found it very weird that St. John noticed something on the edge of your paper while you were drawing and ripped it off to run away with it. I wonder what it was. My guess is that it has to do with his family. In addition to that, I wonder if St. John and Rosamond will get married. In my opinion, I thought it was so mean of Saint John to say those harsh comments regarding Rosamond claiming she is silly and shallow. St. John just seems like a really selfish, egotistical guy. But, I do think he is a little nice since he decided to let you into their living space and find a job. I was sad in the begging when you claimed you didn’t like running the charity school for girls in the town of Morton. But, I think things have been going better. The students are connecting with you more and that must make them open up. I bet you will start to like it a lot more!  

              Well, I hope you are enjoying yourself and please whatever you do, do not go back to Rochester! He is clearly a freak who is too obsessed with you. Anyone who physically threatens you does not deserve you. I hope your students continue acting well for you and the connections you have with them continue to grow. At least you have experience with that thanks to Adel! 

                                            

                                                                                                             From, 

                                                                                                             Toni 

P.S. Find out why Saint John took the corner of your paper while you were drawing from you! I’m so eager to find out why he did that!

             

Signs of maturity can come through in so many different ways. In the book Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte , the main character Jane Eyre showed many different types of maturity throughout the novel through her words and actions.

The first sign Jane showed of maturity happened at the very beginning of the novel. Jane was treated very meanly by her aunt Miss. Reed. Miss. Reed did not think of Jane as an equal compared to the rest of her kids. She always tried to tear her down and make her feel like she is not worthy to even communicate with them. Throughout all of this bad treatment though , Jane still kept er self confidence. In my opinion, this is a sign of maturity. She is well aware that she does not deserve to be treated in this manner and actually sticks up for herself. An example of this is when Miss. Reed was yelling at Jane when she got into a fight with Johnny and Jane states “ What would uncle Reed say to you,if he were alive? Was my scarcely voluntary demand...something spoke out of me over which i had no control (36).’’ Jane knew that Mr. Reed would not like the way Miss. Reed treats her. She had the guts and the confidence to bring this major point up. Her arguing with Miss. Reed and not just giving in shows her maturity in sticking up for herself and for the way she should be treated. Even though at this moment in the book she has no on there to help support her , she still does this bold act , which shows her maturity in knowing she shouldn't get treated like this.

Not only does the confidence she has in herself shows her maturity throughout the book but it is also shown in the way she has open up. In the beginning of the book Jane was very closed off and did not form any close relationships. But , when she arrived at Lowood she met a girl named Helen. Helen became her first true close friend. At first the old Jane would be not open to forming relationships. But overtime , Helen is what Jane leaned on. Helen was always there for her , like when Brocklehurst was publicly shaming her , Helen made her feel better again. You can really see that Jane really matured and opened herself up to people when she had to say goodbye to Helen. Helen was going to pass away and it really upset Jane. An example of this is when Jane states “... laid in the little crib; my face against Helen Burns's shoulder , my arms around her neck . I was asleep , and Helen was dead (97).”  Jane stayed with her all night , she didn't want to say good bye. Jane really matured by opening up to Helen and realized that it is okay to let people in. Jane states to Helen “ i'll stay with you , dear Helen : No one shall take me away (95)” , they formed a really close bond and taught Jane to open up. Jane matured thanks to their friendship. She learnt how to be close with someone and the reader can infer that Helen had a huge impact on this by the way Jane acted when Helen was dying.  

Jane showed another sign of maturity when she went back to visit her aunt Miss. Reed. Miss. Reed suffered a stroke and was about to pass. Jane , despite how horrible Miss. Reed treated her , to went to say goodbye and to also ask if they can forgive each other and repair the relationship before she left. An example of this is when Jane states to Miss. Reed “ Love me,  then , or hate me , as you will ...you have my full and free forgiveness ; ask now for God’s ; and be at peace (21).” Through this , the reader can see how mature Jane truly is. She is willing to let go of all the horrible things Miss. Reed did to her and let her rest in peace. Unfortunately, Miss. Reed didn't want to forgive each other , but Jane still attempted to reach out a hand and offered her forgiveness for her aunt. This truly shows her maturity by asking for forgiveness and being the bigger person.

In conclusion, Jane has really showed maturity through her words and through her actions. Maturity come across in all different ways and Jane really did this throughout the novel so far. Despite all the hardships she has been through so far , she still manages to show maturity which is quite remarkable.

Where You Are Understood

         


            “Home is not where you live but where they understand you”, a German author named Christian Morgenstern once said this. To me, this quote really captures what the meaning of “home” really is, it is not what is physically around you, it is about the people that surround you.

            I feel most at home when I am surrounded by my family. My family has been there with me through out my seventeen years of life, which I am truly thankful for. As far back as I could remember to crawling on the ground as a child, shoving my fingers in the electric outlets only to let my two older sisters coming out running after to me to save me from my own stupidity, to now, taking about college and going on visits with them, when I am with my family they teach me so many things. They taught me to be comfortable in my own skin, to be confident despite what anyone says. One of my sisters Alex especially taught me this, although she may only be 5’1, she really is one tough cookie.  Being surrounded by my family and learning from them is what helped me become the confident person I am today. Being surrounded by my family I always felt like I belonged there, that I couldn’t get along so well and be understood so well by any other group of people. Despite the little fights of what reality TV show we are watching tonight or who gets to drive the car for today, I wouldn’t change my “home” or family, for anything.             

Another aspect where I feel at home is with my cross country team. Ever since freshmen year up until now, for 4 years 5 days a week, I would go to cross country practice after school. I still remember shy little freshmen Toni being so intimidated to even talk. To now, senior year Toni who is now the captain leading the girls. This was my home for the past four years. It is what I looked forward to at the end of a long school day. Bring surrounded by the groups of girls all laughing with leaves crunching underneath our feet, enjoying our run in the fall, this is what made it feel like home. Everyone here understood why we run. It was a form of stress relief and while running, in that moment, nothing else mattered. It was a way to escape for a little and just enjoy your time with the company you had around you. Everyone understood why you were there, whether you were the slowest runners on the team or the fastest, we all understood, we all were on big family. I gained my love of running through this family and it helped form my determined personality I have today. Running is what fueled me to never give up. My family I have with cross country taught me to never give up on myself either, because people depend on you, in life and in races.

            Home is where you are loved and understood. Even if you live in a third world country with no roof over your head, you still have a home if you have someone that loves. People, who are home to you, teach you lessons and lets you develop yourself as a person. Thanks to my homes, it is what made me into the person I am today. Without my homes that I have experienced through out my life, I would not be the person I am today.