Summary of Chapters 1-4

 As the novel begins, we are introduced to the protagonist, Jane Eyre, who is a poor orphan child who resides in Gateshead along with her cruel Aunt and sadisitic cousins. On this tedious November afternoon while Jane is in the drawing room she is then interrupted by her cousins. John begins to harrass Jane and then lauches a book at her, which then results in the both of them quarreling. Mrs. Reed objects to this behavior by simply blaiming Jane and demands for her to be sent to the "red room", to face her penalty -where Mr. Reed, Jane's uncle, had taken his last breath. In response Miss Abbot and Bessie then escort Miss Eyre to the red room, while she is refusing to walk. Once locked in the "red room" Jane then catches a ghastly image of herself, which she is shocked by, that then leads her to reflecting on what she has done to deserve to be in the state that she is now in. She begins by remembering her uncle Reed, and how he had taken her to Gateshead after the death of both of her parents. Her uncle was a kind man, who had made one promise with her aunt before his death, and that promise was for Jane to be raised as one of her own. Almost instantly, Jane believes that the spirit in the room is of her deceased Uncle, returning to take revenge on her aunt for not keeping her promise. Out of terror and extreme tiredness Jane faints.

 When Jane awakes, she notices that is in the her own room, accompanied by Bessie and Mr. Llyod, the family's apothecary. Mr. Llyod speaks to Jane about her life and then recommends for her aunt to send her away to school, where she might finally find happiness. Jane then learns more of her past when she overhears Bessie and Miss Abbot's conversation. She learns that her mother ws actually apart of the wealthy Reed family but was not accepted because of Jane's father, was a poor clergyman. In addition she also learns that her father had caught a disease, which cause both of her parents to die.
A few moths later Jane is then introduced to Mr. Brocklehurst, the head of Lowood (the shool she is possibly attending). Jane, Mrs. Reed and Mr. Brocklehurst talk and after he has left Jane explodes by telling her aunt off, because of what she had told Mr. Brocklehurst. Shortly after, Bessie informs Jane that she favors her the most out of all the Reed children and before she leaves she sings her beautiful songs and tells her stories.