Helen and Brocklehurst: like chai and toast.

A comparison between Helen’s and Brocklehurst’s religious views suggest that when it comes to holding a belief, their views are pretty much the same even if the form in which they emerge is different. However, what actually connects their belief is not the fact that both of them share it but the fact that both complement each other in a sense such that one can practice his belief only if the other practices his belief as well.

Helen and Brocklehurst may not be as different as they may appear as their religious views pretty much coincide with one another. When questioned by Jane as to why she does not react to Miss Scatcherd’s undue punishment and humiliation, she responds by saying, “Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them who hate you or despitefully use you”, basically pointing to a form of suffering in the name of God and in self-denial or abnegation. Likewise, when Brocklehurst is told by Miss Temple that she allowed two rounds of breakfast, he responds in a similar manner by saying,  “…a judicious instructor would take the opportunity of referring to the sufferings of the primitive Christians; to the torments of martyrs; to the exhortations of our blessed Lord Himself, calling upon His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him; to His warnings that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God; to His divine consolations, 'If ye suffer hunger or thirst for My sake, happy are ye!”. This too points to a concept of suffering and self-abnegation in the name of God and so even though the form of their beliefs may be different, the underlying concept of the belief is the same. In fact, they even hold their beliefs with matching extremity: Helen endures suffering so much that Jane deliberates whether she even feels anything and Brocklehurst is so intent on voiding the girls of their desires that it seems as if he does not even want them to feel or sense anything.

What should be noted here is that while Helen practices her belief on herself, Brocklehurst practices it on others, which is exactly how their beliefs complement with one another. Brocklehurst enjoins others to suffer by letting go of any passion or desire that demands pleasure or leisure and in doing so, he torments the girls and robs some of even their life. In this sense, Helen is the perfect subject for Brocklehurst to practice his belief on as Helen readily bears with torture and even accepts it. And so this is how Helen’s and Brocklehurst’s beliefs complement each other that as long as Helen and others like her continue to remain quiet in the face of suffering, Brocklehurst can practice his belief of self-denial, and as long as Brocklehurst and others like him (hint: Miss Scatcherd) makes Helen suffer, she too can practice her similar belief of self-abnegation.