Question

Read the excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

She [Mrs. Fairfax] returned; with her own hands cleared her knitting apparatus and a book or two from the table, to make room for the tray which Leah now brought, and then herself handed me the refreshments. I felt rather confused at being the object of more attention than I had ever before received, and, that too, shown by my employer and superior; but as she did not herself seem to consider she was doing anything out of her place, I thought it better to take her civilities quietly.

What does the juxtaposition of Mrs. Fairfax’s behavior with Jane’s reaction reveal about Jane?

Jane is worried about doing the wrong thing.
Jane does not expect to be treated with kindness.
Jane does not like to be the center of attention.
Jane has little experience interacting with strangers.

Answer 1

Jane does not expect to be treated with kindness.

Explanation: Jane says she felt "confused at being the object of more attention than I had ever before received" from an employer and therefore accepts the civilities quietly — showing surprise and unfamiliarity with kind treatment from those in authority.