Question

Read the excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Here, Helen is talking about Miss Temple.

Miss Temple is full of goodness; it pains her to be severe to any one, even the worst in the school: she sees my errors, and tells me of them gently; and, if I do anything worthy of praise, she gives me my meed liberally. One strong proof of my wretchedly defective nature is, that even her expostulations, so mild, so rational, have not influence to cure me of my faults; and even her praise, though I value it most highly, cannot stimulate me to continued care and foresight.

Based on this excerpt, what does Helen think about herself?

She has faults and weaknesses that she hasn’t been able to overcome.
She is one of Miss Temple’s best and favorite students.
She does not appreciate her teachers enough.
She tries to live up to Miss Temple’s expectations.

Answer 1

She has faults and weaknesses that she hasn’t been able to overcome.

Support: Helen calls her nature “wretchedly defective,” says Miss Temple’s gentle reprimands haven’t cured her faults, and even praise can’t make her sustain care or foresight.