Шубиной Е.А. Л-42
The Jilting of Jane
By H.G.Wells.
- Information about the author.
H.G. Wells (Herbert George Wells) was a science fiction author most known for his fiction novel The War of the Worlds. He was a prolific writer of both fiction and non-fiction, and produced works in many different genres, including contemporary novels, history, and social commentary. He was also an outspoken socialist. His later works become increasingly political and didactic, and only his early science fiction novels are widely read today. H.G. Wells was born on September 21st, 1866 in Bromley, Kent, England, to Joseph Wells and Sarah Neal. His father was a domestic gardener, shopkeeper and professional cricket player and his mother was a former domestic servant. In 1874 H.G. Wells broke his leg and it was during this time that he started to develop a love of reading, which led to his interest in writing. He attended a private school until family finances forced him to seek apprenticeship work. He later gained work as a teacher at Midhurst Grammar School. A scholarship gained him access to the Normal School of Science, where he wrote for the school magazine. In 1891, Wells settled in London and married his cousin, Isabel. Their marriage wasn’t successful. In 1895 his novel The Time Machine was published and he became instantly famous. Between 1924 and 1933, he lived mostly in France. He returned to London and lived there during World War II. He died in London in 1946.
- Over-all impressions
1. For me the story is an ordinary example of miserable love which can be seen in nowadays world, but nevertheless I found it thought-provoking. It is also touching, because the story shows the reader Jane’s inner feelings and emotions caused by betrayal.
2. The narrator of the story is a respectable middle-class man living in London with his wife Euphemia. They have several servants. Jane is one of them, and depicted as the main character of the story. She has changed from a person who never stopped talking and singing, into a much quieter and more serious girl. The reason for this change is the fact that Jane has been jilted by her young man, William, to whom she has been engaged to be married for three years.
Most of what the narrator knows about William has come from his wife, who is friendly towards the servants. William is second porter at Maynard's, the drapers; after the head porter leaves, he is promoted and given more money. Soon, William is dressing more smartly and he finally finds a new girlfriend, a milliner. She corresponds to his social status better, that’s why he is ready to betray Jane easily for the sake of his own benefit. Jane follows the new lovers a number of times and tells the milliner that she is William’s fiancée. But in the end, William marries the milliner and when they come out of church, Jane throws a boot at the bride, but it hits William’s eye instead. After this accident Jane bursts into tears, but the author underlines that she is young still, and time and change are at work with her.
3. The subject of the story is miserable love and relations between a man and a woman.
4. The major conflict on which the story is based is the relations between beloveds and then the man’s ability to betray his love for the sake of his own purpose and benefit.
5. I think the author wrote the story to show the readers that everything can change in a moment in our life even in love affair. The story evokes sympathy towards Jane, because she doesn’t deserve the betrayal. Besides, the author underlines another problem that is connected with respectability, class division and class climbing.
6. The chief affect the author was trying to achieve is to make readers think about their daily life and surrounding people. It’s really important not to wear pink glasses, be ready to any life trials and not to be overwhelmed if anything goes wrong.
- The plot structure is closed since all four elements. The exposition is given traditionally in one block at the beginning of the story. The climax seems to be at the point when Jane is full of revenge and she goes to William’s wedding and throws a boot at the bride, which in fact, hits William. The denouement happens when the narrator tells us about Jane’s emotions after this occasion, but he asks the reader not to worry a lot, because Jane’s happiness will come soon.
The plot unfolds chronologically. The author employs various composition ways such as narration from the point of the master of the house, George; vivid dialogs between characters and description of events from a distance and with a certain irony.
The main characters are depicted life-like. The author portrays Jane as brave, careless, trustful and naïve. Euphemia is described as friendly, sensible and caring. She shares a sense of humor with her husband. She is particularly sympathetic towards Jane. As to William, he is respectable, ambitious, social climber.