Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: Jane Eyre

  • Jane Eyre and tuberculosis

    Afsheen ZafarRawalpindi, Pakistan I had just put down my pen after the last patient left the room. She somehow reminded me of the Brontë sisters. She had been diagnosed with tuberculous axillary lymphadenitis after a biopsy but otherwise seemed to be in perfect health. Apparently she was not much disturbed by the diagnosis since tuberculosis…

  • Janus

    Dahlia MukherjeeHershey, Pennsylvania, United States I was walking back home from school with my friend. It was a typical gloomy English day with the grey clouds swirling menacingly on top of us threatening rain. We were excitedly talking about my friend’s birthday party next Saturday in her backyard. “I can’t wait to be at your…

  • Narrative control and the monster within: Empowering disability in Jane Eyre

    Mary ValloGlastonbury, Connecticut, United States In chapter twenty-five of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Jane tells Rochester that the night before, “a form emerged from the closet” in her room and tried on her wedding veil, ripped the veil apart, and blew out a candle in her face before Jane fainted with fear.1 Although Jane is…

  • Why “nurse” Grace Poole is the greatest puzzle in Jane Eyre

    Sarah WiseLondon, United Kingdom “My mind had been running on Grace Poole — that living enigma, that mystery of mysteries,” Jane Eyre admits to herself, one evening at Thornfield Hall. Charlotte Bronte’s readers’ minds also run on Grace Poole throughout the Thornfield chapters of the novel — from the first “mirthless” laugh that housekeeper Mrs.…

  • Remembering Charlotte Brontë

    Vasudha ChandraSydney, Australia This year marks the 200th birthday of celebrated author Charlotte Brontë. Born April 21st, 1816, she lived for most of her life in the village of Haworth.1 The Brontës’ house was at the top of a hill, above the church and backing onto the moor.2 It was surrounded on two sides by…