“Many, already smitten, went home only to die: some died at the school, and were buried quietly and quickly, the nature of the malady forbidding delay.” (pg.92)
One of the most widespread maladies during the 1800s was typhus fever. Typhus fever is a disease transmitted by lice and fleas, and it is most rampant during periods of famine or in poor living conditions where people are crowded together and lack personal hygiene. Bronte references typhus fever as a means to provide realism to the text. By describing the many children around Jane dying from this infectious disease, Bronte shows how tightly knit and how poor the living conditions at Lowood are, especially in the winter, which in turn creates personal struggle for the protagonist. This personal struggle of trying to comprehend why everyone is so ill and wanting to prevent it from happening (which is most prominent with Helen) demonstrates Jane's determination and strength.
"Typhus | Insects and Society." Department of Entomology. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. http://www.ent.iastate.edu/dept/courses/ent211/disease/typhus
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