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Discuss Bronte’s portrayal of the character of Mr Brocklehurst and how this reflects her views on the Evangelical religion and clergy. “I looked up he seemed to me a tall gentleman, but then I was very little; his features were large, and they and all the lines of his frame were equally harsh and prim.” This detailed description of Mr Brocklehurst not only shows his outward appearance, but also matches his character. In this extract, even before conversation with him, Jane immediately gets a negative impression of him. His cold qualities seem inhumane and symbolise Bronte’s views on Evangelism, “a black pillar…the grim face at the top was like a carved mask”. Mr Brocklehurst appears a very serious and stern character, because everything about him shows little emotion “two inquisitive looking grey eyes which twinkled under a pair of bushy brows, said solemnly in a bass voice.” It is unusual that Bronte uses the verb “twinkled”, which at face value seems the opposite to Brocklehurst’s character, yet it shows that he gains joy from meeting a new pupil, and interrogating her in order to subdue her. As the extract continues, Mrs Reed explains to Mr Brocklehurst about Jane’s apparently disturbing charac