Harry: a New Version of Jane

    As I was reading the first few chapters of Jane Eyre, I couldn't help but notice the similarities between Jane and Harry Potter.  For instance; both of them have unloving families, both of their parents are deceased, and both of them don't have any other family...that they know of.

    In Jane Eyre John, her cousin, is constantly physically and mentally abusing Jane.  At one point John had said,  "You have no business to take our books; you are a dependant, mamma says, you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen's children like us, and eat the same meals we do, and wear clothes at our mamma's expense."  John continues on to throw a book at Jane which cut her forehead open.  In Harry's life Dudley is basically doing the same thing.  Dudley is always talking and acting like he is superior to Harry.  (Dudley is also quite whiny and tempermental like John)  Plus, Dudley and his gang of hooligans always beat up on Harry at school or at the Dursley's house.

    Second, Aunt Petunia and Mrs. Reed are almost identical.  They both believe that their children are angels, they are very bossy and snotty, and they both treat their niece or nephew like garbage.  They are just all around terrible women.

    Another, very obvious comparison between Jane Eyre and Harry Potter is that they are both orphans.  Sure, Jane's parents weren't blasted apart by the most evil wizard in the world, but they too had pretty nasty deaths.

    Lastly, both Jane and Harry are sent off to some sort of boarding school; Jane went to a plain, religious school, and Harry attended Hogwarts where he learned how to brew potions and cast spells -- not much of a difference right?!

    Over the last few days of reading, I could not believe how many similarities there were between these two books!  It's almost overwhelming!  I think I know where J.K. Rowling got her inspiration...