Helen Burns is Punished

Jane witnesses Miss Scatcherd publicly humiliate and flog Helen Burns for having dirty nails. Helen endures the punishment without crying or showing anger, which astonishes Jane. Later, Jane questions Helen about her passive acceptance of injustice. Helen explains her Christian philosophy of turning the other cheek and forgiving one's enemies. This conversation deeply impresses Jane and introduces a moral and spiritual conflict between her own fiery sense of justice and Helen's doctrine of endurance.