Theme- Difficult Childhood

"You ought to be aware, Miss, that you are under obligation to Mrs. Reed: she keeps you if she were to turn you off, you would have to go to the poor-house." p.12

Bessie is talking to Jane as a little girl after she misbehaves and makes sure Jane knows that she is "lucky" to be where she is and not in a "poor-house" or orphanage. She is telling Jane that she needs to listen to Mrs. Reed because if it wasn't for Mrs. Reed she would be in way worse of a situation. The reality of the situation is that Jane is miserable where she is and would most likely be happier in an orphanage. Matilda also deals with a difficult childhood. She is born into a family who does not want her and most of the time doesn't realize she is there. They look down on her for being different than the rest of the family. Matilda likes to read and learn and all the rest of her family cares about is their TV and making money by scamming people. Both girls go unnoticed and unappreciated by their families for most of their childhood, until they're old enough to go off on their own.