Jane Eyre, chapter 2

[Triple X]

I'm reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and I don't understand what Jane means on chapter 2 when she says that she is 'out' of herself. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Yorkshirelass]

I'm reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and I don't understand what Jane means on chapter 2 when she says that she is 'out' of herself. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Despite Charlotte Bronte referring to the expression "out of myself" in chapter 2 of Jane Eyre, it is alsoused to be a fairly common expression in West Yorkshire, (and Charlotte would have been very familiar with this), meaning acting out of character, being very angry, upset or excited. It describes extreme emotional behaviour.

[mono]

I agree, Yorkshirelass. Jane Eyre, to me, often seems a very introspective character, thinking so much of her personal state, while speaking nearly nothing (and holding emotions of anger, frustration, and depression never appear healthy).
Feeling "out of myself," I think, comes in a few contexts, but really means the same thing. One can say "I feel out of it," "I feel out of my mind," or, more abstractly, "I feel my head in the clouds," and it genuinely can mean the same thing.
Best of luck, Triple X. ;)

[Hermy]

I think the question is already answered, I just wanted to add that, incidentally, the literal translation of "being out of oneself" exists in Standard German ("außer sich sein") and means exactly what has been explained in this thread, namely not being oneself, being "outside" one's usual self. Being German myself, I didn't even realize that it was not a common expression in English.