Final answer:
In 'Jane Eyre', the girls could not wash because the water in their pitchers was frozen, which was common during the harsh winter conditions at Lowood Institution.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Jane Eyre, the girls at Lowood Institution couldn't wash themselves one day because the water in their pitchers was frozen. This was a common occurrence during the winter months due to inadequate living conditions and the lack of proper heating facilities at the school.
The harsh realities faced by Jane and the other girls at Lowood, including the freezing temperatures that turned their wash water to ice, depict the struggle and neglect they suffered in this charity school. Charlotte Brontë uses these vivid descriptions to critique the treatment of the poor and to highlight the resilience of her characters amidst difficult circumstances.