In chapter nineteen of Jane Eyre, Jane encounters the strange gypsy women that has shown up at Thornfield for the night. After having an unusual conversation, Jane recognizes the gypsy to be Mr. Rochester and gets on to him for attempting to trick her. After getting over the initial surprise, she tells Rochester of Mr. Mason’s arrival. While the chapter seems simple and rather comprehensible, there is much more thought going into it to enable the audience to get a better picture of Jane’s character as a whole; it also illustrates some of the work’s themes and symbols. Chapter nineteen certainly has much more going on than what the reader might think. Throughout the chapter, many allusions to memorable fairy tales take place. Rochester dresses up as an aged women, donned in a red cloak. Posing as the gypsy, he’s cunning and deceitful to Jane in order to get what …show more content…
While the gypsy is evaluating Jane, proclaiming her to be cold, sick, and silly, she is staring into the fire (Brontё 228). Next, the gypsy stirs the fire in order to illuminate Jane’s face (Brontё 229). When asked to kneel, Jane states, “Don’t keep me long; the fire scorches me (Brontё 232).” It is the fire that reveals the gypsy’s hand to actually be Rochester (Brontё 234). There certainly a lot of flames in this chapter, and it could possibly mean a few things. The repeated use of fire could possibly be a foreshadowment of Thornfield being burnt to the ground. Fire is often seen as dangerous, wild, and deadly; which is a good summary of Bertha Mason’s character. It could also be a clue to her character. On the flip side, fire also stands for passion. In this sense, the fire could represent the future passion Jane and Rochester will feel for each other. Whichever it is, it is clear that fire will make a reappearance as a major element in Jane Eyre as a
Jane Eyre Chapters 7-8: “‘A careless girl!’ said Mr. Brocklehurst... Then aloud-how loud it seemed to me! ‘Let the child who broke her slate come forward!” (64) “What my sensations were, no language can describe; but, just as they all rose, stifling my breath and constricting my throat, a girl came up and passed me; in passing she lifted her eyes” (66).
I will also comment on how eastern illusions strengthens the postcolonial reading of Jane Eyre and how these allusions makes the feminist reading fall flat. I will also discuss how the eastern allusions are exoticized and that “the other” is desired yet at the same time seen a pagan and savage. It is firstly important to define the term “the other” with whom Jane identifies with. The “other” is seen as different in regard to culture, religious practices and clothing from the dominate society.
In the novel, Bronte explores the theme of love versus autonomy as well as the symbolic element of ‘fire versus ice’ through Rochester and St John. Jane realizes she would sacrifice her dignity and freedom by marrying Rochester, and in comparison she realizes that freedom would mean imprisonment by marrying St John as she would need to keep her emotions in check. Therefore, the novel is focused on Jane’s journey to balancing the conflicts in order to become content as well as learning how to gain love without sacrificing her dignity in the process. In contrast, the film shows no basis of contrast between St John and Rochester and consequently excludes Jane’s development as a human being as the film is solely focused on her affair with
People around town who live near Thornfield had always heard rumors about a lunatic woman at the hall, and Mr. Rochester reveals at the wedding that the presumed woman is his wife. Jane is absolutely shocked and devastated, and feels as though she can no longer trust Mr. Rochester. This wild turn of events causes her to leave Mr. Rochester and she eventually meets St. John. St. John and his sisters are later revealed to be Jane’s cousins, and Jane finds this discovery a truly “Glorious discovery to a lonely wretch! This was wealth indeed!
Arguably, Helen’s short presence in Jane’s life influences Jane’s many of Jane’s decisions throughout the test. First, Jane forgives Mrs. Reed for her cruel treatment during Jane’s childhood. Jane also forgives Mr. Rochester for his deception and decides to return to him, all before knowing about the fire and Bertha Mason’s death. Just as Jesus preached to his disciples to forgive and live a pure life. In Maria Lamonaca’s literary criticism, "Jane's Crown of Thorns: feminism and Christianity in Jane Eyre" she states, “[Helen’s] example and beliefs serve Jane in good stead later in the novel.
Rochester is not a guy who is told “no” often. The fact the Jane was able to accomplish that, really shows how strong and powerful Jane truly
One of the biggest character foils in Jane Eyre is between Mr. Edward Rochester and St. John Rivers. From the first time we meet these characters, it is easy to tell the two apart. While one is ruled by a religious forces the other is controlled by emotions. Jane has to make a choice, and decide how she is going to live the rest of her life. At the end of the novel, she makes a choice between what is expected of her, and what she wants.
The tactics he employs to get his way also provide insight into a major theme of the novel. The major motive for all of Mr. Rochester’s deception was to win Jane’s heart so he could marry her. He is shown to be very intuitive
Rochester was a major influence on Jane as this was a critical time she was maturing, yet she did not let him get in the way of her work. The work that was expected of her what always her top priority, Rochester was her second. “I believe he is of mine;—I am sure he is,—I feel akin to him,—I understand the language of his countenance and movements: though rank and wealth sever us widely, I have something in my brain and heart, in my blood and nerves, that assimilates me mentally to him” (Bronte 266). The relationship between Rochester and Jane was undeniable.
However, despite her independence and newfound freedom, Jane must face the death of her friend Helen Burns. The personification of her mind is represented through the anaphora, “for the first time it recoiled, baffled, and for the first time saw all round unfathomed gulf.” Following the death of Helen Burns, Jane faces isolation until her arrival at Thornfield connects her to
The protagonist from “The Turn of the Screw”, is perceived to be despearate as she tries to achieve her dream but her personal pride leads her to an unstable condition. The author depicts the Governess believing that to attain her goal of gaining attentionby her employer, she must be a hero. Therefore, she invents lies about seeing her predessors haunting her pupils. Nonetheless, the more times James makes the Governess mention the ghosts the more she believes they are real and they, “want to get them (the children)” (82). The Governess is blinded by making it appear she sees the ghosts that she looses herself in her own lies leading her to an unstable condition of not knowing what is real or not.
Fire symbolizes the compelling emotion of the characters, and fire is portrayed throughout the novel to capture the growing passion of specific characters. The two most significant occurrences of fires in the novel are both situated at Thornfield Hall; and both are caused by Bertha Mason. The first occurs at the end of Volume 1 (Chapter 15), when Bertha sets fire to Mr Rochester’s bed and clothes, and the second is at the end of Volume 3 (Chapter 10), when Jane learns that Bertha managed to burn down the whole of Thornfield by setting fire to what was once Jane’s bedroom; and she succeeded. Bertha Mason, who has no control over her feelings, is a pyromaniac. The inferno at Thornfield illustrates the danger of letting passion run wild.
Brontë utilizes Jane’s narration through consistent diction in order to display Jane’s ongoing struggle with obedience towards the opposite gender. Jane narrates her actions upon first meeting a strange man on a path knowing that she “should have been afraid to touch a horse when alone”, however she acts differently. She is commanded by the mysterious man, who is later revealed to be Rochester, and rather than acting by her own wishes, she felt that she is “disposed to obey”. Later, Jane narrates her loss of “the sense of power over [Rochester],” as he denies her request to let Adele accompany them. Jane expresses submission to Rochester when she felt that she was “about mechanically to obey him”, without second thought or resistance.
Jane hated that Mr. Rochester bought pretty jewelleries and dresses for her;” the more he bought me, the more my cheek burned with a sense of annoyance and degradation” (Brontë, 321). One can interpret this as Jane worries that the marriage would lessen her independence and put her at an inferior position. The fact that Mr. Rochester buys her all these things makes Jane feel objectified, and she could not tolerate it. Once again, this signals the feministic opinions that the character of Jane is associated with. Jane and Mr. Rochester does not get married during this section of the book, due to the fact that he is already in a marriage.
She comes to know that Bertha set the house on fire, and Rochester saved his servants, and attempted to save Bertha, however, he lost his hand and got blinded. Chapter 37- Jane travels to Ferndean to find Rochester, and promises she will never leave. While walking around in the woods, they discuss the past year, and Jane finally accepts Rochester’s proposal. Chapter 38- Jane and Rochester are finally happily married,