#thornfield

Mrs. Reed is villainous to her core, keeping such crucial information as long lost family from Jane’s ear. John Reed is cruel as a child, develops a gambling addiction and erratic behavior as an adult and frequently threatens his mother with violence and suicide as a result. Georgiana is vain and silly and condescending. Eliza is the least reviled, but is still standoffish in her adult piety.

Mr. Brockelhurst is universally hated by the students and the majority of the staff at Lowood and because of him the girls are starved, half frozen, and fall ill to the point so many of them die it sends up alarm bells to basically all wealthy families in the area.

Mr. Rochester, though Jane obviously loves him, is rude and volatile in his emotions and overall demanding. He has committed adultery in the past and nearly tricks Jane into the same. He’s got his wife LOCKED IN THE ATTIC.

The entire party of Mr. Rochester’s wealthy neighbors are characterized in a large range, but crucially the very first evening Jane meets them they have a conversation about how much they hate governesses right in front of her. The younger generation tell stories about how they terrorized their governesses away and their mothers laugh about it and turn around to insult their poor former employees for the “difficulties” the had keeping them. The cognitive dissonance is insane. And Jane is sitting there the entire time!

Blanche Ingram is described as extremely beautiful and accomplished but also as calculating, shallow, and lacking the ability of deep, meaningful thought.

Even Miss Oliver, who is described as exceedingly beautiful and kind hearted, is given the slight of being incomparable with St John’s depth of character. It’s a bit of a stretch to call this a flaw, I think, but it’s still important to consider her role in the story.

The only exceptions for this (because obviously blood and breeding is a major factor in this era of literature) are those without many means & are in servitude, like Jane herself. All three Rivers being the primary examples here. Despite all of St John’s bullshit, he is still of a higher moral character than Mr. Rochester. And Diana and Mary have no perceptible flaws that I have noticed.

It is also!! Completely insane that the narrator is so endeared to the “lower class.” Jane adores the farmer’s children in her classroom and delights in becoming acquainted with the neighborhood, even if they are not quite to her standards and tastes. She enjoys Mrs. Fairfax’s company so much that she mentions how much she’ll miss it if she were to leave Thornfield. Jane is perfectly delighted by Adèle, despite the girl being a bastard and a slightly spoiled one at that. Half the servants at Thornfield are given names and references multiple times throughout the story.

I’ve studied English literature at the university level and these aren’t period-typical attitudes. Jane Austen, only a few decades earlier, was writing satire about high society and the servants are basically never even mentioned and STILL many of the “properly wealthy” have more positive traits than negative.

Many defenses of Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre have been written already, but I feel they’re important to remember when reading the book. It is easy to judge his actions towards his wife based on modern sensibilities and norms, but the historical context of the story is extremely important to note when evaluating his actions.

First off, in the 1840s, insanity was not grounds for divorce. So he wasn’t lying when he said he was trapped in that marriage; there was no legal way for him to leave her.

Also, in the 1840s, asylums were basically worse than death. Inmates were treated as less than human, and often chained, beaten, and sexually assaulted.

Plus, look at Bertha’s actions whenever she escapes from the attic:

1. She tries to murder her husband by burning him in his bed.

2. She tries to murder her own brother.

3. She sets the house on fire by trying to murder Jane, thinking she’s still in that room.

This woman is a 3-time attempted murderer. Regardless of motive, that just … is not okay. Yes, perhaps she’s not in control of her actions; perhaps her insanity is doing these things, not her conscious self. But still. She’s a danger to everyone around her. And considering the medical achievements of the time, there was no hope that she could ever be cured.

Rochester had every reason to send her to one of those asylums after she proved how dangerous she was. But he didn’t. He kept her locked in the house and looked after by a 24/7 caretaker where she was guaranteed safety, food, water, and decent company rather than abuse, torment, and starvation. That was in fact the better and kinder option. Nowadays, such an action would be horrifying BECAUSE divorce and professional mental healthcare are options. But not back then. Considering his particular situation, he did the most honorable thing that could possibly be done with regard to her.

And his anger towards her is not because of her madness. He himself tells Jane that if she were mad, he would still love her and be devoted to her forever. Bertha cheated on him during the first years of their marriage. He was ready to love and care for her all his life, but she betrayed his trust completely. You can’t fully fault him for having mistresses when she broke their vows of faithfulness first. Also, considering he was not told about her insanity ahead of time, he had absolutely no idea what he was signing up for with her. He wasn’t prepared to deal with someone who was mentally disturbed. And he mentions he literally contemplated suicide during the marriage; that’s how miserable she made him.

Whenever he talks about her, he rarely calls her “my wife.” He always refers to her as Bertha Mason, never as Mrs. Rochester. He’s so scarred by what he’s been through with her that he’s literally in denial and trying to convince himself that they’re not married. His behavior really reflects that of someone who has experienced spousal abuse and is unable to leave. It’s not pretty.

Yet, let’s not forget their last-ever moment together. She has ruined his life completely. Her existence prevented him from marrying the love of his life and doomed him to be alone forever after Jane left him. You’d think he would leave her to burn after all the harm she caused him, her brother, and Jane.

Instead, while still in love with another woman, and knowing her death would give him a chance with Jane, he goes back into a burning house, loses a hand, goes blind, and very nearly dies trying to save her life. She has done nothing to earn this act from him. But he still does it. Because his experience with Jane has taught him that, in spite of the unfair hand he was dealt, and his understandable anger towards her, Bertha is still his wife. He is still her husband.

What’s more, he chose to become Adele’s guardian. There was no proof that she was his, and he disliked children. Yet he still took on the responsibility of taking care of her and took the time to give her presents, hire a governess for her, and make sure she grew up in a safe environment. That really shows his good character.

Also, he completely turns around after deceiving Jane and concealing Bertha’s existence. When Jane learns the truth, Rochester stops all lies and comes clean, telling her everything and being completely honest. Honesty is one of the core factors of a healthy relationship and though Rochester badly fails the test early on in his romance with Jane, he does redeem himself on that front. And when she leaves him and he is heartbroken, he doesn’t take his pain out on anyone (unlike a certain “hero” from Charlotte Brontë’s sister Emily’s classic book). He arranges for Mrs. Fairfax to be comfortably retired and for Adele to go to school (decisions which very likely ended up saving both of their lives considering that Thornfield burned).

Moreover, when Jane returns to him, he has become selfless enough to believe she’d be better off without him and encourage her to marry St. John. He doesn’t try to possess her or keep her, like he used to. He gives her the freedom to choose.

And, being financially independent, Jane now has the power to live without him. Her marrying him is a choice, not a forced or coerced action.

The great thing about their love story is how it evolves from unhealthy to healthy. They both experience individual growth when separated, and get back together more compatible than ever before.

i am the luckiest woman in the world: i pass my days in the company of my most beloved husband, engaged in vital and stimulating conversation, the constant recipient of his doting affections and loving words.

Charlotte Brontë's Victorian classic and most notable novel follows the story of Jane Eyre, an impoverished orphan who battles through life's hardship and struggle, in an attempt to gain a greater insight of her own identity. From her cruel Aunt Reed, the strict conditions at Lowood school, her repressed love for Mr Rochester and the mysterious presence in the attic at Thornfield Hall, the narrative provided me with a unique gothic twist on the romance genre.

Jane Eyre as a protagonist can easily be viewed from a feminist perspective, being an advocate for women's emancipation and free will during the Victorian era. She is somebody who repeatedly challenges contemporary ideals of conduct and expectations, as well as claiming value in self independence and liberty over materialism. An example of this for me, is when Jane's irritation grows after Rochester's attempt to garnish her with expensive jewels and gifts after their engagement. Her humble modesty is explicit, as she feels unworthy of being treated as a beauty, due to her established simplicity and plainness within herself. It is clear that Jane favours more traditional forms of happiness, such as family and friendship. In addition, she often questions Rochester's true intentions towards her, further reinforcing her cautiousness, as well as the deep grounded effects of her harsh past experiences.

As we may be familiar with, a Victorian ideal for women was to be the "Angel in the House". Deriving from the title of a popular poem by Coventry Patmore, in which he held up his 'angel' wife as a model for all women, the phrase became a conventional pattern in Victorian households. This type of woman was expected to be submissive and devoted to her husband, as well as self-sacrificing, pious and meek. Even though at times it is apparent that Jane embodies the passivity of the 'angel', she is almost always on the contrary, challenging the patriarchal system which can be said to be symbolised by Rochester. In chapter 19, she even refers to marriage as a 'catastrophe' which is an atypical view! As a result, Jane seems to be an embodiment of the philosophical 'New Woman' of Victorian society. Departed from the stereotypical woman, the phrase stands for a woman who is intelligent, independent and self-supporting, which is a well-rounded description of Jane's character.

I particularly appreciate Brontë's formation of a seemingly 'New Gothic', that seems to have a more prominent focus on the psychological effects of trauma and its long lasting effects on an individual. The use of the phenomenon of repetitive compulsions striked me as a notable device in the narrative, as the character of Aunt Reed is almost embodied by Bertha Mason in Jane's future. This may indicate her unconscious need to want to overcome or master her tortured past through reconciling with it, and only then, Jane seems to finally experience a form of content and satisfaction. When Brontë weaves in supernaturalistic elements throughout the novel, especially when Jane repeatedly hears a sinister laugh coming from the attic, we are almost certain that there is a ghostly presence in place. However, she is clever in the fact of presenting Bertha as a grievous and afflicting character, who ultimately grounds us to the more realistic circumstances.

As a whole, I thought the novel to be a beautifully written exploration of the inevitable searching human condition and the radical effects that it may have on one's life. The development of Jane's character is central to the novel's significance, and this is further reinforced by the bildungsroman genre, as we experience her transformation from child to young woman. Brontë's appreciation for great detail, especially of nature and landscapes, serve for a timeless classic that can be enjoyed by all readers.

'I can live alone, if self-respect, and circumstances require me so to do. I need not sell my soul to buy bliss. I have an inward treasure born with me, which can keep me alive if all extraneous delights should be withheld, or offered only at a price I cannot afford to give.' 'Reason sits firm and holds the reins, and she will not let the feelings burst away and hurry her to wild chasms. The passions may rage furiously, like true heathens, as they are; and the desires may imagine all sorts of vain things: but judgment shall still have the last word in every argument, and the casting vote in every decision. Strong wind, earthquake-shock, and fire may pass by: but I shall follow the guiding of that still small voice which interprets the dictates of conscience."