SeptembEYRE Check In: XXI-XXIX

Finally, the section I’ve been looking forward to, when all is revealed!  The mystery surrounding Thornfield Hall and all the sinister events turns out to be Mr. Rochester’s crazy wife!  Crazy pants! But first, let’s back track . . .

Yay!  Jane and Mr. Rochester are engaged!  As I suspected, evil Ms. Ingram declines any romantic gesture by Mr. Rochester because of “a rumor”, which I can only guess comes from the “gypsy”.  The month-long engagement does nothing to satisfy the romantically inclined.  While Mr. Rochester attempts to transform Jane into a lady that she isn’t, Jane turns cold and practically reclusive.  I understand that she has a lot to process and she is the sort to over-analyze each situation, but you two are supposed to be IN LOVE!!  I guess this is Bronte’s way of suggesting to the reader that perhaps this marriage might not occur.  Sadness!

I actually have a tendency to feel more sympathy for Mr. Rochester than Jane in this section.  We learn a lot of the history behind this gentleman including how his family scammed him into marrying into an insane family . . .for money (which might suggest the role of marriage back in those days).  And this crazy wife is the same woman that is currently locked in his attic and wreaking havoc when she can.  Okay, okay, perhaps locking another human in a closet isn’t exactly appropriate, but you have to feel for the man.  What’s he supposed to do?  With no other choice, he attempts to find an equal, someone to share his life with.  And, after traveling the world, he comes home and finds plain, yet incredibly stimulating, Jane.  I’ll admit, Mr. Rochester generally confuses me. He has such an abrasive exterior (I guess both physically and emotionally) but then he pulls out these amazingly romantic lines and I can’t help but love him.  At the proposal, Mr. Rochester says “My bride is here . . . because my equal is here, and my likeness.”  Sooo sweet.   I empathize with Mr. Rochester and his desire for a happy life with a happy wife.  I really just want him to be happy and I don’t see any way out of his situation but to find someone who will understand his predicament and love him back.

And then there’s Jane.  The life of Jane Eyre is by no means easy and she is a strong and admiral woman for enduring the hardships she does with such stamina and self-awareness.  However, I believe some of these same qualities also constitute her downfall.  Her stubbornness and fundamentalist religious beliefs drive her from Thornfield Hall in the middle of the night to a non-existence, begging for her subsistence from complete strangers.  Moreover, the quick departure by Jane is mostly driven by selfish desires.  If she stays, she feels like her feelings will persuade her to stay.  The marriage of Mr. Rochester to his first wife, in my mind, does not signify marriage.  Jane, although believing that she is following the religious and social rules of the day by not staying with Mr. Rochester, forgets the other truly Christian attribute of love and forgiveness.  What would Helen Burns say or do? No one in the village through which Jane passes, except St. John, feels compassion and takes in desolate Jane.  Hopefully, this act of goodwill by St. John will show Jane that she too can love and forgive Mr. Rochester.

I feel like we’re not done with the relationship between Mr. Rochester and Jane.  But maybe that’s my “watch-too-many-romantic-comedies” personality hoping, wishing, dreaming that they’ll find each other and accept each other with all their faults. We’ll see! Only one week left!