Jane EyreXI-XIX: Jane as a Governess in Thornfield -- – Service vs. Pursuit of Freedom and Love

Outline

• Review: Chap I-X• Jane as a governess • Her desire • Attraction between Jane and Rochester • The Polite Society • The Gothic Elements • “The Aliens”: “Grace Poole” and Mr.

Mason

Review: Chaps I-IV

Chap I Jane alone vs. The Reed family -- Reading and looking out of the window-- rebellion “in frantic sort”

Chap II Red room and her sense of injustice

Chap III Mr. Lloyd’s visit, gives Jane a choice between poverty or school -- Book: Gulliver’s Travels, Bessie’s song: sad

Chap IV The visit of Mr. Brocklehurst--Book: Psalms are not interesting 28--Mrs. Reed: Jane a liar 28 Jane’s 1st victory: speaking up against Mrs. Reed -- her remorse

Review: Chaps V-XChap V Departure (Jane clung to Bessie)

Lowood—poor food, sharing the same mug for drinking water. Helen Burns – reading and explanation of the school and teachers – Burns punished

Chap VI Helen Burns’ punishment (beaten with twigs, “slattern”) continues; discussion with Jane (endure it; denies her own merit; “Love your enemy”)

Chap VII The visit of Mr. BrocklehurstJane picked up as a liar

Chap VIII Helen: conscience more important than the world Turning point 64 -65 – Jane inspired by Helen and Ms. Temple Helen punished again 64

Chap IX Spring comes.Death of Helen Burns 71

Chap X Lowood reformed; Ms. Temple married. Jane stays in Lowood for 8 years and then seeks a teaching position elsewhere. “I desire liberty…” (74) Bessie’s visit before she leaves for Thornfield.

Discussion Questions• Governess: How is Jane positioned as a governess

in Thornfield? Is she treated like a servant? • Jane and Rochester: How is Rochester related to

Jane? How does she change her views of Rochester? • What does Jane Desire? What are the function of

the laugh she hears? • The Polite Society: How does Jane see the

aristocratic friends Rochester brings home? • What are the functions of charade and the

gypsy woman?

Jane in Thornfields1. Inexperienced—• Expected to be received coldly • thought Mrs. Fairfax to be the

owner 2. Hierarchy: closer to

housekeeper (84) 3. Knowledgeable (French)4. Books in the library (90) –

limited to light readings

The guests’ views of governesses – (XVII)

“half of them detestable and the rest ridiculous, and all incubi”

Jane’s Desire• “aspirations and regrets” about

her appearance (XI : 86)• Curious: “s Mr. Rochester an

exacting, fastidious sort of man?” (91) • Mrs. Fairfax’s view of

Rochester (XI: 92)• Restlessness vs. tranquility (95-)

• The laugh (XI 93, 94, XII 96; XV 130)

The Gothic Elements

• The house – more like a church (“chill and vaultlike” 85)• (XI: 92) The third floor – a shrine of

memory; like a Bluebeard’s castle (93)

Mr. Rochester• XIII (109): giving orders -- Go into the library—I

mean, if you please. (Excuse my tone of command; I am used to say "Do this," and it is done…)• (111): between orders and curiosity: I had scarce

tied the strings of the portfolio, when, …he said abruptly,”—it is nine o'clock: what are you about, Miss Eyre, to let Adèle sit up so long? Take her to bed.” • (112)-- Rochester’s family history explained

Mr. Rochester and Jane- Intellectual Equals’ Sympathy to Love• XIV: Exchanges of Their Equally Intelligent Minds,

Sympathy Aroused– • “do you think me handsome?” (115) -- No• Rochester’s appearance denied, authority defined

(117-18) and past seen as degenerate (119-20); impossible to be conventional with Jane • XV: Celine Varens // Bertha (the laugh) the fire

drawing them closer. (calling her “witch, sorceress) • XVI: Jane both fears and desires meeting him;

draws pictures of herself and Ingram to understand her own position.

Mr. Rochester and Jane- Growing Sympathy to Love

Jane

• XVII – her attention on him (153); “…but he never turned his eyes” (155)• XVIII – cannot unlove him

(163)• Jane reflects a while

whether she forgives R; serves him by offering him her shoulders 179

Rochester

• End of XVII: “…you are: so much depressed that a few more words would bring tears to your eyes—Good-night, my --'.”• XVIII-XIX – the gypsy

woman’s fortune-telling 173 – cold, sick, silly; contradictions on her face

XVII – governess discussed

The Polite Society and Beyond

• XVII: 145 Rich, well--adorned• Rochester in the center, dull without

him. • Lady Ingram: pompous, dogmatic• Marriage (for money and class) with

Ingram: good French, showy, shallow, her mind was poor, (XVIII: 163)

Jane’s feelings: from pain [not jealousy?], despair, to becoming lenient to her master (163-65)

Adele’s mother (XI): opera dancer -- teach her to dance and sing, -- surrounded by a lot of gentlemen and ladies-- a song about a forsaken lady

The Odd: Grace Poole & Mr. Mason• Grace Poole

• always alone (except for one hour) • a mystery in Thornfield (145)

•Mason • “too relaxed”• …eyes revealing “a tame, vacant life” (167)• From West Indies (168)• A big blow to Rochester

Turning Points & Major Motifs• The laugh – breaking social bounds •meeting Rochester outside Thornfield• the fire • Disguise – a way to violate social norms?• A. Charade: a. bride and groom, b. Rebekah and

Isaac, c. Bridewell (which is actually a prison) • B. the gypsy woman • “Reader, I could not unlove him.” –direct address

to Victorian readers