Jane EyreXX-XXVII: Jane between Love/Madness and Law/Principles

Outline

• Review: Chap XI-IXX• Overview: Chap XXI-XXVII• Female Subjects in the novel • Jane’s Choices: multiple narrative positions• Her Paintings • Her Dreams • Rochester’s narrative of love • Her Rationalization

Review: Chap XI-IXX –The Quest vs. The Realistic and the Gothic

Jane’s Role as a Governess vs. Her Desire

Chap XX-XXVIIChap XX A savage and sharp sound

Mason found injured Rochester: no conversation between Mason and Jane, Jane: with Q’s (185) but obedient (187)Clues to the past: Mason’s emotional outburst (189)Jane as a pet lamb Rochester’s first confession

Chap XXI Jane’s dream of a child (193) Aunt’s dying Jane and Rochester’s bargain over her pay •Meeting Aunt pp. 202; •209-211•Georgiana vs. Eliza

Chap XX-XXVIIChap XXII Jane back “home”

Chap XXIII Rochester’s proposal

Jane’s self-assertion 222-23Chap XXIV All changed; Jane’s resistance to being dressed as a

beauty or called an angel. Jane’s view of love (from love to like) Mrs. Fairfax’s caution Adele’s questions about R’s taking Jane as a fairy to the moonJane’s bargain

Chap XXV Jane’s dreams and meeting the madwoman Chap XXVI Wedding & RevelationChap XXVII Jane’s Decision in facing the truth of Rochester’s

marriage

Two Filmic Episodes

• 7 (1-3)• 8 (2-3)

Discussion Questions

• Group 2 Mrs. Fairfax vs. Bertha group 7 Eliza vs. Geogiana– Types of Female characters the novel present (Possible subject positions for Jane) • Group 3 part 1, group 8 part 2-- Relations between

Jane and Rochester • group 4 -- Through the two main episodes here

(Mrs. Reeds’ death and the wedding), how does Jane express and develop her sense of identity? • group 5- What do you think about Rochester as a

lover? And his solution to his attempt at polygamy? • Groups 6 & 1 -- What would you have done were

you Jane?

Female Subjects in the novel

Submissive, Self-Denying Vain and SuperficialHelen Burns Mr. Brocklehurst’ Wife Eliza Georgiana

Bertha

Mother Figures Disciplinary FiguresBessie Mrs. ReedMs. Temple Ms. Scatcherd

Mrs. Fairfax

Eliza vs. Georgina (XXI)

Eliza

• 206 – no companion• No conversation • Accusation of

Georgiana 207

Georgina

• 205 –on herself, her loves and woes

p. 200 the two compared; Jane beyond feeling mortified.

Jane’s views of the two (208)

Mrs. Fairfax vs. Bertha

Mrs. Fairfax

• XXIII: the “widow” seeing Rochester kiss Jane; • XXIV: “Equality ofposition and fortune is

often advisable”-- “twenty years of

difference in your ages”; “pet of his” “governess” (232-33).

Bertha

• a ‘low, slow ha, ha’ after Jane’s reverie on being discontented.• Mirror image • The scene // red

room scene

Jane’s Development (1) Outgrowing Her Hatred•Meeting Aunt (XXI) • pp. 202; • 209-211

Jane’s Self-Expression via Paintings –or Self-Denial?

three instances of painting• XIII (110-111): 3 paintings (of clouds, peak of a

hill and of a polar winter sky) Rochester’s exploration of the recesses of her mind “artist’s dreamland”

• XVI (141-): Jane vs. Ingram-- a conscious effort to fix the subject in a position of rationality and clarity

• Jane’s spontaneous portrait of Rochester—artist’s self-expression or self-lessness?

Jane’s Development (2) Jane as a Server Independence • Chap XX: • “I’d give my life to serve you” • “I like to serve you, sir, and to obey you in all that is

right.‘• Chap XXII –R needs Jane’s confirmation (A loving eye

is all the charm needed)

• Chap XXIII • “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free

human being with an independent will; which I now exert to leave you.” (223)• I summon you as my wife. (223)

Jane’s “Independence” from Rochester’s Narrative of Love

• Rochester -- like a stray lamb 245 looking for her shepherd

Rochester•XXIV (227-28) delicate and aerial”

Jane •“Puny and insignificant…You are dreaming, sir—or you are sneering…”•“I’m not an angel…I will be myself” (XXIV 228)•hates being dressed like a doll 236; writes to John Eyre •Jane: poverty = degradation (III 20);being given too much jewelry = degradation (XXIV 236) •For wages (30 pounds a year)•show him divers rugged points…”my whole world”; “my hope of heaven” 241

Rochester as a Romantic Hero or Villain• Omen--a bolt of lightning splits the chestnut tree

of the proposal scene (XXV 243)

• Domineering: XX – forbids the two to talk • Self-Centeredness; coldness to Mason • Deceitfulness: his proposal • Clues to the past: • Error, not a crime 191 Jane refuses to offer

comfort in reformation (XX 192)• proposal –”God pardon me…”(XXIII: 224)

Jane’s Dreams and Bertha (XXV-XXVI) • her dream 247—the charge of a little

child; • another dream 248-49• Facing the mad woman 249-50 • XXVI– Jane’s future destroyed• XXVII -- Rochester’s account 269

Rochester’s Solution & Confession• Separating Bertha from her: “You shall go

to a place I have in the south of France: a white-washed villa on the shores of the Mediterranean.”• Reasoning through confession• Emotional appeal

Jane’s Self-Respect and Principles• (XXVII 279)

• 'I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. • I will keep the law given by God;

sanctioned by man.

Next Week• Is Jane successful in her quest? • Roles: • Jane –--3• Rochester – 5• Bertha --4 • St. John Rivers -- 8•Mrs. Fairfax -- 6• Georgiana --7• Helen Burns --1• You --2