Jane Eyre XXXXVII Jane between LoveMadness and LawPrinciples

Jane Eyre XX-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 Rochester: commanding, Jane’sand. Role as sympathetic deceitful (Gypsyawoman)? governess vs. Her desire for The Polite Society, women intellectual in dichotomy equals The Gothic Elements; the laughter Jane’s Role as a Governess vs. Her Desire “The Aliens”: “Grace Poole” and Mr. Mason

Chap XX-XXVII Chap XXI 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 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-XXVII Chap XXII Jane back “home” Chap XXIII Rochester’s proposal Jane’s self-assertion 222 -23 Chap 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 moon Jane’s bargain Chap XXV Jane’s dreams and meeting the madwoman Chap XXVI Wedding & Revelation Chap 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 Mother Figures Bessie Ms. Temple Disciplinary Figures Mrs. Reed Ms. Scatcherd Mrs. Fairfax Submissive, Self-Denying Helen Burns Eliza Vain and Superficial Mr. Brocklehurst’ Wife Georgiana Bertha

Eliza vs. Georgina (XXI) p. 200 the two compared; Jane beyond feeling mortified. Eliza Georgina • 206 – no companion • No conversation • Accusation of Georgiana 207 • 205 –on herself, her loves and woes Jane’s views of the two (208)

Mrs. Fairfax vs. Bertha Mrs. Fairfax • XXIII: the “widow” seeing Rochester kiss Jane; • XXIV: “Equality of position 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)

Jane’s “Independence” from Rochester’s Narrative of Love 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 -- like a stray lamb 245 looking for her shepherd

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