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Jane Eyre: Love and Revelations
‘Thank you, Mr. Rochester, for your great kindness. I am strangely glad to get back again to you: and wherever you are is my home—my only home.’
Jane dear, you’re making your feelings so obvious! But I guess, with the mixed emotions; relief of going back to Thornfield, the longing to see her love again, which overshadowed by fear of the near separation and an unknown future, made her blurt out her heart.
I can’t say that Jane’s life at Thornfield went back to normal as the forthcoming marriage looming over, but basing on Jane’s observation, there was no preparation for the big event and more so, she never saw Mr. Rochester visiting his soon to be bride which was very surprising to her.
It had given Jane a fearful spark of that the engagement has been broken. Though every time she considered it, it sounded ridiculous and crushed her spirit more. The funny thing (as I imagined Mr. Rochester with Cheshire Cat’s grin) and as if rubbing salt to the Jane’s wounded heart, Mr. Rochester is seeking Jane’s company more often, which supposedly give the readers a clue of Mr. Rochester’s true intentions.
One midsummer day at nightfall, Jane decided to find solace by strolling in the orchard. Lost in thought, she wafted a familiar scent: her master’s cigar. She hurriedly tried to hide herself… unsuccessfully. Mr. Rochester called her to look upon a moth which reminds him of a West Indian insect (Maybe he is referring to the Junonia Evarete butterfly which is also called West Indian buckeye?). Soon, they moved on to a more serious conversation. Mr. Rochester asked if Jane had grown attached to Thornfield Hall and of her little charge. Jane heartfully agreed and inquired if she should have to leave. Mr. Rochester replied that it was a pity, but she must, and very soon (‘Very soon, my—that is, Miss Eyre-was he about to say my love? Squeal!). However, she will not have to worry about her next occupation as he had already referred Jane to a certain Mrs. Dionysius O’Gall of Bitternutt Lodge in Connaught, Ireland, who had five daughters Jane would be teaching. Jane was crestfallen saying that it was so far way off to her Thornfield and most especially away from Mr. Rochester. Her master said that as friends, they shouldn’t waste their time left together and he apologized for sending Jane so far away, but he couldn’t find any better. He admitted that he felt a certain fondness for her, however, he believes that Jane does not feel the same way and she would easily forget about him.
Heart brimming with emotion, Jane shouted “Never” and gushed into tears. I was frustrated with Mr. Rochester’s insensitive words and his seeming indifference. Jane grieves over leaving the one place she finally considered a safe home and to be torn away from the one she loves. She had accepted it though; she knows that it was a necessity. And here is where my mind is muddled up (Curse you old English way of writing and my simpleton brain!). Mr. Rochester asked what’s the necessity of her leaving. What?! You said it yourself Jane has to leave, to make way for your bride! Jane, of course, confused, answered this (in a more ladylike way), and then he swore that she will stay by his side, an oath he will keep. What the fudge?Mr. Rochester you roasted my over caffeinated brain! Jane said it was punishing for him to think that because she was poor, plain, innocent and heartless, for she believes that they are both equal in the eyes God. And then… and then he KISSED HER! WHAT THE FUDGE? (I miss eating hot fudge in chocolate brownies with almonds, side mouth drool.)
Feeling nothing to lose and feeling desperate, Jane further exclaimed, as she struggled within the circle his arms (an effort to make her still), that she would rather go to Ireland than to see such union, a union without love and an unfavorable match. Breaking free and stepping away from her master, she was called again to his side which Jane refused.
But, Jane, I summon you as my wife: it is you only I intend to marry.’
And at last he popped the question. (Already hearing wedding bells!) At first Jane thought he was mocking her. I mean, come on! After what she had been through? After she drew herself a self-portrait and Miss Ingram’s so that she can torture herself by constantly comparing what she can’t be? (Ah, don’t worry Jane what’s beauty without a brain? And you don’t want to be a gold digger! Although, sadly most are still blinded on what’s on the outside these days. Do you agree dear readers?). Mr. Rochester finally told her the truth (Read Part 2) and that he was only using Miss Ingram as a way to see if Jane would be jealous and reveal if she has feelings for him. After making sure he was telling the truth, she finally agreed to be dear Edward’s wife.
Not everyone was agreeable to the news. Mrs. Fairfax was stunned when she caught Jane and Mr. Rochester kissing when they came back to the house, wet with rain at midnight. Jane had asked Mr. Rochester to clear everything with the old woman. At first, I was a little irritated with Mrs. Fairfax, she couldn’t believe that the marriage proposal was true and if it’s truly out of love. Jane was a bit hurt and asked the widower if she thought of her as a monster and if it was really an impossibility for their master to love her unconditionally. When I gave it some thought, I find the housekeeper’s fears as valid. First of all, the huge age gap (18-40ish). Don’t misinterpret me, I’m all for the age doesn’t matter, just as long as they are both in legal age and are not already committed to someone else, but when you look at it plainly, Jane has no experience with having a boyfriend and she had lived most of her life relatively free from men. Mr. Rochester, although a good man, can easily manipulate or overpower her innocence.
Second, Mr. Rochester never showed his intentions towards Jane.
“ Mr. Rochester, I daresay, is fond of you. I have always noticed you were sort of pet of his”
Ouch, but that was true, even to the me who hasn’t finished the book yet.
And lastly, Mr. Rochester is as stubborn as a bull and I think that’s somewhat because of his status (and old age? Hehe). What he wants, he gets.
Mrs. Fairfax hoped that everything will turn alright in the end. She advised the young lady to put a distance between her and her future husband prior to the wedding, and to be on her guard for
“All is not gold that glitters.”
Jane managed Mr. Rochester’s over kindled wooing in check and it was much appreciated by him. Her ability to keep him on his toes, although often making him irritated and grumpy, intrigued and amused him more than to have someone demure, or “damsel in distress ” type, which would indeed stroke his ego but will not make him contented in the long run. This alleviated Mrs. Fairfax’s anxiety, and Jane could feel the housekeeper’s approval of her. This made me really want to see it in person: how wrung Jane could get Mr. Rochester without getting any consequences.
The day of the most awaited wedding was only night’s sleep away. Jane couldn’t fathom herself as “Mrs. Rochester” as it was written in the address cards to a Hotel in London, where they will be going for their honeymoon.
Now my dear readers, I want you to remember the following as it will soon predict what will come to pass soon. Moreover, please bear in mind that Mr. Rochester was not at home in Thornfield a few nights prior and when he returned it was a shocking delight for him to have Jane to welcome him so eagerly but he soon saw the fear in her eyes.
Jane dreamt two things which she shared to Mr. Rochester:
1. She was in a dusky night. She missed Mr. Rochester and long to be with him, but she felt that there was a barrier that kept them apart. She walked through an unfamiliar road, while being pelted by rain and with a helpless baby in her arms as an added burden. She saw him ahead of her, try as she might she could never get closer to him, and she felt hopeless as her crying plea died was not heard by her love and still he moved farther and farther away.
2. Thornfield Hall was in ruins and filled with night creatures. She approached and stumbled over a marble hearth and with it, still in her arms an unknown little child. She heard a horse and was certain it was Mr. Rochester, she climbed frantically to get a glimpse of him. The stones, fragile, gave away from under her, the child clinging to her neck almost strangling her. She lost her balance, and her grip on the child and then… she woke up.
You might notice that both dreams have more or less the same context, the only difference is that Jane was in the ruins of Thornfield Hall in the second one. In both dreams, she was always trying to reach Mr. Rochester (He somehow was always out of reach) and she had been carrying a baby. I don’t want to discuss my theories here because it might spoil a few things that needed to be able to progress more, so stick around for it. (Have I gotten you hooked? Yes, no-?) But… what I will say that Bessie had mentioned before that dreaming of children brings bad omen.
What’s worse in dreaming of two nightmares in one night? Answer: waking up into the real world to a nightmare. Jane woke up in her candle lit room, her closet, where she hanged her wedding dress and the elaborate veil Mr. Rochester had sneakily (& forcibly given to her), was opened and there a living nightmare emerged. Jane saw in horror an unfamiliar large, unkempt and savaged woman (No, not Grace Poole). She tried on Jane’s veil, tore it in half and threw it to the ground. Due to fright, Jane fainted.
As I predicted, Mr. Rochester blamed everything on stress and anxiety. He comforted Jane that they will never be separated. Weren’t they be bounded to another in holy matrimony in just a couple of hours? He also told her that the woman she saw tearing her veil was a continuation of her two previous dreams. Jane, however, contradicted that she was still having a nightmare because after she came to, she saw the damaged veil on the floor.
At that, Mr. Rochester showed emotion and shuddered. He thanked God that it was only the veil that was harmed and not his young bride. He had an explanation to this as well. He told Jane that she must have been half dreaming and a woman indeed had come to her room, might have been Grace Poole but because Jane was still half sleep, and woken by nightmares, he supposed that the Jane brought her fears into the waking world and morph Grace Poole’s image into someone grotesque. He further explained that it is like her, Grace Poole, to tear the veil and once they are married, he will explain to Jane why he keeps the strange woman’s services even after so many mishaps.
Secretly Jane was not satisfied with this but, to please him, she accepted his explanation and agreed to his request to stay in the nursery room with Adele and her nanny Sophie.
At seven in the morning, Jane had put on her simple wedding dress and the plain veil she had prepared for herself as the impatient Mr. Rochester waited for her. Alright, I understand, Mr. Rochester must really, really love Jane that’s why he is so keen on finishing the wedding rights, but I smell something fishy about how he had Jane’s hand in an iron grip as he led the way in such a fast pace towards the church, that Jane could hardly keep up, and with his great unwavering resolve flashing in his eyes.
The ceremony would be done in private, in a modest church with the priest, the clerk, the bride and the groom were the only one expected to be present, which is odd to me. Even the most private weddings it requires at least one witness, right? (Maybe not in Jane’s time?). However, there were two shadows lurking outside the church, and when the couple arrived, they sneaked inside as well. This hits me again with a fishy feeling (With so many fish we can grill them up and feed a family! Gosh, forgive me with my pointless jokes, we are over our 100 days in quarantine and craziness is the new normal.)
I read on, (my hands sweating) and when the clergyman final asked “…if either of you know any impediment why ye may not lawfully be joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it; for be ye well assured that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God’s Word doth allow, are not joined together by God, neither is their matrimony lawful.”, I was not so surprised when someone answered that the wedding can’t go on as there is “the existence of an impediment.”
Mr. Rochester was in complete denial and ordered the stunned clergyman to proceed. But of course, the Mr. Wood, the clergyman said they must investigate if the there’s any truth in the stranger’s claims before they can continue.
Did I mention that Jane wrote to her uncle sharing the happy news that she would be wed soon to Edward Fairfax Rochester? (No? Well, there you have it.) It turns out the two strangers was a certain Briggs, a lawyer from London and Mr. Richard Mason, their visitor who was bitten and stabbed a few months ago. And what a coincidence it was that Mr. Mason and John Eyre, Jane’s uncle, are acquainted with each other and as it was as if the stars are perfectly aligned when Mr. Eyre received Jane’s letter, they were both in Madiera and this is where Mr. Mason was able to know about the marriage.
Why you might ask, Mr. Mason must know about the impending Eyre-Rochester nuptial? That’s because Bertha Antoinetta Mason, his sister, was, and still is Mrs. Rochester. The door of that mysterious third floor room was finally opened with a vengeance…
End of Part 3
P.S I want to end Part 3 here since the next scenes are intense and I want to do it with justice and plus the fact that I’m lazy (Why did it take a month to finish part 3?) and I just want to post something this week. Annnd I want an excuse to have you back here. Wink, wink, hint, hint. I didn’t actually plan to write a Part 4, but I guess I have to now. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ See you in Part 4. (‘til then I’m hoping I won’t have to write Part 5. Yes, Part 4 is in the works so I can finally end Jane Eyre by next week and start a new book review. I’m thinking the Devil’s Wear Prada. Books vs Movie style?)
P.S.S Self plug, I have started a Youtube channel (Click me) ! Surprise, surprise, who hasn’t, these days? (See I’m not THAT lazy). I’m still figuring out the best tools to use and how I want the channel to reflect this site, so I hope you can be patient with me. Subscribe and comment 😊
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