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Jane Eyre: Despair and Righteousness
“You know I am a scoundrel, Jane?” Yes, Mr. Rochester, I can honestly say you are.
Mr. Edward Fairfax Rochester had an older brother named Rowland. Their father was a greedy man who does not wish to divide his property equally for both his sons (It lowers the value, I guess?) and so it was decided that most would go to the eldest brother (as expected). Not wanting his younger son to live poorly, he sought out a partner for Edward that could result a wealthy marriage.
And here comes Bertha Antoinetta Mason, a fine woman, who came from the same mold as Blanch Ingram. Mr. Rochester was lavished by her charms, fooled by his ignorance and before he knew of the hole that he was digging himself into, they were wed. Soon enough, the thirty thousand pounds gained from the marriage could not even begin to compensate the heartbreaking and crazy events that would transpire. Bertha Mason Rochester inherited her mother’s illness of the mind. At age 26, Mr. Rochester felt so much betrayal of his father and brother (they knew the truth all along), so much bitterness and unhappiness from a toxic and violent marriage that he almost took his life.
His brother died and his father followed four years later. Mr. Rochester was left with all the riches he couldn’t have imagined, but still he was chained. This again proved Mr. Rochester kindness, he did not wish to bring harm to his enraged wife, although he had suffered so much both physically and spiritually from her mad hands. The best option he could find to free himself (albeit temporarily), was to leave the country and housed his wife in the third floor of Thornfield Hall, employing Grace Poole to take care of his greatest secret.
And now Mr. Rochester addressed the party of Mr. Mason, Mr. Brigs, the clergyman, Grace Poole, and Jane as they watched in horror the mystery that was finally revealed, standing before them with eyes filled with contempt. He asked them, who had seen a demon, and comparing it to Jane, who stood composed, to judge him, who had been through hell and just want to find comfort and happiness in the arms of the one he genuinely loved.
Although it truly does justify in the heart why Mr. Rochester had sought new happiness, but in the eyes of the law and of God, it does not. Regardless of the insanity, pain, and regret that she has caused, Bertha is still the living Mrs. Rochester, and Jane knew that. (Insert track, Rewrite the Stars)
Jane felt as if winter winds had stormed away her sweet little dreams and her hopes died before it had a chance to fully bloom. Ugh, my heart goes to you Jane. She is left alone, and she had lost everything. Her confidence to the man she gave her whole heart, was broken beyond repair. Her future seemed so bleak, what must she do?
She must leave, of course! As she knew that both she and Mr. Rochester will suffer as they will surely pine for each other. Every day will be a torment, ever day they will be tempted and Jane, as moral as an angel could be, will not be the cause of Mr. Rochester to commit sin.
With the burden of the knowledge that she will soon leave, Jane finally exited her room in the afternoon the next day. She collapsed for she had not eaten anything. Expecting the hard floor, her body was wrapped by warm familiar arms. Her beloved master sat in front of her chamber’s door waiting and going a little crazier each passing minute.
Mr. Rochester asked why Jane decided to suffer alone, why she stayed silent, why she didn’t make a scene and why she didn’t show her disdain and bitterness towards him. Her face free from tears, he had asked
“I suppose, then, your heart has been weeping blood?”
You think Mr. Rochester? There are pains that beyond tears, especially when it’s mingled with shock and utter disbelief. Seeing his eyes full of guilt and his words still full of so much love for her, Jane forgave him then and there, for her heart understood his reasons.
What about you my dear non-existent readers, would you have done the same? Would you show mercy to the man who made a fool out of you, although not out of malice, but because the truth is intertwined with so many complications? I think all us would agree that we want to know everything about the person we start or already in a relationship with, especially if we plan to marry them. Or will you make him accountable for his deceit regardless of how sorry he is?
Because a lie is still a lie regardless of any justifications.
After the words of truth about the failed marriage, his escapades out of the country, the mistresses and his great reluctant return to Thornfield Hall, Mr. Rochester recalled the first time they met one wintry afternoon, revealing that he fell in love with an ethereal elf, fragile may it seemed but behind the “childish and slender” appearance lays an abundance of self-worth, dignity, compassion and intelligence beyond her years.
Mr. Rochester offered a new life to Jane. As a reader, Jane’s inner struggles were agonizing to read. It pains her to leave her master, knowing he would be lonely and miserable. She feared, as she knew very well his personality, what consequences might result from his recklessness forced by despair. She wanted to comfort him as he desperately asked her if she still loves him and accept his proposal in leaving Thornfield, start anew with him abroad and forget the past. Jane saw for the first time how a man could be frightening when urged by passion and anguish. As readers we can now clearly see the flaws of Edward Rochester’s character, impulsive and proud to the bitter end.
“Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigor; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be."
(To tell you honestly, I had to open up a dictionary for a lot of these words). Jane with a strong sense of morals, has taught us that laws and principles are not created in comfort zones and certainly not just kept during easy situations. They are made when we are tested, when there’s a fork in the road, when we are unsure and when we are doubting everything, we go back to those principles to guide as back to the right direction. She did not yield.
It’s so heartbreaking, reading and empathizing as Jane said her final farewell. Understanding she will not be able to see him the following day.
Jane fled away from temptation bringing only a bonnet, gloves, a meager parcel, a purse, bread and water. Her final memory of her master will be of hearing him pacing restlessly in his chamber awaiting impatiently for sunrise for him to summon her again.
Jane’s journey was excruciating, she was torn between the cries of her heart and the sound reason of her soul.
“May your eyes never shed such stormy, scalding, heart-wrung tears as poured from mine.”
She was able to hail a coach and with twenty shillings in her purse (Roughly £13 today) she was able to travel for two days and when the driver could take her any further, she was set upon Whitcross which “… is not a town; but a stone pillar set up where four roads meet”. Jane guessed that she was in north-midland shire. The nearest town was ten miles away and thus, in the arms of mother nature did Jane rest her head that night.
Jane walked more than half a day to Morton Village and wandered through, weak from tiredness, hunger, and thirst. She tried to look for employment, she went to the bakery and some of the houses. Jane finally thought she found help as she approached the church, but she was out of luck as the clergyman went home. She was becoming desperate as hunger kept gnawing her stomach , she even contemplated to beg for she was now “brought low”.
Here we can see, through the eyes of a woman protagonist, how beggars are viewed in the old times, which I think is no difference now, except for the fact that we are more gullible when blinded by earthly things, that we often don’t recognize a scam or fraud when it’s- how do I describe it concisely? I’ll use Ron Weasley’s words (Hello fellow Potterheads) “ …Wouldn't know it if it danced naked in front of him wearing Dobby's tea cosy" . And I don’t think I’ll explain more because (a) I know at one point you’ve been down that rabbit hole and (b) this will make me write more which I don’t want to 😊.
Strength failing, starving, lost, alone, Jane made her way to the moorlands… and hallelujah! A light through the darkness, she found her way towards the Rivers’ house.
End of Part 4
Yes, I know! I didn’t plan on making Part 5 (However, there was a strong feeling in my guts while writing Part 3) but it seemed weird for me to have a 4-part series. I promise that I don’t wish to prolong the story, it’s just that I want to finish Jane Eyre leisurely so that I can put into much thought on how I can portray my views and feelings for the last hurrah.
Also, I figured this would be the final style I’ll be using for my next book reviews. It will be a little long and time consuming since I’m summarizing the whole book, but at least I can really put an emphasis on my opinions, reactions and thoughts to the plots I want to shine. This will also help to the readers who don’t want to read the whole story relate to what I’m talking about.
That’s it for now. See you in Part 5!
Click me for Part 5
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