Thornfield: Chapters 11-20
Rebecca Ackerman, Eli Johnson, Robyn Himelstein, Kyle Leigh Carney and Charlotte Jenkins Chapter 12: Jane's discontent
"I valued what was good in Mrs. Fairfax, and - Jane comments on how she feels what was good in Adele, but I believed in the unsatisfied with her life existence of other and more vivid kinds of goodness, and what I believed in I wished to -she believes there are more "vivid behold. Who blames me? Many, no doubt; and I kinds of goodness" that she wants to shall be called discontented. I could not help it; the restlessness was in my nature; it agitated have me to pain sometimes. Then my sole reward - She explains how she is unhappy and forward, safe in the silence and solitude of and restless the spot, and allow my mind's eye to dwell on whatever bright visions rose before it- and -Jane comments on how she desired certainly they were many and glowing; to let my to have “life, fire, and feeling.” These heart be heaved by the exultant movement which, while it swelled it in trouble, expanded it things she wants emphasize how she with life; and, best of all, to open my inward ear is unsatisfied and feels that her life is to a tale that was never ended- a tale my dull. The symbol of fire may imagination created, and narrated continuously, represent the passion and excitement quickened with all of incident life, fire, feeling, that I desired and had not in my actual that she feels is lacking in her life. existence"- pg 122 Chapter 12: Jane's gender commentary
"Women are supposed to be calm -commentary on gender roles generally; but women feel just as - Jane explains how women are men feel; they need to exercise for supposed to be calm even though their faculties, and a field for their they feel the same way as men. efforts, as much as their brothers do; - She writes how women suffer in they suffer from too rigid a restraint, similar ways that men do- for too absolute a stagnation, precisely example women also suffer from too as men would suffer; and it is narrow much control. minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they - Jane writes that women, however, ought to confine themselves to have to continue on with what they making puddings and knitting are expected to do as women- stockings, to playing piano and “making puddings, knitting stockings” embroidering bags. It is thoughtless even when they are suffering to condemn them, or laugh at them; if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex." - pg 123 Chapter 12: Meeting Rochester (on horse)
If this stranger had smiled and been good-humored to me when I addressed him, if he had put off my offer of assistance gayly and with thanks, I should have gone on my way and not felt any vocation to renew inquiries. But the frown, the - Jane seems captivated by roughness of the traveler set me at my ease. I retained my station when he waved me to go and announced-- (pg 129) Rochester- “the frown, the Rochester: “You just live below—do you mean at that house with the battlements?” pointing to Thornfield Hall, on which the roughness of the traveler, set moon cast a hoary gleam, bringing it out distinct and pale from the woods, that, by contrast with the western sky, now seemed one mass of shadow. me at my ease.” “Yes, sir.” - Strange that he does not tell “Whose house is it?” her who he is “Mr. Rochester’s.” - Last line- even though she “Do you know Mr. Rochester?” does not know who he is, she “No, I have never seen him.” feels the need to obey him “He is not resident, then?” - Descriptions related to “No.” plainness and simplicity- “Can you tell me where he is?” describing Thornfield as being “I cannot.” “pale” and her dress being “as “You are not a servant at the Hall, of course? You are-- ?” He stopped, ran his eye over my dress, which as usual was quite usual, quite simple.” These simple—a black merino cloak, a black beaver bonnet; neither of them half fine enough for a lady’s maid. He seemed puzzled descriptions compliment Jane’ to decide what I was. I helped him. s feelings mentioned earlier of “I am the governess.” dissatisfaction with the lack of “Ah, the governess!” he repeated; “deuce make me if I had not forgotten! The governess!” and again my raiment underwent life, fire, and feeling in her life. scrutiny. In two minutes he rose from the stile; his face expressed pain when he tried to move. “I cannot commission you to fetch help,” he said, “but you may help me a little yourself if you will be so kind.” “Yes, sir.” “You have not an umbrella that I can use as a stick?” “Try to get hold of my horse’s bridle and lead him to me; you are not afraid?” I should have been afraid to touch the horse when alone, but when told to do it, I was disposed to obey.” (pg 129)
Chapter 13- Early Interactions with Rochester
"Is it necessary to change my frock?" "Yes, you had better: I always dress for the ● Jane here is introduced to the evening when Mr. Rochester is here. expectations of a man such as Rochester, whose formalities are "Eight years! you must be tenacious of life. I a turn off for her. thought half the time in such a place would have done up any constitution! No wonder you ● Right away Rochester is have rather the look of another world. I fascinated with Jane, not marvelled where you had got that sort of face. infatuated but seemingly interested in her thoughts. Enough!" he called out in a few minutes. "You play A LITTLE, I see; like any other English ● Rochester still acts superior school-girl; perhaps rather better than some, enough to insult the lower but not well." ranked governess without hesitation. Were you happy when you painted these pictures?" ● Early on, Rochester feels comfortable enough with Jane to ask personal questions about emotions several times. Chapter 14- Early Interactions with Rochester
"I am disposed to be gregarious and ● Rochester is clearly open about communicative to-night," he repeated, "and his interest in Jane. At this point that is why I sent for you: I am persuaded, can it is strictly platonic, however he suit me if you will: you puzzled me the first certainly finds her fascinating evening I invited you down here. I have almost forgotten you since: other ideas have driven ● Jane's quick response to yours from my head; but to-night I am resolved Rochester's question shows her to be at ease; to dismiss what importunes, and internal independence despite recall what pleases. It would please me now to her rank as an employee of draw you out--to learn more of you--therefore Rochester. speak." ● Rochester is not as much offended but surprised by her You examine me, Miss Eyre," said he: "do you bluntness and intrigued despite think me handsome?" her rescinding the verbal slip-up I should, if I had deliberated, have replied to this question by something conventionally ● He does however accuse her of vague and polite; but the answer somehow ugliness, or plainness in slipped from my tongue before I was aware-- response. "No, sir
Chapter 14- Early Interactions with Rochester
don't wish to treat you like an inferior: that is" (correcting himself), "I claim only such ● Now, Rochester purely wants superiority as must result from twenty years' Jane to reveal her "natural" side difference in age and a century's advance in experience. I desire you to have the goodness which he believes has been to talk to me a little now, and divert my suppressed by Lowood. thoughts, which are galled with dwelling on one point--cankering as a rusty nail." ● He wishes to erase the social boundaries between them, I think you will learn to be natural with me, as despite the inequalities being a I find it impossible to be conventional with major insecurity to Jane. you; and then your looks and movements will have more vivacity and variety than they dare ● Rochester grows tremendously offer now. I see at intervals the glance of a curious sort of bird through the close-set bars in terms of his interest in Jane. of a cage: a vivid, restless, resolute captive is there; were it but free, it would soar cloud- high. You are still bent on going?" Chapter 15: The Plot Thickens
In this chapter, Rochester takes Jane on a walk and tells her about his love affair with Adele's mother, Celine Varens, although he denies that Adele is his child. That night as Jane is lying in bed she hears fingers brush the door and eerie laughter. She runs into the hallway and into Rochester's room and finds the bedcurtains on fire. He blames the incident on Grace Poole and closes the matter. Quotes and Stuff
"I like Thornfield, its antiquity, its retirement, its old crow-trees and thorn-trees, its gray facade, and lines of dark windows reflecting that metal welkin: and yet how long have i abhorred the very thought of it, shunned it like a great plague-house? How I do still abhor--"
Rochester talking to Jane. Quote seems mysterious, possibly relating to Bertha. Characters
● Jane becomes jealous of Celine ● Rochester deepens his relationship with Jane by confiding in her ● First experience with Bertha, the cat lady
Chapter 16: The Pot Chickens
The night after the fire, Jane awakes to find no excitement in the house and is confused by Grace Poole's lack of guilt over the incident. Jane begins to recognize her feelings for Rochester and is somewhat upset that he will be away for several days at a party with Blanche Ingram. She chides herself for thinking such things about her master and resolves to compare her likeness to Blanche Ingram's to see how plain she is by comparison. Quotes
"Whenever in future you should chance to fancy Mr. Rochester thinks well of you, take out these two pictures and compare them, "Mr. Rochester might probably win that noble lady's love, if he chose to strive for it; is it likely he would waste a serious thought on this indigent and insignificant plebeian?"
Chapters 17 and 18
● Rochester is gone indefinitely, until Mrs. Fairfax receives news that he will be returning in three days with guests ● Jane is eager about his homecoming and helps prepare the house ● further notices Grace Poole's isolation; irony in calling her "companion-less as a prisoner in his dungeon" up in the third floor chamber all day ● overhears conversation between Leah and a char-woman, concluding "there was a mystery at Thornfield; and that from participation in that mystery I was purposely excluded." ● Rochester returns with company, including Blanche Ingram. He requests Jane to accompany Adele to the drawing room after dinner and insists that she attend ● When the company enters, Jane observes them all from a corner of the room rather than interacting. ● Attempts to suppress feelings about Rochester: "Every good, true, vigorous feeling I have, gathers impulsively round him. I know I must conceal my sentiments; I must smother hope; I must remember that he can not care much for me." ● Blanche and her mother speak very poorly of governesses in front of Jane, making her exceedingly uncomfortable and upset "...half of them detestable and the rest ridiculous, and all incubi—were they not, mamma?” “My dearest, don't mention governesses; the word makes me nervous. I have suffered a martyrdom from their incompetency and caprice; I thank Heaven I have now done with them!” illustrates the uncomfortable position that Jane is in as a governess Chapters 17 and 18
● Begins to focus in on the potential of a relationship between Rochester and Jane "'...so long as my visitors stay, I expect you to appear in the drawing-room every evening; it is my wish; don't neglect it. Now go, and send Sophie for Adele. Good-night, my--' He stopped, bit his lip, and abruptly left me." ● Blanche serves as an obstacle to the potential of a relationship between Jane and Rochester. Jane observes that they are likely to get married even though she does not think they truly love each other "Miss Ingram was a mark beneath jealousy: she was too inferior to excite the feeling... She was very showy, but she was not genuine: she had a fine person, many brilliant attainments; but her mind was poor, her heart barren by nature." "I felt he had not given her his love, and that her qualifications were ill-adapted to win from him that treasure... this was where the fever was sustained and fed: she could not charm him." ● Mr. Mason arrives for the first time, revealing that Rochester once lived in the West Indies, as he did himself. ● A gypsy woman arrives at Thornfield and asks to speak individually to the young and single ladies of Thornfield. Blanche goes to the gypsy first, and does not appear to be pleased with her fortune when she returns "All eyes met her with a glance of eager curiosity, and she met all eyes with one of rebuff and coldness: she looked neither flurried nor merry; she walked stiffly to her seat, and took it in silence." Chapter 19- The Fortune Teller
-"You are cold, because you are alone... You ● Rochester, as fortuneteller, concludes Jane are sick; because the best of feelings...given to man, keeps far away from you. You are silly, is shunning some love, implies there is a because, suffer as you may, you will not beckon love. it to approach, nor will you stir one step to meet ● Mentions Grace Poole, Jane is startled where it waits you." ● Moves on to more direct questions about -"If you knew it, you are peculiarly situated: very relationship between Jane and Rocheste, he near happiness; yes, within reach of it. The is curious materials are all prepared, there only wants ● Tells Jane that Rochester will marry Miss movement to combine them." Ingram, though acknowledges she cares -"Detecting! You have analyzed then... You much about his fortune have seen love: have you not?" ● Jane is very controlled, doesn't give up -"Mr. Rochester has a right to enjoy the society much of his guests." ● Rochester comments on Jane's qualities: -"The eye is favourable... That feature {the eye, mouth, forehead mouth} is too propitious... I see no enemy to a ● Jane is pretty calm when Rochester's fortunate issue but in the brow... The forehead declares, 'Reason sits firm and holds the reins, identity is revealed and she will not let the feelings burst away and ● Rochester is alarmed at Mason's presence, hurry her to wild chasms." looks for comfort in Jane -"My little friend!" "I wish I were in a quite island with only you; and trouble, and danger, and hideous recollections removed from me." Chapter 20
-"...the doors of a great cabinet opposite- ● Jane follows Rochester's orders in whose front, divided into twelve panels, bore, in grim design, the heads of the this chapter and shows he can trust twelve apostles... above them at the top her rose an ebon crucifix and a dying ● Gothic elements of story- mystery, Christ." murder- heighten -"Is the wandering and sinful, but now ● Christian theme continues rest-seeking and repentant, man justified in daring the world's opinion, in order to ● Rochester alludes to his situation in attach to him forever this gentle, talk with Jane, seeks advice from her gracious, genial stranger, thereby ○ she responds with Christian securing his own peace of mind and regeneration of life?" based answer, foreshadows her -"Sir, a wanderer's repose or a reaction when she learns sinner's reformation should never Rochester is married depend on a fellow-creature. Men and women die; philosophers falter in ● Chapter ends with Jane agreeing to wisdom, and Christians in goodness: if sit up with Rochester the night before anyone you know has suffered and his wedding to Miss Ingram erred, let him look higher than his equals for strength to amend and solace to heal."