P ROPOSALS By Brian Hoang, Jason Thai, Katherine Nguyen, Megan Mendieta
THE MEN. Edward Fairfax Rochester St. John Rivers gI/AAAAAAAAboY/txFpN63TLdQ/s1600/JaneEyre1983_4051 Pyxurz.jpg
E DWARD F AIRFAX R OCHESTER A passionate man Eloquent with his words Seeks true love Broken past YI/AAAAAAAABQ0/9kP32GtMRGU/s320/TobyRoches ter.jpg
R OCHESTER ’ S PROPOSAL TO J ANE “‘I have no bride!’ ‘But you will have.’ ‘Yes – I will!’”(Bronte 271). “‘My bride is here…because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?’” (Bronte 273). “‘But, Jane, I summon you as my wife: it is you only I intend to marry’” (Bronte 273). “It will expiate at God’s tribunal. I know my Maker sanctions what I do. For the world’s judgment – I wash my hands thereof. For man’s opinion – I defy it” (Bronte 275)
R OCHESTER ’ S ARGUMENTS, ASSUMPTIONS, ATTITUDES, AND DICTION Rochester felt like he had finally found a woman to love Rochester assume he can commit a wrong Not very traditional Ambiguous Emotional, passionate, and complex diction In the fields near Thornfield at a chestnut tree
J ANE ’ S REACTION TO R OCHESTER “‘Do you doubt me, Jane?’ ‘Entirely’” (Bronte 273). “‘Are you in earnest? Do you truly love me? Do you sincerely wish me to be your wife?’… I do; and if an oath is necessary to satisfy you, I swear it’” (Bronte 274). Doesn’t believe him Following her heart Eventually takes his word and accepts
S T. J OHN R IVERS Jane’s cousin Missionary Didn’t love Jane kttkaEEC8/s1600/Jane%2BEyre%2BJB.jpg
S T. J OHN ’ S PROPOSAL TO J ANE “God and nature intended you for a missionary’s wife. It is not personal but mental endowments they have given you; you are formed for labor, not for love. A missionary’s life you must– shall be. You shall be mine; I claim you – not for my pleasure, but for my Sovereign’s service” (Bronte 437) “Humility, Jane… is the ground-work of Christian virtues; you say right that you are not fit for the work. Who is fit for it…Think like me, Jane– trust like me” (Bronte 437).
S T. J OHN ’ S ARGUMENTS, ASSUMPTIONS, ATTITUDES, AND DICTION Felt that Jane was created for labor. Thought that Jane believed women are inferior Wanted Jane to be a Missionary’s wife Persistent Argued to follow the status quo Anti-feminist His diction was very submissive and condescending. In the nature
J ANE ’ S REACTION TO S T. J OHN “I am not fit for it, I have no vocation…I do not understand missionary life; I have never studied missionary labors…nothing speaks or stirs in me while you talk. I am sensible of no light kindling” (Bronte ). Refuses many times Felt no love Doubts she is able to do what he wants her to do
C OMPARISON Emotional From love Ambiguous Demanding Aesthetic Direct RochesterSt. John
W ORKS CITED Bronte, Charlotte, and Joyce Carol Oates. Jane Eyre. Toronto: Bantam Books, Print. Jacobsen, Karin, and Mary Ellen Snodgrass. CliffsNotes on Jane Eyre. 23 Oct 2012.