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

Chap XX-XXVII Chap XXA 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 Chap XXI Jane’s dream of a child (193)  Aunt’s dying Jane and Rochester’s bargain over her pay Meeting Aunt pp. 202; Georgiana vs. Eliza

Chap XX-XXVII Chap XXII Jane back “home” Chap XXIII Rochester’s proposal Jane’s self-assertion 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 Submissive, Self-DenyingVain and Superficial Helen BurnsMr. Brocklehurst’ Wife ElizaGeorgiana Bertha Mother FiguresDisciplinary Figures BessieMrs. Reed Ms. TempleMs. Scatcherd Mrs. Fairfax

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

Jane’s Self-Expression via Paintings –or Self-Denial? three instances of painting XIII ( ) : 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) I summon you as my wife. (223)

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