“‘you desire to recommence your life, and to spend what remains to you of days in a way more worthy of an immortal being.  To attain this end, are you justified in overleaping an obstacle of custom–a mere conventional impediment, which neither your conscience sanctifies nor your judgement approves?'” (282).

Jane just had a unique experience for sure. Rochester’s past was catching up to him, and she allowed him to keep her in the dark.  He then revealed to her that he was not a good man, and that by marrying Blanche, perhaps he may live freer and happier and let his past drift away or at least be fully buried.  Jane tells him that the world doesn’t work that way and that God is the only one that can redeem.  Rochester dismisses her.

Analyze Rochester’s character.  Do you think this revelation makes him more human?  What of his relationship with Jane?  Not too many pages ago, Jane commented on how his faults seemed to go away, and she only saw what was good about him.  How might this conversation change her opinion of him?

“Eliza did not mortify, nor Georgiana ruffle me … I had taken a journey of a hundred miles to see my aunt, and I must stay with her till she was better–or dead: as to her daughters’ pride or folly, I must put it to one side: make myself independent of it” (297-298).

How Jane has matured over the years!  Once she was an arrogant and aggressive child, but how poised she is now!

If younger Jane were to meet this version of herself, how would she react?  Do you think she would admire or chastise her older self?

“‘existence for you must be a scene of continual change and excitement, or else the world is a dungeon: you must be admired, you must be courted, you must be flattered–you must have music, dancing, and society–or you languish, you die away'” (305-306).

The theme of picking apart the superficiality of society’s norms keeps showing up.  Whether it be referring to Rochester’s lack of good looks or how girls need to be a certain way or men need to be a certain way, the issues of people’s natures or the way society at the time pushes people to act or decide certain things is constantly referred back to.

What does this say about Brontë’s view on her society?  How and where do you see her views in the way Jane’s and Rochester’s characters were written?

“[Jane says,] ‘Are you in earnest? –Do you truly love me?–Do you sincerely wish me to be your wife?’
“I do; and in an oath is necessary to satisfy you, I swear it” (Vol II, 20).

I’ve been waiting so long for this!  I’m elated they’re finally getting together!  It’s just past half the novel, however.  I wonder how their relationship will play out and how their characters will change.

Do you think Jane and Rochester are a good match?  Why or why not?  How do you predict their marriage to play out as the rest of the story unfolds?

Note to Professor L.:  I did not know this prior, but the book I am using splits itself in volumes, and when a new volume begins, the page numbers start from one.  We are not using my book for the presentation, however.  My partners have the same book.