Jane Eyre - AO1

Jane Eyre

Mr Rochester

"the man, the human being" 

Helen Burns

“It is not violence that best overcomes hate - nor vengeance that most certainly heals injury”  

Bertha

• “What it was, whether beast or human being, one couldn’t tell” - Jane 

• “To tell that I already had a wife is empty mockery; you know that I had but a hideous demon” 

• “intemperate and unchaste” 

• "clothed hyena" 

• "the lunatic raised her teeth to his cheek" 

St John

• “He prizes me as a soldier would a good weapon; and that is all”  

• “[he would not] relinquish, for the Elysium of her love, one hope of the true, eternal Paradise” 

• "I was sure St John Rivers – pure lived, conscientous, zealous as he was – had not yet found that peace of God that surpasseth all understanding" 

• "the scantier the meed his toil brings – the higher the honour"  

• Rosamund is a "last conflict with human weakness...that I will overcome" 

• “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 labour, not love. A missionary’s wife you must—shall be. You shall be mine; I claim you—not for my pleasure, but for my Sovereign’s service.” 

• [when Jane rejects him] 'it is not me you deny, but God"

Rebellion

• “You are like a murderer - you are like a slave-driver - you are like the Roman emperors”

• “For liberty I gasped” “grant me at least a new servitude”

• "I have no relative but the universal mother, Nature: I will seek her breast and ask her repose"  

• “Women feel just as men feel”  

Oppression of women

• "If you don't sit still, you must be tied down...lend me your garters" (Bessie) 

  • 2 female servants enforcing patriarchy 

• "I will myself put the diamond chain round your neck”

• "Your words are such as ought not be used: violent, unfeminine and untrue" (St John) 

• "I want you to give up German and learn Hindostanee"  

Passion vs reason

•  "There is room enough in Adele's little bed for you" 

• "I wanted her just as a change after that fierce ragout" 

Class

• “poverty for me was synonymous with degradation"  

• "must not forget that these coarsely-clad little peasants are of flesh and blood" 

• "I felt desolate to a degree...I felt degraded...I shall strive to overcome them" 

• "You are a dependant...you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentleman's children like us"  "less than a servant" (John Reed)

• "I was not heroic enough to purchase liberty at the price of class" 

Religion

• "Why, in defiance of every precept and principle of this house, does she conform to the world so openly – here in an evangelical, charitable establishment – as to wear her hair one mass of curls?" (Mr Brocklehurst)

• "My mission is to mortify in these girls the lusts of the flesh" (Mr Brocklehurst)

Madness

“Clothed hyena”  

Love

• “I scorn your idea of love. I scorn the counterfeit sentiment you offer: yes, St John, and I scorn when you offer it” (Jane rejecting St John’s marriage proposal)

• “All my confidence is bestowed on him, all his confidence is devoted to me; we are precisely suited in character - perfect concord is the result” (Jane upon her married life with Mr Rochester) 

• “Not a human being that ever lived could wish to be loved better than i was loved…and i must renounce love and idol” (Jane deciding to leave Mr Rochester following her discovery of his wife, despite her love for him)

• "it is as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly and inextricably to a similar string.. of your little frame"  

Identity

 

• "Mrs Rochester! She did not exist; she would not be born till tomorrow" 

Fairytale

• "Dripping like a mermaid" 

• "Most phantom-like...mere dream" 

• "Witch"