Notes on Jane Eyre Chapters 22-23

Moral Judgement

The speaker discusses the dangers of judging others, stating that if everyone received what they truly deserved, it would be a negative outcome for all.
It is a "slippery slope" to assume moral superiority over others.

Recap of Previous Discussion

The previous discussion covered the symbolism of fire, water, and blood in the text.
Rochester's portrayal as a gypsy oracle is an attempt to draw Jane out and gauge her feelings for him.
He cannot directly ask her about her attraction to him.

Rochester's Manipulation

Rochester's attention to Blanche Ingram is a calculated move to provoke jealousy in Jane.
Chapter 23 reveals that Rochester never intended to marry Blanche.
Blanche was a tool to bring Jane's emotions to the surface and force her to recognize her passion.
Rochester's behavior is described as both genius and misleading, making him an ironic hero.

Jane's Repressed Emotions

The gypsy scene reminds Jane of her unrequited love for Rochester, which she has been struggling to repress.
This struggle is evident in her creation of two portraits: one that limits her own qualities and another that idealizes Blanche Ingram.
Jane's agitation is expressed when she complains of feeling burned and asks the gypsy to hurry.
Her command, "Don't keep me long. The fire scorches me," reflects her internal turmoil.

Symbolism of Fire

The fire symbolizes the awakening of Jane's desires, which she doesn't know how to process.
Rochester's response, "the flame flickers in the eye," indicates his desire for her to embrace her desires.
He wants her to move forward and explore her desires rather than repress them.
The notes clarify that humans are resistant to change and often prefer being uncomfortable to changing their lives.

Jane's State of Illusion

The chapter is described as portraying Jane falling under a powerful force with each sentence.
By the end of the chapter, Jane cannot distinguish between dream and reality.
From this point until she and Rochester are separated, she will struggle to differentiate illusion from reality.
She is so drawn into her inner fantasy that she loses her sense of reality.

Rochester's Understanding of Jane

Rochester uses his experience to read Jane's behavior and understand her emotions.
It's compared to a poker game where subtle tells reveal hidden messages.
Rochester's vast experience contrasts with Jane's naivete, giving him an advantage in understanding her.
He successfully gauges Jane's feelings for him and her emotional state.

Mason's Arrival and Rochester's Reaction

Jane reveals that Mason has arrived, which greatly shocks Rochester.
Rochester's reaction suggests that Mason's arrival is unwelcome news.

Richard Mason's Background

Mason is an acquaintance of Rochester's from overseas (West Indies, Spanish Town, Jamaica).
His arrival is not casual; he wants something from Rochester.

Rochester's Concern

Rochester is concerned with how the other people are perceiving Mason.
After Jane learns about Rochester's deception as the gypsy fortune teller, he asks Jane how the party guests are reacting to Mason's arrival, seeking reassurance.
He asks if they seem grave or are still laughing and joking.
Jane reports that everyone is still full of "Jess and gaiety,", and Mason is laughing too.

Rochester Tests Jane's Loyalty

Rochester tests Jane's commitment to him by asking what she would do if everyone turned against him.
He asks, "If all these people came in a body and spat at me, what would you do, Jane?"
Jane responds that she would turn them out of the room if she could.
He further asks if she would stay with him even if they whispered and sneered at him, and she affirms that she would.
She asserts that she would dare censure for the sake of any friend who deserved her adherence, as he does.
Rochester then instructs her to deliver a message to Mason.

Vow of Silence

He makes Jane watch over him with a "vow of silence".

Supernatural mystery

Characteristics of a Gothic novel are displayed with a supernatural mystery involving what happened inside Thornfield Homes to Mason.

Supernatural Events and Religious Imagery

Mysterious event: screams of a man being tortured awaken Jane.
Rochester dismisses it as "a mere rehearsal of much ado about nothing," referencing Shakespeare.
Jane is left to attend to Mason, who is severely wounded, under a vow of silence.
The situation is described as a supernatural mystery characteristic of a Gothic novel.
Jane observes the ghastly countenance of Mason, whose lips are almost blue from blood loss.
She notes the light of the candle waning and the shadows darkening, with religious imagery on the panels.
The panels depict the heads of the 12 apostles and a crucifix with a dying Christ.
Jane imagines what lies beyond the wall, recalling Bronte's assessment that she has entered Bluebeard's Castle.

Grace Pool

The unacconted for seamstress, Grace Pool, is described as bizarre behaved.

Mason's Ramblings and Vampiric Imagery

Mason rambles, saying, "She bit me. She worried me like a Tigress when Rochester got the knife from her."
He adds, "She sucked the blood. She drained my heart," evoking vampiric concepts.
Rochester shudders with disgust, horror, and hatred, warping his countenance.
Rochester silences Mason, attempting to tamper with his running of the mouth.

Getting Mason out of the house

Getting Mason out of the house before the guests' awakenings and the rumor mill runs rampant.

Mason's Parting Words

Mason says to Rochester, "let her be taken care of. Let her be treated as tenderly as may be."

The Seduction

Rochester does not want to be alone. He calls for her asking if she will come out to the freshness with him.
Rochester says, "That house is a mere dungeon. Don't you feel it is so?"

Slavery implication

A question comes if slavery has been abolished and the concept the the locked away person had the constant option to be drunk so she could not escape.

Rochester's Confession

Rochester picks a half-blown rose and talks about the sunrise.
He acknowledges Jane's pale appearance and asks if she was afraid when he left her alone with Mason.
Jane admits she was afraid of someone coming out of the inner room.
Rochester assures her, "You were safe…I should have been a careless shepherd if I had left a lamb, my pet lamb, so near a wolf's den un guarded."
Rochester says, "Nor even then to live for me, Jane, is to stand on a crater crust, which may crack and spew fire any day."

Rochester's Hypothetical Scenario

Rochester presents a hypothetical scenario to Jane, asking her to imagine herself as a wild boy in a remote foreign land who commits a "capital error."
He explains that this error would follow her through life and taint her existence.
He describes the person taking unusual measures to obtain relief but remaining miserable.
Heart-weary and soul-withered, he returns home after years of voluntary banishment and finds a stranger with good and bright qualities.
Rochester asks if the man would be justified in daring the world's opinion to attach himself to the stranger, securing his own peace and regeneration.
Jane answers, pointing him to God.
Rochester replies that she is the "instrument", whom God does the work through.

Rochester's Treatment of Jane

The notes highlight Rochester's confession to Jane and his subsequent treatment of her.
He references Blanche Ingram and asks if marrying her would "regenerate me with a vengeance?"
He acknowledges Jane's distress and continues to push her buttons, asking her to sit up with him the night before he marries Blanche.
He describes Blanche as a "strapper, a real strapper," emphasizing her beauty and voluptuousness.

Jane's Independence

Jane informs Rochester that she will be leaving to go see her family.
Rochester, disturbed, doesn't want her anywhere but by his side.

The Reed Household

John Reed committed suicide, but not before gambling away all the money.
Missus Reed as suffered from a stroke.

Reunion with the Reeds

It is interpreted that Mrs. Reed wants to meet with Jane out of checking a box of making amends.
Mrs. Reed is making a confession to her on the person whoms she's wronged. Doesn't want to carry these errors against herself to judgement.
Aunt Reed blames Jane for everything that is happening to her.

Automatic Writing

While at the reed's house, Jane draws a portrait which represents that automation of romanticisim. Kind of like picking up your pen, and letting it go without conscious effort.
The face is more real to her than all of the people around her. The face in the automaton is Rochester's.

Return to Thornfield, Eliza, and Georgina

As mentioned during the meeting with her cousin, Miss Reed has intervened in her possibility for brighter hope.
Miss Reed writes to Jane's uncle and tell's him that Jane is dead. This leads them to not make that connection in their lives.
Rochester is very greatful when Jane has returned home.
Eliza will become a mother superior, wanting nothing to do with her cousins, and Georgiana will marry somebody rich.
Superficial described as doing something because you have to know, or because you have to.

Eden Like Setting

Chapter heads to an eden like garden on Misummer Eve, in June.

Significance of Midsummer Eve

Midsummer Eve is described as a night when mischievous nature spirits come out and play, according to English folklore.
Bronte incorporates and chose this natural setting.

The Proposal Scene

Gardens in general are romantic places.
Beautiful ground, chestnut tree, beautiful bench.
We've gor romantic and supernatural/mythic kind of significance. A combination.
As Eden-like, it recalls the Adam and Eve story when they transgressed God's law and had to flee the garden.
Jane and Rochester have to flee their garden, as well, due to weather.
It may be implied Rochester's proposal is a sin.
Rochester is asking the role of society. That he kinda railed against a bit.

Significance of the Storm and Lightning

Bronte is impying that Rochester's proposal is a sin. He's overly creating of custom and challenging God.
Symbolically god is giving and answer with the lightning.
Folklore is a way of the scales becoming right.
Readers should just think about unnerving setting, like Macbeth and the witches around the cauldron.

Analysis of Key Symbols

The horse chestnut symbolizes lovers, Jane and Rochester, and the set that goes around is the wedding band.
A circle is never ending which is symbolic of love.
The tree splitting suggests this won't last.
Symbolism of folklore Midsummer's and gothic stories that make people believe.
Divine retribution, supernatural stories, and nature writing all contribute.

Jane's Declaration of Equality

This is her treatises on equality. Why Jane Ayer is often verbalized as the first ealry heroin and feminist. Standa up on her 2 little legs.
Class and gender difference.
The declaration of equality would have offended most victorian readers as a gender and class equality.
It follows the advice of the oracle move toward you good fortune.

Doubting Rochester's Sinceriety

The section ends with the statement that Jane doesn't believe him, she doubts his