JANE EYRE CH 35-36

10/30/13 Jane Eyre Ch 35-36

Summary: Jane is still being pushed into marriage by St.John, and she almost falls for it until she has a bad feeling about Rochester. In chapter 36, she travels back to Thornfield because of that feeling, only to find the house in total ruin. She learns that Bertha had set the house on fire months earlier; Rochester saved many of the servants along with his daughter, and he tried to save Bertha but she jumped off the roof before he could reach her. He lost his hand and his sight in the incident, and is now living in a place called Ferdean with John and Mary.

Quote: "I recalled the voice I had heard; again I questioned whence it came, as vainly as before: it seemed in me--not in the external world. I asked, was it a mere nervous impression--a delusion? I could not conceive or believe: it was more like an inspiration.”

Significance of Quote: Jane couldn't tell if the voice she heard was just her imagination or really Rochester calling for her.She believes it is really a sign to go back to Thornfield to see Rochester, instead of going to India with St.John.

Reflection: What happened to Rochester is what people call Karma. He married as a mistake to someone he didn't love, then lied to Jane as well as putting her in danger by letting her live in the same house his insane wife was entrapped. So Karma gave came back for him, leaving him with one hand and no vision. This incident, however, is a good reason for Jane to return to Rochester. She can tell him how much she loves him and tell of all she has done since she left him. It will be like starting over for them.

Question: What do you think would have changed if Jane had stayed with Rochester instead of leaving, would they have moved away and avoided the Bertha’s fire, or would they have stayed and gotten themselves killed in the flames?

JANE EYRE CH 33-34

10/30/13 Jane Eyre ch 33-34

Summary: In chapter 33 Janes identity is revealed, because her uncle John Eyre has died leaving her 20,000 pounds.With this discovery she also finds out that St.John is her cousin! She shares her fortune with her cousins evenly. The next chapter St.John becomes very weird and depressed. Rosamond is engaged to some rich guy leaving St.john lonely and heartbroken. He abruptly asks Jane to go to India with him as a missionary and his wife. Obviously Jane says no to marrying him, but that only angers him.

Quote:  "I had found a brother: one I could be proud of,--one I could love; and two sisters whose qualities were such that, when I knew them but as mere strangers, they had inspired me with genuine affection and admiration. The two girls on whom, kneeling down on the wet ground, and looking through the low, latticed window of Moor House kitchen, I had gazed...were my near kinswoman, and the young and stately gentleman who had found me almost dying at his threshold was my blood relation. Glorious discovery to a lonely wretch!”

Significance of Quote: This is important quote because Jane has only known of the Reeds and John Eyre, whom she has never met. The Reeds, being the only family she ever knew, were horrible people who were cruel to her. Now that she has met her cousins and has grown close to them as friends, she is finally happy.

Reflection: I am beginning to see a pattern in this story:Jane will have a good streak of time, then it will be be cut short with something bad. As an example, she was excited for her wedding and was deep in love, but then the wedding was abruptly interrupted with horrible news. Here she was so happy when she found out she had more family, whom she was already good friends with, and she had just inherited a huge fortune-but then,of course, St.John has to make it awkward by asking to be his wife. Though he did say it only because he was sad about Rosamonds engagement. He didnt have to ruin Janes good streak by saying that.

Question: Why was Jane trying so hard to keep her identity a secret?

JANE EYRE CH 31-32

10/29/13 Jane Eyre Ch 31-32

Summary: Jane begins teaching at Morton while living in a cottage that Rosamond provided her. She cannot stop thinking about mr.Rochester. In chapter 32 Jane has weird nightmares about Mr.Rochester, as she becomes loved by her students more. Rosamond asks Jane to draw a portrait of her, which she does, but is then interrupted by St.John as he tells Jane about his love for Rosemond. Randomly, St.John see’s something at the corner of the drawing and rips it off, then leaves the room.

Quote: “he continued to gaze at the picture:the longer he looked, te firmer he held it, the more he seemed to covet it. “

Significance of Quote: The description of the look st.john has while gazing into the portrait of Rosamond symbolises the love those two share; also,it symbolises the opposite love that Mr.Rochester shares with Jane, because their love was only secrets and drama.

Reflection: As Jane lives out her new life there is still Mr.Rochester holding her back, even though he is miles and miles away from her. The dreams she's experiencing are just with her acting as obstacles from moving on, which is what I believe Charlotte Bronte was trying to convey here. With all the wonderful people Jane has connected to in Morton, she shouldn't have to live with the pit in her stomach from leaving Mr.Rochester in the dead of the night. Love, being a very popular topic for writing pieces in this time period, is also here in this novel, but it also shows the bad outcomes it can have. Hopefully, Jane will completely forget and forgive Mr.Rochester sometime before the end.

Question: Why did St.John tear off the corner of Janes picture? What was on it?

JANE EYRE CH 27-28

10/24/13 Jane Eyre Ch 27-28

Summary: Jane attempts to leave Thornridge but is stopped by Mr.Rochester. He then explains everything about his wife, why he married her, and how she changed. Jane, unstettled and awkward, goes back to her room to, then in chapter 28, have a dream where her mother tells her to flee- Thats exactly what Jane does. Jane revokes to the life of a beggar, with no payment or iheritance from her uncle. One night she falls upon a doorstep of two sisters, crying for help. Their brother St.John brings Jane inside, the siblings give her a place to stay and food. She calls herself Jane Elliot.

Quote: Feeling . . . clamoured wildly. “Oh, comply!” it said. “. . . soothe him; save him; love him; tell him you love him and will be his. Who in the world cares for you? or who will be injured by what you do?”

Significance of Quote: Shes confused, Mr.Rochester is telling her to stay with him, but she knows it is wrong to do. Though the idea of leaving him is hard to bear because he was her first true love. This is her scrambled and undecisive thoughts trying to piece themselves together; which they do, in chapter 28 when she leaves.

Reflection: These chapters just show how Mr.Rochester isnt the one for Jane, he was a bridge to her new life. All of the drama in his family is too much for Jane, for shes already been thorugh enough. These new people she met, they are going to be apart of her new life: the life of Jane Elliot. From now on her new journey begins, leaving Mr.Rochester and his problems behind with Jane Eyre. Maybe one day they will meet and he will legaly be single, but for now this chapter was a start of a new life for her.

Question of the day: Will Jane and Mr.Rochester end up together?

JANE EYRE CH 25-26

10/23/13                 Jane Eyre CH 25-26

Summary: Jane is basically freaking out and having unexplainable dreams about babies, which as she discussed earlier is a bad omen. However, one dream she has isn't in fact a dream, but reality: She awakes to find Grace Poole in her closet destroying her Janes veil. Mr.Rochester tells Jane that he will explain Graces situation once they are married for one year and one day. Chapter 26 was amazing; the day of the wedding, turns into a day of truth for Mr.Rochester. He has an insane first wife whom he has been married to for several years and has been under the care of Grace Poole (which explains why Grace acts so oddly). This leaves Jane heart broken, like any wife would be if she found out her husband had a second wife.

Quote: ”What it was, whether beast or human being, one could not, at first sight, tell: it grovelled, seemingly, on all fours; it snatched and growled like some strange wild animal: but it was covered with clothing, and a quantity of dark, grizzled hair, wild as a mane, hid its head and face.”

Significance of Quote:The description of Bertha Mason gave me chills. It reminded me of something out of an Exorcism movie, the way she acted and was dressed. This also shows either that Mr.Rochester is a horrible husband for containing his wife for so long, or that he is a poor man who got into a marriage with the wrong woman. For Jane to witness this woman act so inhumane and know she is Mr.Rochesters wife, that must have been so terrifying. She needs a better explanation from him.

Reflection: Mr. Rochester has too many secrets that he's hiding from Jane. All the mysterious secrets of Grace Poole and his family, they all led up to this giant truth. All The bad omens and nightmares Jane had after the proposal were signs not to marry Mr.Rochester. The lightning striking the chestnut tree was also a sign that she had made the wrong decision. This book has so much symbolism in it.

Question: Was Bertha Mason actually insane when Mr. Rochester locked her up, or did locking her up make her insane?

JANE EYRE CH.22-24

10/21/13                         Jane Eyre Ch 22-24

Summary: These chapters really made me happy, because the sparks created between Jane and Mr.Rochester have finally turned to flames. Chapter 22, when Jane returns from Gateshead and accidentally meets Mr.Rochester at the Milcote station, he hints towards a proposal to mrs.Blanche. However, the next chapter, as him and Jane are sitting under the chestnut tree, he tricks her saying that he has decided to propose to Blanche. Jane, distraught, spills out all her feelings towards Mr.Rochester, to find out he loves her just as much. The finances then plan out the wedding in chapter 24, with little obstacles like Mrs. Fairfax and Janes second thoughts.

Quote: “ ‘But, Jane, I summon you as my wife: it is only you I intend to marry.’

              I was silent: I thought he mocked me.”

Significance of Quote: “I thought he mocked me,” is most important here. Jane had just been basically proposed to, and right away she believes it is a joke. And from what I read in chapter 24, she seems to have trouble with the fact that she is to be married. Jane and Mr. Rochester's relationship may have some breakage along the way, for Jane doesn't know how to love in this way. She knows friendship love, which is much different from the love Mr. Rochester and her have together. She doesn't know how to handle it; and due to this quote, its almost foreshadowing her thoughts on the whole relationship.

Reflection: The lightning that struck the chestnut tree in the storm after mr. Rochester's proposal, is either a sign or a mere coincidence. I think that Charlotte Bronte wrote this in to give her readers a bit of excitement, because not only was the tree struck by lightning, but mrs.Fairfax also is against this marriage. Mr.Rochester should have proposed to mrs.Blanche, a  wealthy woman who he could have shared her fortune with; instead of Jane, who has no fortune (yet) and is only his governess. Their love is blinding him from making the right decision about marrying to support his family, but it is also making him and Jane happy. Of course the lightning striking the tree could only be a coincidence and mrs. Fairfax could just be jealous of Jane. you never know

Question: What is mr.Rochester's first name?

JANE EYRE CH19-21

Jane eyre ch 19-21

Summary: Nothing that extravagant happens in chapter 19; however, it is the last two chapters where the supernatural mixes with her reality. Chapter 20 she is woken with a sudden cry for help, but it turns out to be a servant screaming in her sleep. Mr. Rochester tells of more family secrets. In chapter 21, Jane dreams of children, which apparently is a bad omen. A day later, the Reed family enter her life again. Jane, being a good person, tries to help fix the bond between the two sisters, and the relationship between her and Mrs. Reed. However, neither of those attempts work, and by the end of the chapter Mrs. Reed dies.

Quote: "What crime was this that lived incarnate in this sequestered mansion, and could neither be expelled nor subdued by the owner?—what mystery, that broke out now in fire and now in blood, at the deadest hours of night? What creature was it, that, masked in an ordinary woman's face and shape, uttered the voice, now of a mocking demon, and anon of a carrion-seeking bird of prey?"

Significance of quote: Jane, is very superstitious, as seem in this quote. These thoughts rambling through her head are almost out of control, and this myerious household isn't helping her. However, I do believe that many people in this time were superstitious because the science to prove otherwise wasn't discovered yet. 

Reflection: Jane Eyre is a very good novel because of all it's ingredients that we have read so far: there's mystery, sadness, love, and reality. Jane has endured such an interesting life so far, like her childhood and now her adulthood. In chapter 21, when the Reed family come into her life again, adds so much more conflict into the story. The Reed family are the base of all this conflict in Jane's life: for her childhood, they're the reason she got such a great education and is where she is now. They are the people who help shape her into the woman she is now. If you think about it, the Reeds were kind of good for her, because she now knows what she deserves.

Question: What is Jane going to do with the fortune she inherited from her uncle?

JANE EYRE ch 16-18

10-8-13                                 Jane Eyre                                 Ch 16-18

Summary: After the scene  the night before, Jane notices that nobody has scolded Grace. She has growing suspicions about Grace, and her backstory. In chapter 17, Mr. Rochester returns with a large group of people who occupy his home for several days. Jane is jealous of Blache, a beautiful women she believes is going to marry Mr. Rochester, and Blache is being mean to Jane. A gypsy arrives, and Blache and Mr. Rochester compete on the same team in charades, leaving Jane upset again.

Quote:  “Good-night, my—” -Mr. Rochester

Significance of Quote: Jane and Mr. Rochester are both fond of each other, but neither know that the other feels that way. As shown in this quote, Mr.Rochester does see Jane as somebody special, but he doesn't want to freak her out sohe stops himself. And as these chapters tell, Jane obviously has feelings for Mr. Rochester, however she doesn't know he feels the same way. This is leaving her mind wander, into scenarios like him and ms. Blache getting married. If she took what he said here and understood it, then she would realize he really wants to marry her.

Reflection: Jane, is having to deal with other problems other than school work and superstitions; now she is struggling with social problems, and the dilemma of low self-confidence. She keeps putting herself down thinking herself plain and unattractive compared to Blache. She is a woman struggling with the concept of love, and she has never felt this feeling, especially for a man. This is completely new for her, and she doesn't know how to handle it. She keeps denying it to herself, saying that she doesn't really love him, but she always will come back to the conclusion that she does in fact love Mr. Rochester. Blache is only a minor bump in the road for Jane, because Mr. Rochester already has feeling for Jane, therefore Blache cannot stand in between them. Janes only dilemma in these chapters are herself.

Question: Why was Blache upset when she returned from her walks with the gypsy?

JANE EYRE ch14-15

10-7-13                                         Jane Eyre                                   Ch 13-15

Summary: Jane and Mr. Rochester are further introduced, as he invites her and Adele to tea. Then later he attempts a drunken flirt with Jane, and she abruptly turns him down. Mr. Rochester tells his past with Adele’s mother, leaving Jane outstanded. In chapter 15, Jane saves Mr. Rochesters life because his bed somehow caught fire, this leads to a mysterious plot twist for Jane.

Quote: “I don't think, sir, you have a right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience.” Jane

Significance of Quote: Another big step for Jane, to tell Mr.Rochester his faults. Jane,being only one of Mr.Rochester’s paid workers, really shouldn't have said that to him; however, he doesn't get angry, because he knows she is right, plus he is drunk. This quote shows how much of an independant woman Jane is. She knows what is wrong and what is right, and her boss flirting with her certainly isn't right.

Reflection:Though what Mr.Rochester did was rude, we cannot deny the energy being passed between the two. Mr.Rochester is a very mysterious and odd person, as I have read in these chapters. His family is filled with secrets, he is such a suspicious person. The eerie laughing Jane hears come from his room right before his bed catches fire, leads us to another door into how Mr.Rochester is such a weird person. Jane has always been led into such odd situations, from her childhood fears like the Red Room, to the suspicions she still has, like the white horse and dog she believed was a “sign”, and now Mr.Rochester.

Question: Why has Jane grown up to be so superstitious? Was it because of the books she read, or was it her night in the Red Room as a child?

JANE EYRE ch 10-12

9-2-13                                       Jane Eyre                                           Ch 10-12

Summary: Chapter 10 is when we transition from young Jane, to grown Jane. After working at Lowood for 2 years, she decides to leave for another job; before she leave she receives a visit from Bessie, who gives Jane updates on what has happened since she left. Chapters 11 and 12 are introductory chapters to new characters, such as Adele, Mrs. Fairfax, and Mr. Rochester. There seem to be a connection between Jane and Mr. Rochester.

Quote: “...In those days I was young, and all sorts of fancies bright and dark tenanted my mind: the memories of nursery stories were there amongst other rubbish; and when they recurred, maturing youth added to them a vigour and vividness beyond childhood could give…”

Significance of Quote: Jane seems to reflect on her childhood a lot; her childhood must have been a huge impact . She will often look back on her young years because they were so cruel and difficult for her. A harsh childhood shaped Jane into who she is now.

Reflection: Janes decision to go to Lowood has definitely shaped her life in a good way: she has a good education, and went in a better direction than she would have gone with the Reeds. Her childhood may had been very harsh and difficult, but it molded her into who she is now; which is caring, intelligent, and superior than the Reed children. Every choice she had made led her to where she is now.. In a way, Mrs.Reeds cruelness was a good thing because of how much Jane learned and gained from it.

Question: How would Janes life be different if she didn't go to Lowood and later got rescued by her uncle?

JANE EYRE ch 7-9

10-1-13                                Jane Eyre                                               Ch 7-9

 

Summary: Jane describes what the school is like, which is cruel. She is alienated in the front of her class and is forced to cut her hair, as Mr. Brocklehurst orders. However, she does meet a sweet girl of her age named Helen.

Quote: “Let her stand half an hour longer on that stool, and let no one speak to her for the remainder of the day.”

Significance of Quote: Mr. Brocklehust is alienating Jane here because of what Mrs. Reed has told him. He is such a cruel man. Jane went to that school for a new start, however Mr. Brocklehust is completely crushing her hopes and chances of a new life.

Reflection: Mr. Brocklehurst is so mean. I dislike him a lot, fro he never asked for Jane's side of her story and therefore took the word of Mrs.Reed, making Jane out to be a devil child. He's very hypocritical, and cruel, a horrible principle. But all protagonists need antagonists, in this case they are Mrs. Reed and Mr. Brocklehurst. Janes sad day is flipped upside down when Helen asks to be her friend, a friend, is something Jane seems to never have had. Now she is a little less lonely in the school out to get her.

Question: Was Mr.Brocklehurst a reflection off of somebody Charlotte Bronte knew in her life? Or was he just a character she made up?

JANE EYRE ch4-6

9-30-13                                           Jane Eyre                                          Ch 4-6

Summary: In these chapters Jane is very independent and fights for her own rights, in which she ends up going to school. In these chapters it shows her departure for the school and getting used to its ways.

Quote: “i am  glad you are no relation of mine. i will never call you aunt again as long as i live. i will never come to see you when i am grown up; and if any one asks me how i liked you, and how you treated me, i will say the very thought of you makes me sick, and that you treated me with miserable cruelty.”

Significance of Quote: Jane finally tells Mrs. Reed how she feels about the way she is treated. This quote is important because Jane is standing up for herself and letting Mrs. Reed know how much of a horrid person she is.

Reflection: the way jane is portrayed (as a hardheaded child with a sense of moral independence), is a good example of Romanticism in this period of time; because, one of the main things was the “innocence of children.” Her true wit and intelligence is a big part of what makes her so amazing and probably what made the novel such a “top seller” of its time. The fact that Jane is an orphan only makes her story so much more in depth, because if she wasn't an orphan then there wouldn't be a story at all to tell.

Question: What happened to her mother and father?