Libra asked this question about
Jane Eyre:
Why is Jane attracted to Rochester?
Melanie
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[All of Jane's life to that point she had been treated as a lesser person. She was excluded and hated by her Aunt's family, and she had been just another poor orphan at Lowood school. When she first talks with Rochester he explains to her that he sounds commanding, but that she is free to listen or not. In their second conversation he asks her to not be offended by his tone of command. She then replies, "I was thinking, sir, that very few masters would trouble themselves to inquire whether or not their paid subordinates were piqued and hurt by their orders." Following up he asks if she will listen because he is paying her, to which she replies, "...not on that ground; but on the ground that you did forget it, and that you care whether or not a dependent is comfortable in his dependency..." This is the first point that draws her to Mr. Rochester, he treats her with respect, almost as an equal though they are far from equality.
Secondly, she feels free with him. From the first moment she sees him, though she has had very little contact with men, she does not feel threatened by him because he is not handsome. In their first meeting he is rude and blunt, in her inner dialogue she mentions that she likes this because she feels no obligation to respond cordially. She is able to be herself around him, she is able to talk bluntly because not only is he not offended by it, but it quite amuses him.
Thirdly, she loves his spirit, his strong personality, his search for repentance and happiness. Outward looks did not matter to Jane, she knew that she herself was not handsome, but she was attracted to his personality just as he was attracted to hers. Fourthly, he makes her feel needed. In all the strange events in the house she is the one that he goes to, the one person he confides in (though she is unaware of the biggest secret he keeps from her). She is a humble person who wants occupation, she does not want to be dependent. This part of her love for him only increases when they are reunited, once he is crippled and in need of constant care. His need of her makes her feel more his equal than before.
We really understand their love from the foils that Charlotte Bronte places in the book. First there are the guests of Mr. Rochester's house party, they all look down on Jane, they mock and mistrust her without getting to know her. Second there is Mr. Mason, in him she sees no spirit, her description of him reveals her feelings. "...his eye was large and well cut, but the life looking out of it was a tame, vacant life...for a handsome and not an unamiable looking man, he repelled me exceedingly; there was no power in that smooth skinned face...no firmness in that aquiline nose...no thought on the low, even forehead; no command in that blank, brown eye."
The third foil is St. John Rivers. He was handsome, Rochester was not. He was severe just like Rochester, but in his severity he smothered her personality. He was commanding like Rochester, but in his commands he expected obedience, unlike Rochester who had expressed she was free to listen or not listen. St John was emotionally abusive and manipulative, when she denied his proposal he tried to force her to obey by claiming her eternal soul was in danger, that she was denying God and not just him. He had been manipulating her for months, he freely admits that he was testing her. He did not find her attractive and did not love her. He did not love her spirit or personality, he wanted an obedient wife who would not question him which was against Jane's nature. She says herself of their relationship, "I found him a very patient, very forbearing, and yet an exacting master; he expected me to do a great deal...By degree, he acquired a certain influence over me that took away my liberty of mind; his praise and notice were more restraining than his indifference. I could no longer talk or laugh freely when he was by...I fell under a freezing spell. When he said 'go,' I went; 'come,' I came...I did not love my servitude...I daily wished more to please him; but to do so, I felt daily more and more that I must disown half my nature, stifle half my faculties..."
We also see a difference between St John and Rochester in the nature of their need to travel. Rochester escaped England on a quest for happiness, he sought to find a person whom he could love and escape from his sad memories. St John escaped England because he needed to feel important. Jane compares him often to great figures, "the heart of a politician, of a soldier, of a votary of glory, a lover of renown, a luster after power..."
When I first read this book in High School I loved the strong character of Jane, but I hated that she fell in love with Rochester. Now as an adult with more experience I understand why she loved him. After her time with St John there was no question who she loved better, and who was better for her. (hide spoiler)]
Secondly, she feels free with him. From the first moment she sees him, though she has had very little contact with men, she does not feel threatened by him because he is not handsome. In their first meeting he is rude and blunt, in her inner dialogue she mentions that she likes this because she feels no obligation to respond cordially. She is able to be herself around him, she is able to talk bluntly because not only is he not offended by it, but it quite amuses him.
Thirdly, she loves his spirit, his strong personality, his search for repentance and happiness. Outward looks did not matter to Jane, she knew that she herself was not handsome, but she was attracted to his personality just as he was attracted to hers. Fourthly, he makes her feel needed. In all the strange events in the house she is the one that he goes to, the one person he confides in (though she is unaware of the biggest secret he keeps from her). She is a humble person who wants occupation, she does not want to be dependent. This part of her love for him only increases when they are reunited, once he is crippled and in need of constant care. His need of her makes her feel more his equal than before.
We really understand their love from the foils that Charlotte Bronte places in the book. First there are the guests of Mr. Rochester's house party, they all look down on Jane, they mock and mistrust her without getting to know her. Second there is Mr. Mason, in him she sees no spirit, her description of him reveals her feelings. "...his eye was large and well cut, but the life looking out of it was a tame, vacant life...for a handsome and not an unamiable looking man, he repelled me exceedingly; there was no power in that smooth skinned face...no firmness in that aquiline nose...no thought on the low, even forehead; no command in that blank, brown eye."
The third foil is St. John Rivers. He was handsome, Rochester was not. He was severe just like Rochester, but in his severity he smothered her personality. He was commanding like Rochester, but in his commands he expected obedience, unlike Rochester who had expressed she was free to listen or not listen. St John was emotionally abusive and manipulative, when she denied his proposal he tried to force her to obey by claiming her eternal soul was in danger, that she was denying God and not just him. He had been manipulating her for months, he freely admits that he was testing her. He did not find her attractive and did not love her. He did not love her spirit or personality, he wanted an obedient wife who would not question him which was against Jane's nature. She says herself of their relationship, "I found him a very patient, very forbearing, and yet an exacting master; he expected me to do a great deal...By degree, he acquired a certain influence over me that took away my liberty of mind; his praise and notice were more restraining than his indifference. I could no longer talk or laugh freely when he was by...I fell under a freezing spell. When he said 'go,' I went; 'come,' I came...I did not love my servitude...I daily wished more to please him; but to do so, I felt daily more and more that I must disown half my nature, stifle half my faculties..."
We also see a difference between St John and Rochester in the nature of their need to travel. Rochester escaped England on a quest for happiness, he sought to find a person whom he could love and escape from his sad memories. St John escaped England because he needed to feel important. Jane compares him often to great figures, "the heart of a politician, of a soldier, of a votary of glory, a lover of renown, a luster after power..."
When I first read this book in High School I loved the strong character of Jane, but I hated that she fell in love with Rochester. Now as an adult with more experience I understand why she loved him. After her time with St John there was no question who she loved better, and who was better for her. (hide spoiler)]
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