Chapter 16 Flashcards
Why is Jane shocked when meeting Grace Poole after the fire?
Grace gives no sign of guilt at having set the fire, astonishing Jane with her self-possession and hypocrisy
What is the initial reason Jane thinks Mr R hasn’t fired Grace yet?
At first, Jane believes Rochester might be in love with Grace, but rejects this idea because of Grace’s unattractive and matronly appearance.
Why does Jane draw portraits of herself and Blanche?
Whenever her feelings for Rochester become too intense, Jane compares her own plainness with Blanche’s beauty.
Why does Jane highlight Blanches dark features? (Raven black hair)
As with Jane’s descriptions of Mrs. Reed and her son John, “darkness” often has negative connotations — the ethnocentricity of Victorian England tended to associate dark with night and evil. Therefore, Jane’s description of Blanche, which emphasizes her dark, Spanish features, implies a negative side of her personality
How does Jane show self discipline in the portraits?
Rather than allow herself to be brutally tossed around in the sea of her passion for Rochester, Jane vows to be sensible and accept that Rochester could never love her.
Why does ch.16 show that Jane still has a long path to self knowledge?
Jane excessively emphasizes the material differences between the two women, showing that Jane hasn’t yet learned the value of her own spiritual superiority.
