Mr Rochester Flashcards
How is Mr Rochester presented in Jane Eyre
Mr Rochester is not what you would stereotypically call handsome even Jane, his love interest, says he is not. In the novel he is presented to be dark , strong and stern.
“The new face, too, was like a new picture introduced to the gallery of memories; and it was dissimilar to all the others hanging there: firstly , because it was masculine; secondly, because it was dark, strong, and stern”
With Mr Rochester’s description, he is presented to be a Byronic hero.
Byronic heroes are typically flawed, passionate, mysterious and depicting Mr Rochester as such makes Jane instantly drawn to him
how else is Mr Rochester presented in Jane Eyre
Mr Rochester is depicted as being a passionate man. This emphasis the idea that he is Jane’s equal ( for more about Mr Rochester being Jane’s equal look at the Quest for love flashcards)
Interestingly, when Jane and subsequently the reader are formally introduced to Mr Rochester the use of fire imagery and terminology are re-established. Immediately, Bronte is linking Mr Rochester to passion and, in turn, is establishing his passionate nature. Furthermore, it alludes to his excessively sexual character. As the novel progresses the reader learns of his multiple mistresses, his shallow attraction to Bertha due to her appearance and his large sexual appetite “I was dazzled, stimulated: my senses were excited” ( arguably the word “stimulated” implies that Bertha was an attack on Mr Rochester’s senses and immediately makes the encounter between Mr Rochester and Bertha more sexually charged and emphasising his passionate nature ). Interestingly, throughout the novel Jane is seen channelling this excess passion. This is particularly made apparent in chapter 15. At the beginning of the chapter, we learn of one of Mr Rochester’s mistresses: Celine Varens, the chapter, not insignificantly ends with an image of Mr Rochester’s bed in a “tongue of flames”. Mr Rochester’s sexual indiscretion have been literalized in the vision of his burning bed. This overabundance of his passion, however, is tamed by Jane,” I […] flew back to my own room, bought my own water jug , baptised the coach afresh,, and with God’s aid, succeeded in extinguishing the flames which were devouring it”. This scenes is almost biblical and the use of the religious imagery suggests that Jane had purged Mr Rochester of his sexual immorality. Perhaps this is why he is so fixated on purity and likens her to and angel “flew through Europe half mad; with disgust, hate, and rage as my companions: now I shall revisit it healed and cleansed, with a very angel as my comforter.” Mr Rochester’s Fixation on Jane’s innocence is evident throughout the novel. After Jane’s second encounter with Bertha he urges her to sleep in the nursery. Clearly, Mr Rochester does not want Jane to be corrupted by the equally sexual nature of Bertha Mason. He wants her to stay purer in order for her to be able to reign his overly passionate nature in and cleanse him of his past faults.
quotes to support this big idea:
Mr Rochester is depicted as being a passionate man. This emphasis the idea that he is Jane’s equal ( for more about Mr Rochester being Jane’s equal look at the Quest for love flashcards)
“I was dazzled, stimulated: my senses were excited”
arguably the word “stimulated” implies that Bertha was an attack on Mr Rochester’s senses and immediately makes the encounter between Mr Rochester and Bertha more sexually charged and emphasising his passionate nature
“flew through Europe half mad; with disgust, hate, and rage as my companions: now I shall revisit it healed and cleansed, with a very angel as my comforter.”
“Childish and slender creature”
Mr Rochester is talking about Jane here. This links into my point on Mr Rochester’s fixation with Jane’s purity and innocence
quotes to support this big idea:
Mr Rochester is depicted as being a passionate man. This emphasis the idea that he is Jane’s equal ( for more about Mr Rochester being Jane’s equal look at the Quest for love flashcards)
two wax candles stood lighted on the table, and […] basking in the light and heat of the superb fire, lay Pilot- Adele Knelt near him. Half reclined on a couch appeared Mr Rochester […] he was looking at Adele and the dog and fire shone on his face”
quotes to support this big idea:
Mr Rochester is depicted as being a passionate man. This emphasis the idea that he is Jane’s equal ( for more about Mr Rochester being Jane’s equal look at the Quest for love flashcards)
” I […] flew back to my own room, bought my own water jug , baptised the coach afresh,, and with God’s aid, succeeded in extinguishing the flames which were devouring it”
quotes to support this big idea:
Mr Rochester is depicted as being a passionate man. This emphasis the idea that he is Jane’s equal ( for more about Mr Rochester being Jane’s equal look at the Quest for love flashcards)
“And there is room enough in Adele’s little bed for you. You must share it with her tonight, […] I would rather you do not sleep alone: promise me to go to the nursery”
big idea for Mr Rochester
Despite Mr Rochester depicting himself as the victim, clearly ( for a postcolonial reader) he is in fact the antagonist and one could argue the villain no better than Jane’s tormenter Mrs Reed
quotes and analysis to support the big idea
Despite Mr Rochester depicting himself as the victim, clearly ( for a postcolonial reader) he is in fact the antagonist and one could argue the villain no better than Jane’s tormenter Mrs Reed
This ;inks with Mr Rochester’s sexual immorality, his parallels with Mrs Reed ( he locks Bertha up because of her outbursts of passions) and his disgusting treatment of Bertha.
“I found her nature wholly alien to mine, her tastes obnoxious to me, her cast of mind common, low narrow, and singularly incapable of being held to anything higher”
Look how Mr Rochester degrades Bertha. Almost setting her apart form Jane, holding her at a higher standard. His language leads to his victimization to come across as obnoxious almost discreditable. “You shall see what sort of a being I was cheated into espousing, and judge whether or not I had a right to break the compact, and seek sympathy with something at leas human”
