Mr Rochester- Character Flashcards
Intriguing character:
-eccentric Master of Thor field- he brings excitement to Jane’s life - but also breaks her heart
Mr Rochester and Jane fall in love . But he’s a lots older than she is ,she’s both his employer and beneath him in terms of class
He had a relationship In Europe but never found his “ideal woman” .19th century gentleman often has mistresses but Rochester confesses his life was sinful
Bertha -theme -family :his unhappiness also seemed to be caused by family members creating a parallel with Jane
He seems to change after Jane leaves him -he honourably and bravely tries to save bertha/ and he is repentant of his past behaviour
How is mr Rochester a intriguing character
In some ways he’s a conventional gentleman..
Mr Rochester is wealthy , upperclass Gentleman -he’s the master of Thornfield and the land around it and he owns ferndean , another house
He has lived in exotic locations
He spends time with aristocratic friends , who came to stay at Thornfield . He’s at ease in their company and seems to enjoy entertaining them
He appears keen to follow social expectations and marry an aristocratic
Beauty (Blanche Ingram) although he’s actually only interested with in Jane
He likes To display his wealth-after Jane accepts his marriage proposal, he wants to dress her up like a “doll” with fine dresses and expensive jewellery
How is mr Rochester a conventional gentleman
But he’s also unconventional:
Mr Rochester is unpredictable and it’s often difficult to work out is he is being serious or not.he can be cynical and controlling and Jane thinks he’s “striking peculiar” after she spends time with him
It’s obvious the reader that he hiding a dark secret - this makes it difficult to trust him
He confides in Jane, including confessing some of his part mistakes
This is strange behaviour towards his governess
He wants to marry Jane despite being much older than her and Jane not being his social equal. He is not concerned about defying social expectations
He dresses up as a gipsy to try me manipulate people- as the gipsy , he tells Blanche that he is not rick and questions Jane about her feelings . This shows how he tries to control people and the lack of respect he has for people’s feelings - he doesn’t care about upsetting Blanche
How is mr Rochester unconventional
Mr Rochester can be deceitful:
Mr Rochester loves Jane, but he doesn’t tell her about his existing wife, and tries to marry Jane without telling her the truth. This makes him seem selfish and dishonest
He pays Grace Poole to look after Bertha’s strange actions.Grace and other servants , keep Mr Rochester’s secret from Jane
Me Rochester doesn’t reveal his identity to Jane when he first meets her , and he devils her and his friends when he dresses up as a gipsy , Jane isn’t impressed with his deception as the gipsy , calling it as “strange idea “ and “sacrely fair “
Writers techniques:
Bronte presents Mr.Rochester as a complex character.He is deceitful , reckless and overbearing , but he is also passionate , protective and perceptive
How is mr Rochester deceitful
Mr Rochester can be seen as a Byronic hero:
‘Byronic hero’ takes its name from the extravagant early 19th century poet , lord Byron
Byron heroes are usually moody , flawed , mysterious , passionate men , who are sexually desirable and act heroically at some point
Mr Rochester fits most of these term- he’s unpredictable, loves Jane passionately, is haunted by his past and tries to rescue Bertha
However , he’s not sexually desirable in the traditional sense , meaning he doesn’t exactly fit the description of a Byronic hero. Jane loves him , but she doesn’t think he’s handsome and Blanche Ingram is more attracted to his money than his appearance
How is mr Rochester seen as a Byronic hero
He is redeemed by the end of the novel:
Mr Rochester’s character changes after Jane leaves him , which ultimately enables him to marry her when she returns
He experiences a period of physical and emotional pain during janes absence - he loses his eyesight and his left hand , and has a “lonely hopeless” life without her
However while he’s physically weak , he becomes morally stronger, when Jane finds him at ferndean , he’s no longer interested in “fine cloths and jewels” an other “very sincere” prayers of repentance
This new humility allows mr rochester’s marriage to Jane to succeed - he is now capable of the equality in their relationship that Jane always desired , but wouldn’t have experiences had married earlier
Two years he regains sight in one eye-this could be a symbol of Gods forgiveness for his past sins and a reward for his reformed character.He has chairs a kind of redemption
How is mr Rochester redeemed by the end of the novel ?
Mr Rochester is …
Troubled “an agony of inward contempt masters me”
Secretive: “ mr Rochester stepped out of his disguise”
Masterful “the new face was …dark, strong, stern”
What quote shows mr Rochester is troubled
What does this quote show ?
What quote shows mr Rochester is secretive ?
What does this quote show ?
What quote shows mr Rochester is masterful
What does this quote show?
