QUOTE BANK Flashcards
“humbled by the consciousness of my physical inferiority to Eliza, John, and Georgiana Reed.”
Not part of the house, not a servant.
Feels inferior - isolated from the other children
Pitiful
[about governesses] “half of them detestable and the rest ridiculous”
View of governesses by those of the higher-class. Overheard by Jane. Only Rochester treats her with respect for her work
[John Mason on Bertha] “She sucked the blood: she said she’d drain my heart.”
Presents Bertha as the typical monster in the attic. Like a vampire - fairytale reference, a monstrous villain.
[Brocklehurst} “You must be on your guard against her; you must shun her example: if necessary, avoid her company”
Showing the religious extremes and a wrong type of Christianity.
[Lowood] “great grey hills heaved up round the horizon”
Prison-like.
“Helen heard me patiently… I asked impatiently”
Contrast in personality
[Rochester] “it was not my original intention to deceive, as I have deceived you”
The illusion and reality. Admits to his deceit
[Bertha] “beast or human being, one could not, at first sight, tell” “on all fours”
More monster than human. No place for sympathy for her. Contrast of modern and old views of her entrapment.
“my bride is here (…) my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?”
Finally on an equal level.
“I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom (…) it is my spirit that address your spirit”
Links to religion.
[St John] “Our union must be sealed and consecrated by marriage”
Unromantic view of marriage. Lack of passion compared to Rochester
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.”
Can’t be controlled by Rochester. They need to be free and equal
“Do you think I am an automaton? — a machine without feelings?… Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! — I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart!”
Showing that her position doesn’t mean she can be treated this way. Modern vs old view
“it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God’s feet, equal — as we are!”
Although they might not be equal in terms of wealth or position, their souls match each other.
“it is as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly and inextricably knotted to a similar string situated in the corresponding quarter of your little frame. “
Biblical language of Adam and Eve
“My master’s colourless, olive face, square, massive brow… were not beautiful, according to rule”
Byronic character - no need to be beautiful. Plain like Jane.
“I know I must conceal my sentiments: I must smother hope; I must remember that he cannot care much for me”
Shows how she feels inferior - as a governess would - because of her position in comparison to his.
“When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should - so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again.”
Contrast with Helen’s view of submitting and taking the pain. Vst contrast in personalities.
“I thank my Maker, that in the midst of judgment he has remembered mercy. I humbly entreat my Redeemer to give me strength to lead henceforth a purer life than I have done hitherto”
Always returns to God - her moral compass and belief saves her.
[On Jane’s outburst} “But it was always in her”
View of passionate children - Jane is prejudiced because she is not part of the family ban is not grateful enough.
[Red room] “curtains of deep red damask” “the carpet was red”
Womb-like red. Red reflects her passion. M Reed forces her back into the womb - getting un-born.
“I had to cross before the looking-glass… all looked
colder and darker in that visionary hollow than in reality”
Comparison to Bertha Mason.
“What a consternation of soul was mine that dreary afternoon!”
Melodramatic - despite her age. Shows how strongly she feels and the maturity of her thoughts
” I was like nobody there; I had
nothing in harmony with Mrs. Reed or her children”
Feels isolated and lonely.
“I was oppressed, suffocated: endurance broke down”
Her Gateshead experience summarised through the arrival of the ghost.
