Look closely at the first chapters is this section - the preparation for the wedding. How does Rochester
prepare, and how do Jane and Adele react? What does this tell us about
their characters and what lay ahead?
- In preparation for the wedding, Rochester is wanting to buy new clothes and things for Jane, in order to what seems to be “dressing Jane for the part” of being his new bride. Jane in turn though does not want the new clothes, or jewels, as she feels as though Rochester is trying to change her and feels she is below him. Jane goes onto say to Rochester in chapter 24, “What do I want with half your estate?” “I would much rather have all your confidence.” Rochester begins to tell Jane that she needs to be dressed up for the world to acknowledge her beauty and should accept his gifts when becoming his wife. In my opinion, I think Jane sees this as almost a threat, she is realizing that the social class difference is starting to have an effect on their relationship. Rochester is wanting to dress her up and make her look “nicer” when marrying her, which bothers Jane, as she wants to be seen as an equal and be loved just the way she is, simple and plain on the outside, but full of opinions and passion on the inside. Even Adele, when riding in the new carriage Rochester purchases, says that she thinks Jane is “far better as she is”, without a new scarf and gown, but as herself and in what she is most comfortable in. Rochester should, in my opinion, see the value of not changing Jane, as he fell in love with her while she was plain, and not dressed in fancy things or longing for new jewels. She loves him for him, not his money or the things that she can get from him. This ultimately is what, in my opinion, drives Jane away from Rochester. She not only is hurt by the lies and back story of Rochester’s past life, but also worries that Rochester expects more from her than she is willing to give to him. She worries that the social difference will change their relationship and ultimately make him grow bored with her and her plain life. Jane worries that she will never been seen in his eyes as an equal, because of her social standing, and does not want to be tied down in a relationship where she is considered to be “lesser” than her husband.
I agree with Kylie. Rochester showering Jane with gifts just makes her more uncomfortable by revealing how she should dress and have in order to be an ideal fiancee for Rochester. Jane is not interested in the gifts that Rochester gives her and it upsets her by revealing the gap between their social class. Their engagement is a large part of why she reaches out to her uncle in hopes that she will become his heir. Jane feels that if she were to inherit a respectful fortune, she would be worthy enough to be Rochester's wife.
Adele believes that Rochester is trying to change Jane too much, and she disagrees with it because she adores Jane. She and Jane have developed a close relationship and doesn't want Jane to change.
I agree with Kylie that if Rochester truly loved Jane, he wouldn't push so hard to change her. Social standards were much more different in the Victorian era, however.
I also agree with Kylie's post; however, I think it would be interesting to think about if Rochester was giving all of these material goods to Jane because he is simply a kind person. We see later that he has been searching for someone to love while still holding onto the burden that is Bertha. Maybe he figures that since he found Jane (who he loves dearly) he should provide to her anything she could possibly want? Rochester may simply be trying to make Jane happy but his actions have very negative consequences because he did not truly ask her how she felt about all of the clothes and frivolities. I think that Adele being able to see how unhappy Jane is with the presents shows how blind Rochester is. He can act without seeing the future repercussions, especially when this seemingly changing Jane piles on top of her feeling like a mistress later. Even a child can see that Jane is beginning to have second thoughts and maybe Rochester can as well and that is why he is trying so desperately to keep Jane happy.
At the same time I do not think that Rochester would want Jane to change. As Kylie said, he fell in love with her when she was plain, not like the other higher class women. Even though he has many options, he chooses Jane and I don't think that their being married would change his opinion of her. I think that this is ultimately what planted the seed of Jane's leaving, but I don't think that Rochester was acting badly toward her (consciously) while causing that.
Throughout the novel, Bronte has continued to put emphasis on the fact that Jane is not notably beautiful. Just like Kylie said, Jane is somewhat plain when it comes to outside appearance. However, what she may lack in looks, she more than makes up for in personality and in passion. Not to mention, we’ve seen how Jane compares herself to other women. She has insecurities when it comes to her looks, and for Rochester to try to change her only makes her feel unworthy and even more insecure. She begins to feel that Rochester doesn’t think she’s good enough as she is. Why does he need to buy her all these new clothes and all of this new jewelry for them to get married? Why can’t he just take her how she is? However, I think it is important to look at this from Rochester’s point of view as well. Rochester has just proposed to Jane. He loves her, and he only wants the best for her. Rochester has had to keep his feelings for Jane on the down low for a long time, and now he is finally able to express himself. Perhaps buying her all of these nice things is a way for him to show her he cares. Maybe Rochester isn’t even considering the implications of his actions and how they only further emphasize the social class difference between the two of them. Maybe all Rochester is thinking is that he is in love, and since he has the means to do it, he begins to shower his prospective bride with all of these new luxuries that she did not have before. However, when Jane expresses her concerns, Rochester does not do anything to help make the situation better. So, while we might can cut Rochester a little slack for being so head over heels in love, he should still take a second to listen to his bride-to-be’s wishes. If he were to just consider her feelings about all of this, he would see that there really is no need to continue to make Jane feel uncomfortable with all of the expensive jewelry and clothes. Obviously that is not Jane’s forte. If he really wanted to make her happy then he would take her book shopping. It just seems like Rochester is ignoring Jane’s feelings in this situation, and it is easy to understand how this would upset and worry Jane. She’s already had doubts about the wedding and those doubts are only continuing to grow. When even little Adele can see that there is an issue, then there is obviously a problem! Rochester is just being stubborn. Part of me thinks that maybe Rochester feels guilty about not telling Jane the truth about Bertha yet, and that is why he is getting her all of these things. He doesn’t realize that he is just driving her away. Jane’s acknowledgement of the social class difference and her feelings of inequality just continue to grow and they strongly influence her decision to leave Rochester.
I agree with Aynas statement, although all these gifts for Jane that Rochester is giving, there is no indication of if he is giving these things to her simply because he has been seeking affection. With Bertha being in the attic for so long, he has bound to be searching for some form of love and comfort and he may have taken Jane as his opportunity to get it. He may be trying to dress her for the part or as to show the rest of the world the beauty he sees within her. Jane is feeling highly uncomfortable with the wedding to the point where she writes to her uncle explaining the way she feels and about how inheriting from him would make her feel more equal to Rochester and put her more at ease with the wedding.
- In preparation for the wedding, Rochester is wanting to buy new clothes and things for Jane, in order to what seems to be “dressing Jane for the part” of being his new bride. Jane in turn though does not want the new clothes, or jewels, as she feels as though Rochester is trying to change her and feels she is below him. Jane goes onto say to Rochester in chapter 24, “What do I want with half your estate?” “I would much rather have all your confidence.” Rochester begins to tell Jane that she needs to be dressed up for the world to acknowledge her beauty and should accept his gifts when becoming his wife. In my opinion, I think Jane sees this as almost a threat, she is realizing that the social class difference is starting to have an effect on their relationship. Rochester is wanting to dress her up and make her look “nicer” when marrying her, which bothers Jane, as she wants to be seen as an equal and be loved just the way she is, simple and plain on the outside, but full of opinions and passion on the inside. Even Adele, when riding in the new carriage Rochester purchases, says that she thinks Jane is “far better as she is”, without a new scarf and gown, but as herself and in what she is most comfortable in. Rochester should, in my opinion, see the value of not changing Jane, as he fell in love with her while she was plain, and not dressed in fancy things or longing for new jewels. She loves him for him, not his money or the things that she can get from him. This ultimately is what, in my opinion, drives Jane away from Rochester. She not only is hurt by the lies and back story of Rochester’s past life, but also worries that Rochester expects more from her than she is willing to give to him. She worries that the social difference will change their relationship and ultimately make him grow bored with her and her plain life. Jane worries that she will never been seen in his eyes as an equal, because of her social standing, and does not want to be tied down in a relationship where she is considered to be “lesser” than her husband.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kylie. Rochester showering Jane with gifts just makes her more uncomfortable by revealing how she should dress and have in order to be an ideal fiancee for Rochester. Jane is not interested in the gifts that Rochester gives her and it upsets her by revealing the gap between their social class. Their engagement is a large part of why she reaches out to her uncle in hopes that she will become his heir. Jane feels that if she were to inherit a respectful fortune, she would be worthy enough to be Rochester's wife.
ReplyDeleteAdele believes that Rochester is trying to change Jane too much, and she disagrees with it because she adores Jane. She and Jane have developed a close relationship and doesn't want Jane to change.
I agree with Kylie that if Rochester truly loved Jane, he wouldn't push so hard to change her. Social standards were much more different in the Victorian era, however.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Kylie's post; however, I think it would be interesting to think about if Rochester was giving all of these material goods to Jane because he is simply a kind person. We see later that he has been searching for someone to love while still holding onto the burden that is Bertha. Maybe he figures that since he found Jane (who he loves dearly) he should provide to her anything she could possibly want? Rochester may simply be trying to make Jane happy but his actions have very negative consequences because he did not truly ask her how she felt about all of the clothes and frivolities.
ReplyDeleteI think that Adele being able to see how unhappy Jane is with the presents shows how blind Rochester is. He can act without seeing the future repercussions, especially when this seemingly changing Jane piles on top of her feeling like a mistress later. Even a child can see that Jane is beginning to have second thoughts and maybe Rochester can as well and that is why he is trying so desperately to keep Jane happy.
At the same time I do not think that Rochester would want Jane to change. As Kylie said, he fell in love with her when she was plain, not like the other higher class women. Even though he has many options, he chooses Jane and I don't think that their being married would change his opinion of her. I think that this is ultimately what planted the seed of Jane's leaving, but I don't think that Rochester was acting badly toward her (consciously) while causing that.
Throughout the novel, Bronte has continued to put emphasis on the fact that Jane is not notably beautiful. Just like Kylie said, Jane is somewhat plain when it comes to outside appearance. However, what she may lack in looks, she more than makes up for in personality and in passion. Not to mention, we’ve seen how Jane compares herself to other women. She has insecurities when it comes to her looks, and for Rochester to try to change her only makes her feel unworthy and even more insecure. She begins to feel that Rochester doesn’t think she’s good enough as she is. Why does he need to buy her all these new clothes and all of this new jewelry for them to get married? Why can’t he just take her how she is? However, I think it is important to look at this from Rochester’s point of view as well. Rochester has just proposed to Jane. He loves her, and he only wants the best for her. Rochester has had to keep his feelings for Jane on the down low for a long time, and now he is finally able to express himself. Perhaps buying her all of these nice things is a way for him to show her he cares. Maybe Rochester isn’t even considering the implications of his actions and how they only further emphasize the social class difference between the two of them. Maybe all Rochester is thinking is that he is in love, and since he has the means to do it, he begins to shower his prospective bride with all of these new luxuries that she did not have before. However, when Jane expresses her concerns, Rochester does not do anything to help make the situation better. So, while we might can cut Rochester a little slack for being so head over heels in love, he should still take a second to listen to his bride-to-be’s wishes. If he were to just consider her feelings about all of this, he would see that there really is no need to continue to make Jane feel uncomfortable with all of the expensive jewelry and clothes. Obviously that is not Jane’s forte. If he really wanted to make her happy then he would take her book shopping. It just seems like Rochester is ignoring Jane’s feelings in this situation, and it is easy to understand how this would upset and worry Jane. She’s already had doubts about the wedding and those doubts are only continuing to grow. When even little Adele can see that there is an issue, then there is obviously a problem! Rochester is just being stubborn. Part of me thinks that maybe Rochester feels guilty about not telling Jane the truth about Bertha yet, and that is why he is getting her all of these things. He doesn’t realize that he is just driving her away. Jane’s acknowledgement of the social class difference and her feelings of inequality just continue to grow and they strongly influence her decision to leave Rochester.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Aynas statement, although all these gifts for Jane that Rochester is giving, there is no indication of if he is giving these things to her simply because he has been seeking affection. With Bertha being in the attic for so long, he has bound to be searching for some form of love and comfort and he may have taken Jane as his opportunity to get it. He may be trying to dress her for the part or as to show the rest of the world the beauty he sees within her. Jane is feeling highly uncomfortable with the wedding to the point where she writes to her uncle explaining the way she feels and about how inheriting from him would make her feel more equal to Rochester and put her more at ease with the wedding.
ReplyDelete