I really did not understand this one. Grace's presence seemed unnecesary and dangerous to me. It seemed clear that she needed to be disposed of, yet, for some reason, Rochester keeps her around. To defy common sense like this usually means one thing: there is a sentimental connection. This thought led me to the notion that, since Grace has no clear familial ties to Rochester, she must be his mistress (Was I the only person thinking that?). However, after Jane's discussion with Rochester about Grace and the events of that faithful night, I started thinking maybe Grace isn't the problem. I had made the assumption, based on suggestions within the book, that Grace Poole is some kind of psychopath allowed to run free at Thornfield for reasons unknown making attempts on peoples' lives. But what if that wasn't the case? What if Grace wasn't the problem but the solution to all of these strange "mishaps"? Rochester isn't afraid of her. Why should I, the reader, be? After all it is never a clearly stated that Grace is in fact a malicious being. Maybe, just maybe, Grace is good in all this and there is a grave and gross misunderstanding being gathered by Jane and by, obvious extension, the reader.
In my opinion, there may be something that Grace may know of Rochester and is the reason why Rochester has still kept her. I also think that because Rochester has still kept Grace after the incident, the secret between them has to be huge since she is paid more than the other servants. Due to this, I do not believe Grace is as crazy as she is said to be but there could have had been something between Grace and Rochester that may have led her to supposedly cause the fire.
It is obvious that Grace and Rochester have a significant relationship. In my opinion it seems more implied that Grace Poole set Rochester's room on fire, but I don't have a counter theory to support this claim. In the case that Grace did set the room on fire, she is still getting paid more than the other servants. If Grace and Rochester were enemies, there is a gap in logic as to why Rochester would continue his good treatment Grace even after this attempt. The only explanations I could come up with are blackmail, or Grace and Rochester are related, or in love, or ex-lovers. Either way Grace is too important to be out of Rochester's sight. Perhaps she plays a role in his redemption.
Grace and Rochester have a significant relationship in some shape or form. I also agree with Francis I also believed that the scene with the fire and afterwards seemed so vague to me that it has to be more implied and assumed by the reader Grace Poole did in fact set the fire. Grace seems to be treated well compared to many of the others the servants and I feel that in these chapters when Rochester was talking about his past that in between time Grace was someone who helped him during his time on the run or it could be that Grace Poole is the rich one who owns these estates and is acting as a servant under Rochester but I think that is to far of a stretch. I feel something deep of a secret is inside Grace and she knows more about Rochester's "haunted", past is. You can see by her usual high salary however, she is indeed a very well informed servant and she has either blackmail like Francis mentioned or she very important. As of right now the assumptions go as far as the imagination can let it wander because we really do not have a great detail but one thing is obvious and that she is super important to Rochester in some shape or form.
I believe that even though Mr. Rochester may carry that appearance of not caring for other people and only thinking about his own personal gain. He most likely kept her because he feared for her safety and well-being in the real world. He saw the situation as being either she goes to a institution where she will treated badly by strangers or keep her locked up away from harm but while still harming her.
I think that Grace holds onto some secret that Rochester doesn’t want to come out. Perhaps she has some stake in his personal life? An old (pun intended) lover or caretaker perhaps? She’s lost her mind now, but maybe he has a sentimental connection with her that he doesn’t want to sever. Or this could be wild speculation and he’s just as crazy as her is all.
There is definitely something going on, if were to set the bed on fire while I am sleeping, I would not like that person to be anywhere near me. But seeing that Rochester chooses to let Grace stay and not do anything about what she has done, rouses up questions, whether if Grace is someone important to Rochester or if Rochester has some kind of personal and secretive reason that she is unable to relieve Grace from thornfield. This brings up an unanswered question that will be sought for later in the novel, if present.
Well clearly there is something more here than meets the eye. If Grace Poole was simply a house maid than there is no way Rochester would be okay with the situation. This is a great unanswered question to represent the purpose of unanswered questions in the novel. The mystery behind the situation only continues with this event. Whether or not it is Grace Poole or some other supernatural thing, it has some significance to future events to come.
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ReplyDeleteI really did not understand this one. Grace's presence seemed unnecesary and dangerous to me. It seemed clear that she needed to be disposed of, yet, for some reason, Rochester keeps her around. To defy common sense like this usually means one thing: there is a sentimental connection. This thought led me to the notion that, since Grace has no clear familial ties to Rochester, she must be his mistress (Was I the only person thinking that?). However, after Jane's discussion with Rochester about Grace and the events of that faithful night, I started thinking maybe Grace isn't the problem. I had made the assumption, based on suggestions within the book, that Grace Poole is some kind of psychopath allowed to run free at Thornfield for reasons unknown making attempts on peoples' lives. But what if that wasn't the case? What if Grace wasn't the problem but the solution to all of these strange "mishaps"? Rochester isn't afraid of her. Why should I, the reader, be? After all it is never a clearly stated that Grace is in fact a malicious being. Maybe, just maybe, Grace is good in all this and there is a grave and gross misunderstanding being gathered by Jane and by, obvious extension, the reader.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, there may be something that Grace may know of Rochester and is the reason why Rochester has still kept her. I also think that because Rochester has still kept Grace after the incident, the secret between them has to be huge since she is paid more than the other servants. Due to this, I do not believe Grace is as crazy as she is said to be but there could have had been something between Grace and Rochester that may have led her to supposedly cause the fire.
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that Grace and Rochester have a significant relationship. In my opinion it seems more implied that Grace Poole set Rochester's room on fire, but I don't have a counter theory to support this claim. In the case that Grace did set the room on fire, she is still getting paid more than the other servants. If Grace and Rochester were enemies, there is a gap in logic as to why Rochester would continue his good treatment Grace even after this attempt. The only explanations I could come up with are blackmail, or Grace and Rochester are related, or in love, or ex-lovers. Either way Grace is too important to be out of Rochester's sight. Perhaps she plays a role in his redemption.
ReplyDeleteGrace and Rochester have a significant relationship in some shape or form. I also agree with Francis I also believed that the scene with the fire and afterwards seemed so vague to me that it has to be more implied and assumed by the reader Grace Poole did in fact set the fire. Grace seems to be treated well compared to many of the others the servants and I feel that in these chapters when Rochester was talking about his past that in between time Grace was someone who helped him during his time on the run or it could be that Grace Poole is the rich one who owns these estates and is acting as a servant under Rochester but I think that is to far of a stretch. I feel something deep of a secret is inside Grace and she knows more about Rochester's "haunted", past is. You can see by her usual high salary however, she is indeed a very well informed servant and she has either blackmail like Francis mentioned or she very important. As of right now the assumptions go as far as the imagination can let it wander because we really do not have a great detail but one thing is obvious and that she is super important to Rochester in some shape or form.
ReplyDeleteI believe that even though Mr. Rochester may carry that appearance of not caring for other people and only thinking about his own personal gain. He most likely kept her because he feared for her safety and well-being in the real world. He saw the situation as being either she goes to a institution where she will treated badly by strangers or keep her locked up away from harm but while still harming her.
ReplyDeleteI think that Grace holds onto some secret that Rochester doesn’t want to come out. Perhaps she has some stake in his personal life? An old (pun intended) lover or caretaker perhaps? She’s lost her mind now, but maybe he has a sentimental connection with her that he doesn’t want to sever. Or this could be wild speculation and he’s just as crazy as her is all.
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely something going on, if were to set the bed on fire while I am sleeping, I would not like that person to be anywhere near me. But seeing that Rochester chooses to let Grace stay and not do anything about what she has done, rouses up questions, whether if Grace is someone important to Rochester or if Rochester has some kind of personal and secretive reason that she is unable to relieve Grace from thornfield. This brings up an unanswered question that will be sought for later in the novel, if present.
ReplyDeleteWell clearly there is something more here than meets the eye. If Grace Poole was simply a house maid than there is no way Rochester would be okay with the situation. This is a great unanswered question to represent the purpose of unanswered questions in the novel. The mystery behind the situation only continues with this event. Whether or not it is Grace Poole or some other supernatural thing, it has some significance to future events to come.
ReplyDelete