Jane Eyre Read Along Chapters 11 - 14

Welcome to our discussion on Chapters 11 - 14.

This week’s questions and my answers are below.

Jane meets her pupil, Adela Varens, in Chapter 11, and we learn more about her in subsequent chapters. How is this little girl contrasted with Jane herself, when she was a child?

Adela is a little girl who has also been left parentless. However, the similarities to Jane mostly end there. We see little sign that Adela possesses the strength of character or conviction that Jane did as a child. She seems to very interested in material things such as clothing. At one point Jane comments, “

My pupil was a lively child, who had been spoilt and indulged”.

One might argue, that such a sheltered childhood would less likely produce such a strong a character like Jane's. Perhaps Bronte is attempting to communicate this in her portrayal of Adela.

How does Bronte set the general atmosphere surrounding Jane's awkward meeting with Mr. Rochester, in the country lane, which takes place in Chapter 12?

The initial meeting and impression of Rochester is curious. First Rochester is shown to be a strong man. He projects an imposing character on  horseback. Jane even uses the adjective “masculine’ in describing him.  Yet there is something mysterious and dark, perhaps tied to other dark and mysterious aspects of the novel. At one point Jane describes his dog Pilot as a Gytrash , which is a mythical, magical creature that supposedly roams English roads. This is only the beginning of the references to magical folklore in reference to the relationship between Jane and Rochester. There are also signs of Rochester’s grumpiness as Jane comments that he is “swearing”. This seems to be another aspect to Rochester’s character that will continue to manifest itself.

Jane states that she would not have offered her help to the fallen rider, had he been conventionally handsome. What does this tell the reader about Jane?

This is really an interesting point. Once again there is something a little dark or at least offbeat  portrayed in Jane. There is an aspect to her  that is different. She is alienated, at least just a little bit, from the normal and the conventional. This observation indicates that she is attracted to what is usually unattractive. It indicates that her feelings and beliefs, run contrary to convention. Thus, this strange comment is consistent with the Jane that we are getting to know.

What further information about Jane's personality, and her philosophy of life, do her paintings convey?

I knew immediately when the paintings were described that they had meaning. The painting of the hill is gloomy, and the icy landscape is also bleak. These clearly reflect the darker side of Jane’s nature, which I have commented upon several times.

The paintings are full of various imagery. I must confess that no mater how much I attempted I decipher this imagery , I was stumped. I cheated and did a Google search. There are some differing opinions out there as to the meanings of the paintings. However, it seems that there is a consensus that they represent various aspects of Jane’s personality and her psyche.  Furthermore they are filled with mythological and Biblical imagery. I am relatively familiar with the Bible and familiar with some, but not all, aspects of Western mythology, yet I needed help dissecting all this.

While many of the interpretations that I read seem plausible and convincing, since I was unable to figure any of it out myself, I will refrain from discussing the various theories and leave my readers to their own interpretations. Anyone of course, can  consult Professor Google himself.

What do you think is the real purpose of Mr. Rochester's interview of Jane? Or do you think it's the typical interview an employer would conduct, when hiring a new domestic employee?

This certainly is not a typical interview. Rochester is tasking in his questions and even a little bullying. He also exhibits sarcasm. I think that Rochester sees some of Jane’s extraordinary nature and is testing her. For all his good intentions this behavior exhibits a degree of arrogance.

There is something else mentioned in the interview. Like Jane did when she first saw Rochester, here Rochester makes reference to folklore and jokingly alludes to the fact that Jane might be connected to these mythical doings.

“For the men in green: it was a proper moonlight evening for them.   Did I break through one of your rings, that you spread that damned ice on the causeway?” 

I am going out a little on a limb on this, but I think that perhaps Bronte is building something of a Universal view of existence, or at least existence as viewed from the point of view of the human mind. There are a lot of noble characters who are strong Christians as well as positive references to scripture. However, there are also these odd hints of a world also populated, at least symbolically, with pagan and other mysterious  beliefs that that are connected to nature worship.  Bronte seems to be constructing a complex worldview indeed.

Do you see any hints of foreshadowing in Chapter 14? Please explain. 

While several aspects of the chapter may indicate foreshadowing, What struck me most were the hints that in the future, some of Rochester’s darkness might be dispelled. At one point Jane speaks to him,

“Only one thing, I know: you said you were not as good as you should like to be, and that you regretted your own imperfection;— one thing I can comprehend: you intimated that to have a sullied memory was a perpetual bane.   It seems to me, that if you tried hard, you would in time find it possible to become what you yourself would approve; and that if from this day you began with resolution to correct your thoughts and actions, you would in a few years have laid up a new and stainless store of recollections, to which you might revert with pleasure.”

So maybe we can look forward to a changed Rochester in the future.

Next week we will be reading chapters 15 - 19. Our questions are below.

Rochester seems a very strong personality. Is it surprising that he would become enamored with someone like Céline Varens?

We find that Thornfield Hall is a place with strange servants, where demonic laughter is heard and mysterious fires are set. Are these just clever and atmospheric plot devices or is Bronte saying something more?

At one point Jane rebukes her self as a result of her attraction for Rochester and resolves to suppress that attraction. Is this a realistic reaction of a person falling in love? Do people act this way in the real world and the present day?

Jane believes that Rochester is planning on marrying for the benefit of connections. Is she accessing his character fairly? Based upon what we know about Rochester at this point, would a man like him likely enter into marriage for such reasons?

At one point Blanche Ingram insults and acts cruelly to a passive Jane. Rochester allows this to go on and he takes no action to stop it. What can be concluded from his behavior?

Rochester disguises himself as a fortuneteller and deceives Jane and several other characters. Is this the act of a trustworthy person?  In reality can someone who acted this way ever be worthy of trust?

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Week 4: Oct. 13th

Reading: Chapters 15 - 19

Discussion Questions: Chapters 11 - 14

Discussion Questions for Next Week:

Babbling Books

Week 5: Oct. 20th

Reading: Chapters 20 - 23

Discussion Questions: Chapters 15 - 19

Discussion Questions for Next Week:

A Night's Dream of Books

Week 6: Oct. 27th

Reading: Chapters 24 - 28

Discussion Questions: Chapters 20 - 23

Discussion Questions for Next Week:

Babbling Books

Week 7: Nov. 3rd

Reading: Chapters 29 - 33

Discussion Questions: Chapters 24 - 28

Discussion Question for Next Week:

A Night's Dream of Books

Week 8: Nov. 10th

Reading: Chapters 34 - 38

Discussion Questions: Chapters 29 - 33

Discussion Questions for Next Week:

Babbling Books

Week 9: Nov. 17th

Discussion Questions, Chapters 34 - 38

Week 9: Nov. 21st

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