tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post6796527803890422528..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Jane Eyre Read Along Chapters 15-19Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-21320062530122295552014-10-29T04:02:36.223-04:002014-10-29T04:02:36.223-04:00Hi Guy - Indeed, outwardly we see two sides to Jan...Hi Guy - Indeed, outwardly we see two sides to Jane. Inside she shows enormous strength.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-19971972174525632462014-10-28T21:09:01.435-04:002014-10-28T21:09:01.435-04:00I've always been of the opinion that Jane appe...I've always been of the opinion that Jane appears mousy but is in actuality an incredibly strong human being. I think of that line; "I stand here." Everyone underestimates Jane but she is her own woman.Guy Savagehttp://www.swiftlytiltingplanet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-42602787595807016442014-10-27T03:48:56.341-04:002014-10-27T03:48:56.341-04:00Hi Delia - Ultimately I see Rochester as mostly de...Hi Delia - Ultimately I see Rochester as mostly decent. However, he has some interesting flaws that include the tendency to be harsh as well as to be dishonest.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55854942714339310132014-10-27T02:28:52.787-04:002014-10-27T02:28:52.787-04:00Your thoughts on the novel are similar to mine. I ...Your thoughts on the novel are similar to mine. I thought Rochester cruel at first, and saw his disguise as a test for Jane. I think he doesn't trust people easily, and maybe he has good reason; what he wants is to see if Jane really is as kind and selfless as she appears to be. <br />Delia (Postcards from Asia)http://www.wrongspelling.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-40869039202515909362014-10-24T21:01:20.184-04:002014-10-24T21:01:20.184-04:00Hi Morgan - thanks for stopping by.
This is the ...Hi Morgan - thanks for stopping by.<br /><br /><br />This is the first time that I am reading this novel and I do see why it appeals to so many. It is definitely worth a reread.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-3313688844225375052014-10-24T06:36:50.973-04:002014-10-24T06:36:50.973-04:00It has been so long since I've read this book,...It has been so long since I've read this book, and your post makes me want to devour it again. I forgot how much I fell in love with this novel, so thank you! I cannot wait to read it again (:<br />Morrighan @ Elysian Fields Reviews<br />( http://ufbooks.blogspot.com )Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02196945104592374912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-81654565920465908242014-10-22T21:59:42.661-04:002014-10-22T21:59:42.661-04:00Hi Jane - Thanks!
I am beginning to see Jane as a...Hi Jane - Thanks!<br /><br />I am beginning to see Jane as a very strong character. In fact I am thinking that ]both her and Rochester are larger then life fictional giants so to speak. i will likely write more about this. <br /><br />I have not yet read Mansfield Park. But I do see Jane Austen as a writer who creates more realistic characters.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-7851204092004230852014-10-22T21:59:04.010-04:002014-10-22T21:59:04.010-04:00Hi Heidi - I actually really liked the scene.
Ro...Hi Heidi - I actually really liked the scene. <br /><br />Rochester does do a lot of maddening things.<br /><br /> I am not one to look for "likable characters". With that said, for all his flaws, I like Rochester. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-5507030140552031552014-10-22T14:32:38.973-04:002014-10-22T14:32:38.973-04:00I just love seeing this through your eyes for the ...I just love seeing this through your eyes for the first time. I too was mad at Rochester for the deception during the Gypsy scene. My daughter loved the Gypsy scene. I wasn't so forgiving.Heidi’sbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647096496574605262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-49164291596153736582014-10-22T10:25:45.916-04:002014-10-22T10:25:45.916-04:00Flawed heroes are the best, though I wouldn't ...Flawed heroes are the best, though I wouldn't say that Rochester is the most realistic character I've met. I think CB was masterful in depicting the attraction between Jane and Rochester. He tries her and tests her, but she has a steel core that doesn't bend. A lot like Austen's Fanny Price in that!<br /><br />I enjoy reading your posts during this read-along.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-69288404157466898942014-10-22T05:05:20.388-04:002014-10-22T05:05:20.388-04:00Hi Maria - Without a doubt Rochester has some good...Hi Maria - Without a doubt Rochester has some good and not so good in hi. I may have overemphasized the bad a little bit here :)<br /><br />He really does show a core of decency and he does show real concern for Jane.<br /><br />I admit that I may be going a little overboard on this, but I think that this novel is more then just a great character study. I suspect that it really is trying to get at the fundamentals of either existence itself, or at least people's perception of existence.<br /><br />If that is the case Bronte is showing us a world that is both light and dark.<br /><br />Thanks for the great comments!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-78652447010372045242014-10-21T23:20:41.870-04:002014-10-21T23:20:41.870-04:00It's very obvious and true that Rochester is a...It's very obvious and true that Rochester is a fundamentally flawed hero. Yes, I agree with you that he seems detached from the needs of others, yet, with Jane, he is not completely so. He does follow her when she excuses herself from the drawing room, after Blanche's insulting remarks regarding governesses. He notices that Jane is on the verge of tears, too. The first time I read this book, I was expecting him to declare his love for her right then and there, because by this point, it's very obvious that he does indeed love her. Why didn't he? Because of his pride. He decided to carry on the charade of his courtship to Blanche just a bit longer. I totally dislike his behavior regarding this whole thing of courting Blanche! Poor Jane suffered unnecessarily because of this.<br /><br />Your answer to the second question is a very interesting one! I hadn't thought of approaching it from this angle, but now that I think about it, you may be right that Bronte is trying to say something important about the workings of the Universe. Could it be that her message is that light has to be balanced by darkness? What do you think of this? Well, you did say that you would elaborate on this point when you finish the book, so I'll wait for that. I'm very curious about it, though!<br /><br />As for Rochester's deception in the fortune-teller incident, I think this is foreshadowing. No, he definitely cannot be trusted; he will stoop to deception whenever it suits his needs and plans, and Jane would do well to notice this, and take heed.<br /><br />Great answers as usual!! Thanks for your comment on my blog! Looking forward to next week!! <br />: )Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-27743705056662727222014-10-20T20:58:29.723-04:002014-10-20T20:58:29.723-04:00Hi Sharon - Though I am somewhat far along in the ...Hi Sharon - Though I am somewhat far along in the book, I did sense even here that Rochester had moral core and that his "dishonesty" only went so far. <br /><br /><br />The equality of minds and to some extent characters is indeed striking.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-46839006814300129912014-10-20T20:56:28.632-04:002014-10-20T20:56:28.632-04:00Hi Suko - I did not intend to make it the focus of...Hi Suko - I did not intend to make it the focus of my questions, but indeed, trust and honesty are big drivers of the plot!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-53492974765904310412014-10-20T20:55:08.774-04:002014-10-20T20:55:08.774-04:00Hi Tracy - Rochester id indeed sigle minded and wi...Hi Tracy - Rochester id indeed sigle minded and willing to behave dishonestly and do all sorts of things to get what he wants, but I do sense there are limits to what he would do. We shall see.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-61502683975485993752014-10-20T20:52:46.538-04:002014-10-20T20:52:46.538-04:00Hi James - I reevaluate my answers too based on th...Hi James - I reevaluate my answers too based on the responses of others too!<br /><br />I am indeed a little harsh on Rochester. With all that said, I ultimately find him a likable character and hope that he and Jane do wind up together.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-16558738232546407502014-10-20T18:36:09.787-04:002014-10-20T18:36:09.787-04:00I'll have to assume that you haven't read ...I'll have to assume that you haven't read the book in its entirety so I won't give anything away. However, one of the traits I like about Rochester is that he is honest about his morals. He is also honest about what a naive, immature person he was when younger which is why he fell for someone as vapid as Celine. He is an older, wiser, although by no means perfect, Rochester now.<br /><br />What I found amazing was that he would confide in a young governess. He seems to be surprised himself at it.<br /><br />In the time period of this novel, it was imminently unrealistic for a hired person, an orphan with no connections or money to even imagine marrying an aristocrat. This is something Bronte explores. How equal Jane's mind is to Rochester's and how unequal Blanche's is, yet she has money and Jane doesn't.Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-56877044512965334222014-10-20T15:39:44.348-04:002014-10-20T15:39:44.348-04:00There seems to be an abundance of trust and honest...There seems to be an abundance of trust and honesty issues here. Very interesting commentary today! Sukohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11893742747135555499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-59053394384113804562014-10-20T12:25:37.642-04:002014-10-20T12:25:37.642-04:00I don't know about Rochester being single mind...I don't know about Rochester being single minded etc but having read about his deception of Jane and the others here (and given that I haven't read the book) it seems to me he may well be an emotionally immature person. Perhaps someone willing to pay whatever the cost to get what he wants.<br />Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-30072307567387813302014-10-20T12:01:13.671-04:002014-10-20T12:01:13.671-04:00Once again you have provided some insightful comme...Once again you have provided some insightful comments giving me pause for thought when they differ from my views. I am intrigued by your reference to the universe and find myself agreeing with you that the world is a "strange place".<br />I was not so hard on Rochester in the last two questions, but find your assessment of his actions understandable. I may reevaluate his character as we get more information.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00561320676355168336noreply@blogger.com