By: Amy ! Anna ! Maude! & Spencer!

THORNFIELD By: Amy! Anna! Maude! & Spencer!

Life at Thornfield: Adele • Jane’s characterization of Adele, an upper class child. • Jane’s influence on Adele • Adele’s influence on Jane “A lively child, who had been spoiled and indulged, and therefore was sometimes wayward.” “but as she was committed entirely to my care, and no injudicious interference from any quarter ever thwarted my plans for her improvement, she soon forgot her little freaks, and became obedient and teachable.” “…though perhaps not very profound, affection; and by her simplicity, gay prattle, and efforts to please, inspired me in return, with a degree of attachment sufficient to make us both content in each other's society.

Life at Thornfield: Ms. Faifax • Jane is a bit confused by Ms. Fairfax’s kindness to her, as she is not of the same social class. She’s treated with more kindness than she should be. Then she finds out Ms. Fairfax is the housekeeper. • Jane finally has an equal. I'll see it carried into your room,” she said, and bustled out. “She treats me like a visitor,” thought I. “I little expected such a reception; I anticipated only coldness and stiffness: this is not like what I have heard of the treatment of governesses; but I must not exult too soon.” She returned; with her own hands cleared her knitting apparatus and a book or two from the table, to make room for the tray which Leah now brought, and then herself handed me the refreshments. I felt rather confused at being the object of more attention than I had ever before received, and that, too, shown by my employer and superior; but as she did not herself seem to consider she was doing any thing out of her place, I thought it better to take her civilities quietly. • "The equality between her and me was real; not the mere result of condescension on her part; so much the better--my position was all the freer"

Jane’s Discontent “Who blames me? Many, no doubt; and I shall be called discontented.” • Jane wants to meet someone else. She wants to live in a wider world, which is a revolutionary thought for someone of her station: an orphan governess. • Similar to the review of Jane Eyre? “that then I desired more of practical experience than I possessed; more of intercourse with my kind, of acquaintance with variety of character, than was here within my reach. I valued what was good in Mrs. Fairfax, and what was good in Adele; but I believed in the existence of other and more vivid kinds of goodness, and what I believed in I wished to behold.”

Jane’s Discontent “Who blames me? Many, no doubt; and I shall be called discontented.” • This thought would not be appreciated in Jane’s time. • She is attacking social convention, calling people “narrow-minded.” • The idea of knitting, cooking, playing the piano, and embroidering was what made a woman “accomplished.” **REFLECTION OF THE AUTHOR'S POSITION ON GENDER ROLES IN RELATION TO HER PUBLICATION/PSEUDONYMS** “Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them or laugh at them if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.”

Gothicism & mystery: Grace poole • Grace Poole (especially her laugh) marks whenever something important is about to happen. • First Laugh introduces the idea, • Shortly after mentioning Grace Poole’s laugh she comes across Rochester. • The laugh which marks the fire in Rochester’s room. • Grace Poole’s “other duties.” • Grace Poole during the Gypsy conversation, which is a very important conversation. • Jane believes that Grace Poole is trying to kill Rochester and maybe even be after Jane. “When thus alone, I not unfrequently heard Grace Poole's laugh; the same peal, the same low, slow ha! ha! which, when first heard, had thrilled me: I heard, too, her eccentric murmurs; stranger than her laugh. There were days when she was quite silent; but there were others when I could not account for the sounds she made. “

Gothicism & mystery: Gytrash • Upon first meeting Rochester, (without knowing it’s him), she thinks of his horse and dog as the mystical creature. • The Gytrash maliciously directs travelers off course. However, the spirits can also show kindness, giving travelers guidance and direction. This could show Rochester’s role in Jane’s life. “As this horse approached, and as I watched for it to appear through the dusk, I remembered certain of Bessie's tales, wherein figured a North-of-England spirit, called a “Gytrash”; which, in the form of horse, mule, or large dog, haunted solitary ways, and sometimes came upon belated travelers, as this horse was now coming upon me.” “…by the hazel stems glided a great dog, whose black and white color made him a distinct object against the trees. It was exactly one mask of Bessie's Gytrash—a lion-like creature with long hair and a huge head: it passed me, however, quietly enough…The horse followed—a tall steed, and on its back a rider. The man; the human being, broke the spell at once. Nothing ever rode the Gytrash: it was always alone; and goblins, to my notions, though they might tenant the dumb carcasses of beasts, could scarce covet shelter in the commonplace human form.

The first meeting • This is not exactly a servant woman’s place. • She recognizes that she isn’t exactly doing the right thing since she isn’t listening to him, but since he’s ugly it doesn’t matter. • She brings up the idea of being a kindred spirit with Rochester. “Had he been a handsome, heroic-looking young gentleman, I should not have dared to stand thus questioning him against his will and offering my services unasked. I had hardly ever seen a handsome youth; never in my life spoken to one. I had a theoretical reverence and homage for beauty, elegance, gallantry, fascination; but had I met those qualities incarnate in masculine shape, I should have known instinctively that they neither had nor could have sympathy with anything in me, and should have shunned them as one would fire, lightning, or anything else that is bright but antipathetic. If even this stranger had smiled and been good-humored to me when I addressed him; if he had put off my offer of assistance gayly and with thanks, I should have gone on my way and not felt any vocation to renew inquiries; but the frown, the roughness of the traveler set me at my ease: I retained my station when he waived to me to go, and announced, “I cannot think of leaving you, sir, at so late an hour in this solitary lane till I see you are fit to mount your horse.”

The First meeting • Rochester essentially fools Jane • On class: he can almost tell her rank possibly by her dress. (Or the fact that he hasn’t seen her before. He knows his servants.) • Foreshadowing his future reliance on Jane. “Whose house is it?” “Mr. Rochester's.” “Do you know Mr. Rochester?” “No, I have never seen him.” “He is not resident, then?” “No.” “Can you tell me where he is?” “I cannot.” “You are not a servant at the hall, of course. You are—” He stopped, ran his eye over my dress, which, as usual was quite simple: a black merino cloak, a black beaver bonnet: neither of them half fine enough for a lady's-maid. He seemed puzzled to decide what I was: I helped him. “I am the governess.” “Ah, the governess!” he repeated; “deuce take me, if I had not forgotten! The governess!” and again my raiment underwent scrutiny. In two minutes he rose from the stile: his face expressed pain when he tried to move. “I cannot commission you to fetch help,” he said; “but you may help me a little yourself, if you will be so kind.”

The first meeting • Jane’s discontent seems to have been addressed in this one incident: she was of help & she met a new person. “My help had been needed and claimed; I had given it: I was pleased to have done something; trivial, transitory, though the deed was, it was yet an active thing, and I was weary of an existence all passive. The new face, too, was like a new picture introduced to the gallery of memory; and it was dissimilar to all the others hanging there: firstly, because it was masculine; and, secondly, because it was dark, strong and stern. “

Jane & Rochester • She breaks from her class & gender roles as well as social convention, and is rewarded for it. • She does try to take it back however. • She seems to be able to read Rochester quite well, which is very amusing to him. “You examine me, Miss Eyre,” said he: “do you think me handsome?” I should, if I had deliberated, have replied to this question by something conventionally vague and polite; but the answer somehow slipped from my tongue before I was aware: “No, sir.” “Far from it, sir. You would perhaps, think me rude if I inquired in return whether you are a philanthropist?” “There again! Another stick of the penknife, when she pretended to pat my head: and that is because I said I did not like the society of children and old women (low be it spoken!). No, young lady, I am not a general philanthropist; but I bear a conscience;”

Jane & Rochester • Her stubbornness would be seen as insolence, as she refuses to answer her superior, a man. • This however endears her further to Rochester who apologizes. Breaking from the roles of class. “Whatever you like. I leave both the choice of subject and the manner of treating it entirely to yourself.” Accordingly I sat and said nothing: “If he expects me to talk for the mere sake of talking and showing off, he will find he has addressed himself to the wrong person,” I thought. “You are dumb, Miss Eyre.” I was dumb still. He bent his head a little toward me, and with a single hasty glance seemed to dive into my eyes. “Stubborn?” he said, “and annoyed. Ah, it is consistent. I put my request in an absurd, almost insolent form. Miss Eyre, I beg your pardon.

Jane & Rochester • This elucidates Jane’s view on class, age, and gender as she tells Rochester that he has little right to command me. “Then, in the first place, do you agree with me that I have a right to be a little masterful, abrupt; perhaps exacting, sometimes, on the grounds I stated; namely, that I am old enough to be your father, and that I have battled through a varied experienced with many men of many nations, and roamed over half the globe, while you have lived quietly with one set of people in one house?” “Do as you please, sir.” “That is no answer; or rather it is a very irritating, because a very evasive, one; reply clearly.” “I don't think, sir, you have a right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience.”

Jane & Rochester • She remarks Rochester’s not a typical master. • Her Christian values shine through. “I was thinking, sir, that very few masters would trouble themselves to inquire whether or not their paid subordinates were piqued and hurt by their orders.” “Dread remorse when you are tempted to err, Miss Eyre: remorse is the poison of life.” “Repentance is said to be its cure, sir.” “The human and fallible should not arrogate a power with which the divine and perfect alone can be safely intrusted.” “What power?” “That of saying of any strange, unsanctioned line of action, ‘Let it be right.’” so artificial as just now. I keep it rather on the Roman Catholic principle of expiating numerous sins, great or small, by one good work. I'll explain some day. Good-night.”

Jane & Rochester • Rochester is reliant on her in times of panic, and Jane is eager to come. “I want you,” he said: “come this way: take your time, and make no noise.” “I want you,” he said: “come this way: take your time, and make no noise.” “Just give me your hand,” he said; “it will not do to risk a fainting-fit.” I put my fingers into his. “Warm and steady,” was his remark.

Jane & Rochester • Here there is some religious imagery. The ideas of what she is tasked to do is parallel to the Bible scene portrayed on the tapestry. • There is also the idea of servitude I must keep to my post, however. I must watch this ghastly countenance--these blue, still lips forbidden to unclose--these eyes now shut, now opening, now wandering through the room, now fixing on me, and ever glazed with the dulness of horror. I must dip my hand again and again in the basin of blood and water, and wipe away the trickling gore. I must see the light of the unsnuffed candle wane on my employment; the shadows darken on the wrought, antique tapestry round me, and grow black under the hangings of the vast old bed, and quiver strangely over the doors of a great cabinet opposite--whose front, divided into twelve panels, bore, in grim design, the heads of the twelve apostles, each enclosed in its separate panel as in a frame; while above them at the top rose an ebon crucifix and a dying Christ." Amidst all this, I had to listen as well as watch: listen for the movements of the wild beast or the fiend in yonder side den. But since Mr. Rochester's visit it seemed spellbound; all the night I heard but three sounds at three long intervals—a step creak, a momentary renewal of the snarling, canine noise, and a deep human groan.

Jane & Rochester “Jane, will you have a flower?” He gathered a half-blown rose, the first on the bush, and offered it to me. “Do you like this sunrise, Jane? That sky, with its high and light clouds, which are sure to melt away as the day waxes warm—this placid and balmly atmosphere?” • Acts of romantic interest, searching for Jane’s approval. • Protective of Jane, and when Jane worries for his safety he claims he can take care of himself. • Foreshadowing the problem at the wedding. “I was afraid of some one coming out of the inner room.” “But I had fastened the door—I had the key in my pocket: I should have been a careless shepherd if I had left a lamb—my pet lamb—so near a wolf's den, unguarded: you were safe.” “Oh, no! Mason will not defy me; nor, knowing it, will he hurt me—but, unintentionally, he might in a moment, by one careless word, deprive me, if not of life, yet forever of happiness.”

Jane & Rochester You are my little friend, are you not?” “I like to serve you, sir, and to obey you in all that is right.” “If you have no more to fear from Mr. Mason than you have from me, sir, you are very safe.” • He wants to show her affection. • Extreme foreshadowing in which he is essentially asking if it is wrong for him to marry her.. “Sit,” he said; “the bench is long enough for two. You don't hesitate to take a place at my side, do you? Is that wrong, Jane?” If you accidently committed an offense in your youth that prevents you from being happy, “are you justified in overleaping an obstacle of custom—a mere conventional impediment, which neither your conscience sanctifies nor your judgment approves?” “Sir,” I answered, “a wanderer's repose or a sinner's reformation should never depend on a fellow-creature. Men and women die; philosophers falter in wisdom, and Christians in goodness: if any one you know has suffered and erred, let him look higher than his equals for strength to amend, and solace to heal.”

Jane & Rochester • He sees her as his companion, and she’s become very important to him. She has grown to be more than just a servant. “Shake hands in confirmation of the word. What cold fingers! They were warmer last night when I touched them at the door of the mysterious chamber. Jane, when will you watch with me again?” “Whenever I can be useful, sir.” “For instance, the night before I am married! I am sure I shall not be able to sleep. Will you promise to sit up with me to bear me company? To you I can talk of my lovely one: for now you have seen her and know her.”

Jane & Rochester • Jane is constantly struggling to choose between having her own independence or submitting to her love for Rochester. • The portraits of herself and Blanche Ingram are an example of Jane trying to give up her love. • The conversation between the Gypsy Rochester and Jane highlight this struggle as well. • "If you knew it, you are peculiarly situated: very near happiness; yes, within reach of it. The materials are all prepared; there only wants a movement to combine them. Chance laid them somewhat apart; let them be once approached and bliss results." • “I have told you, reader, that I had learnt to love Mr. Rochester: I could not unlove him now, merely because I found that he had ceased to notice me.” JANE vs. BLANCHE

By: Amy ! Anna ! Maude! & Spencer!