Again, Rochester hopes that his relationship with Jane will bring innocence and freshness back into his life. Not only does the Rochester's past reveal his growing faith in Jane, it also shows the Byronic side of his nature.
Rochester is not afraid to flout social conventions. This is also apparent in his developing relationship with Jane; rather than maintaining the proper class boundaries, Rochester makes Jane feel "as if he were my relation rather than my master. Jane's comment implies that the English, unlike their French neighbors, are deep, rather than superficial, spiritual rather than materialistic.
Not only does the novel question class and gender roles, but it also develops a specific ideal of Britishness. Jane provides a prototype of the proper English woman, who is frank, sincere, and lacking in personal vanity. Rochester is intrigued by the honesty of Jane's conversation and the spirituality of her drawings, which clearly contrast with the values of the women with whom he has previously consorted. Honestly admitting that his life hasn't been admirable, Rochester is now looking for happiness, for "sweet, fresh pleasure.
The end of Chapter 15 takes a strange, almost supernatural turn. Rochester's sexual indiscretions have become literalized in the vision of his burning bed, an excess that Jane douses. The scene foreshadows Jane's role in channeling Rochester's sexual profligacy into a properly domestic, reproductive passion.
Jane's final dream also foreshadows the direction of her relationship with Rochester: She is "tossed on a buoyant but unquiet sea, where billows of trouble rolled under surges of joy. Recognizing her growing love for Rochester, Jane's unconscious warns her that their relationship will be a rocky one.
Rather than letting herself be blown around by the chaos of passion and delirium, she should maintain her sense and judgment. In this novel, the bounds of reality continually expand, so that dreams and visions have as much validity as reason. Tiens-toi tranquille, enfant; comprends-tu? Be quiet, child; do you understand? Il faut que je l'essaie! I must try it on! Est-ce que ma robe. Do you like my dress? Watch, I'm going to dance! Monsieur, je vous. Sir, I thank you a million times for your generosity.
After having a vision of Rochester, Jane returns to Thornfield to discover that Bertha has burned the mansion down, leaving Rochester blind and disfigured. With Bertha dead, Jane agrees to marry Rochester. At the wedding, a man interrupts the service, saying Rochester is already married. Rochester admits it and takes the wedding party to the attic.
His wife is a Creole, Bertha Mason, who went mad immediately after their wedding fifteen years before. At first she finds him rather impolite and cold-hearted, but soon they become kindred souls. Rochester, through cross dressing as a gypsy, to reach a level of intimacy with Jane that would otherwise be impossible due to the changes in gender dynamics and social class as well as 19th century views towards gypsies.
Nevertheless, Rochester agrees to take responsibility for the girl regardless of her parentage. Jane suddenly feels faint, and Rochester carries her to the library to revive her. He then offers her a new proposal—to leave England with him for the South of France, where they will live together as husband and wife.
0コメント