Student Question
Is Jane and Mr. Rochester's relationship in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre plausible?
Quick answer:
Jane and Mr. Rochester's relationship is initially based on intellectual equality, which was unconventional for the time, as wealthy men typically did not marry their employees. The relationship's plausibility is challenged by Mr. Rochester's manipulation and secrets, notably his hidden marriage. Jane's departure upon discovering the truth is logical, but the story resolves through a Gothic twist: Rochester's punishment and the death of his wife allow for their reunion on more equal terms, making the relationship plausible post-reconciliation.
Jane and Mr. Rochester's relationship is based on intelligent equality at first. Mr. Rochester is intrigued with Jane's honesty to his questions which prompts him to inquire more into the way she thinks rather than merely judging her physical features or social status. Generally, for that time period, rich men did not marry their employees; so, for that fact alone, their relationship would not have been taken seriously at the time. Because of that fact, however, the implausible becomes a romantic notion to be explored by the author and discovered by the reader. The phrase "opposites attract" seems to fall into place as both Jane and Mr. Rochester discover intriguing details about one another's life. The details seem to be unequal, though, because Mr. Rochester has more experience and more secrets about his life than Jane has. This makes it easy for Mr. Rochester to manipulate a young girl by trying to make her jealous and keeping a deep, dark secret from her. No true relationship can stand on lies or manipulation. Jane's story could have ended with her leaving Mr. Rochester once the secret of his marriage is revealed and she leaves him. That scenario is the most logical end for Jane and Edward. Of course, a Gothic romance novel cannot end logically! So a horrible accident has to take care of Mr. Rochester's deep secret and punish him for his misdeeds. Through these means justice is satisfied and Jane is able to be reunited with him in a higher standing than when she was with him before. In the end, Jane has the power over the relationship because she did none of the lying and she graciously accepts him back after the death of his wife. The wife's death and Rochester's physical and emotional punishment had to exist in order for Jane to be able to return to him in an honest and forthright way. Summarily, the relationship would not have worked had the secrets of Rochester's wife and the lies he used to manipulate her remained. Once the lies were purged, then the relationship could grow and be maintained in a healthy way.
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