Passage:
"Mr. Rochester flung me behind him: the lunatic sprang and grappled his throat viciously, and laid her teeth to his cheek: they struggled. She was a big woman, in stature almost equalling her husband, and corpulent besides: she showed virile force in the contest—more than once she almost throttled him, athletic as he was. He could have settled her with a well-planted blow; but he would not strike: he would only wrestle. At last he mastered her arms; Grace Poole gave him a cord, and he pinioned them behind her: with more rope, which was at hand, he bound her to a chair. The operation was performed amidst the fiercest yells and the most convulsive plunges. Mr. Rochester then turned to the spectators: he looked at them with a smile both acrid and desolate. 'That is my wife,' said he. 'Such is the sole conjugal embrace I am ever to know—such are the endearments which are to solace my leisure hours! And this is what I wished to have”'(laying his hand on my shoulder): 'this young girl, who stands so grave and quiet at the mouth of hell, looking collectedly at the gambols of a demon, I wanted her just as a change after that fierce ragout. Wood and Briggs, look at the difference! Compare these clear eyes with the red balls yonder—this face with that mask—this form with that bulk; then judge me, priest of the gospel and man of the law, and remember with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged! Off with you now. I must shut up my prize.'" (Bronte 275)
This passage really characterizes Rochester and Bertha as well as Jane. The descriptions of Bertha show the vast differences between her and Jane and also show how Mr. Rochester views her. Neither Jane nor Rochester refer to Bertha by name and their descriptions of her suggest that neither of them view her as being fully human.
Mr. Rochester throws Jane behind him, protecting her from Bertha, symbolizing the way he has tried to protect Jane from her the entire novel. Bertha attacks him and almost overtakes him, the way she almost succeeded in ruining Jane and Rochester's relationship. Bertha is wild and untamed. She is unlike Jane in every possible way, but she is almost like a part of Jane. Bertha is the wild part of Jane's temper that has to die in order for her to marry Mr. Rochester.
It also says a lot about Rochester's character that even while she is attacking him "he would not strike". This shows that even though Rochester has locked her up and hidden her away, he would not stoop to her level and attack her. This reflects the way that he would not hurt Jane for leaving him. He ties Bertha down to a chair, literally confining her the way he always has.
Rochester views Jane and Bertha as complete opposites, but in reality, they do have some striking similarities. Bertha is literally trapped in Thornfield Hall and Jane feels figuratively trapped there. They both live as women in a clearly male dominated culture where they don't have a lot of options. Both women are oppressed by the people around them. When Jane is living with Mrs. Reed and at Lowood, she is severely oppressed. Jane rebels against this oppression because she believes she is being mistreated. Bertha also rebels against her oppression. She is described as a wild, savage animal, which relates to the way Jane was described before she was taken to the Red Room in chapter one.
Bertha acts as a dark doppelganger for Jane. She is a manifestation of Jane's inner feelings and her rage against her oppressive culture. Bertha expresses the feelings Jane must hide. Whenever Jane is upset, she never manifests her fear or anger, Bertha does. Bertha attacks Rochester after Jane is upset about Rochester's many mistresses. Bertha rips Jane's bridal veil when Jane is nervous about her wedding. Bertha literally stops Jane and Rochester from being married and it is only her death that allows them to be together. This symbolizes how the fiery, passionate part of Jane must die in order for her to marry Mr. Rochester.
This passage characterizes Rochester, Jane, and Bertha. It shows how Rochester wants to protect Jane and how he would never actually strike Bertha despite everything that has happened. The passage contrasts Jane and Bertha in every possible way, but it becomes apparent that Bertha is a dark doppelganger for Jane.
There are a lot of really interesting ideas here, many of which I never even considered at first. I do think they could stand to be connected a bit more, but as it is, this is a great glimpse into three of the most fascinating characters in the book.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really great analysis of the book. I had wondered how Jane's character had changed so much from her rebellious childhood, but I had never connected it to Bertha. I had previously considered Bertha and Jane opposites, but now that you make the connection, I completely rethought my image of Bertha. Really well done.
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