Reading journal - Jane Eyre (17-21)

In this section, especially in Chapter 17, it has become clearly that we will be reading about the relationship between Jane and Rochester soon. The narrative focuses on them and what is between them, and the plots of Blanche and Bertha add tension. Throughout the guests are visiting Thornfield, Jane becomes convinced that Mr. Rochester will be marring Blanche soon. But more than the romantic plot, Jane’s status, in comparison to Rochester’s or Blanche’s, is really stressed. We can look at Jane as a governess who is not seen as an ‘equal’ to people like Mr. Rochester. Chapter 17, when Jane is forced to sit in the room during Rochester’s party, may be seen as a manifestation of uncomfortable position of a governess. Jane experiences is called ‘incubi’ by Blanche and her mother when they discuss the nature of governess.
The romantic plot in being introduced at this stage of story. Especially when Mr. Rochester nearly calls Jane ‘my love’. Probably it is the key-thing to presume how the story will develop. But we notice two obstacles on the way to Jane and Rochester’s relationship – Blanche and the plot of Bertha which can be seen as a dark, gothic one. In this plot Rochester struggles with his own past, with the fact of being married and with the way in which he treats his wife. However, the point may not be whether or not he loves Jane but whether or not he is able to act against his feelings. Bertha may be seen as a symbol of dangerous, dark secrets. This gothic plot suggest that we will be reading about one’s death or madness rather than about Jane’s or whoever’s wedding.
When Mr. Rochester allows Jane to see Mr. Masons wounds, this may be seen as a moment in which he allows her to go into his life and secrets. And when he tells the story about his life, it suggests that it is a great risk for Jane to fall in love and build a relationship with him. However, she is still not aware of all those things and has only some puzzles of the picture: Mr. Mason’s unexplained wounds, like the earlier mysterious fire in Rochester’s bedroom, strange story of ‘youth error’.

Reading journal - Jane Eyre (11-16)

In these chapters we are in the third period of Jane’s life. She arrives to Thornfield to be a governess. This type of development, presenting characters’s growth and evaluation through several phases of life, in several places, we can recognise as a Bildungsroman. It is very well-known German literary genre from the seventeenth century, which occurs in English literature in the middle of the nineteenth century as well.
Many people highlight the feministic sound of Jane Eyre but in my opinion social equality issues are much more stressed. Jane may be better educated, may fit in an aristocratic society better than many of the ‘rich and above the others’. But still, she is penniless governess who is in many ways treated as a servant. In this case, her life gets complicated as soon as she realised she has feelings to Mr Rochester. Even though she can experience a partial social equality, because she is a governess, she is treated as a servant as well. It is not well-seen for servant to have feelings to that kind of man. Again, we can feel her emotions and appreciate contemporary social situation – today it is not good or bad if a waitress gets marry with a millionaire, it is totally up to them. Jane has not as many luck to enjoy and share her feelings. But who can stop the heart feeling? Finally I have the straight answer. Nobody can.