But, he promises them all, Jane is completely ignorant of Berthas existence. This may be seen as a last desperate reach for control over her own life, which has only been controlled by others, such as her family, the Rochesters, and Grace Poole. for a group? From the start of the novel, Jane struggles to find people she can connect with emotionally. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Free trial is available to new customers only. That her mother was in an insane asylum and Bertha inherited the insanity. Her observations reveal her deep concern for and strong connection to Mr. Rochester. He really just goes on about her. Jane describes her laugh as demoniac and she is referred to as a hyena or Tigress. The turning of Bertha from human into strange wild animal highlights the loss of Berthas humanity in the other characters eyes. Rochester's mother died when he was young; he feels so guilty that he had to marry a woman older than his father. Why did Mr. Rochester marry Bertha Mason? Inside the hidden room is Bertha Mason, under the care of Grace Poole. Despite never being alone with her, and supposedly having had scarcely any interaction or conversation with her, he married her for her wealth and beauty, and with fierce encouragement from his own father and the Mason family. Dont have an account? Jane lets this principle guide her as she insists that the fortune be divided up evenly among her cousins, her goal being to offer them the same kind of independence that she aspires to. Charlotte Bront and Jane Eyre Background. Jane marries Rochester because she views him as her emotional home. Cline claims Adle is his daughter, but the truth of his paternity remains ambiguous. Jane knocks on the door, but Hannah refuses to let her in. Rochester suggests that Bertha's father wanted her to marry him, because he was of "good race", implying that she was not pure white, while he was. When she later leaves Rochester after discovering the truth about Bertha, Jane emphasizes that she is not leaving him to wretchedness, but rather that she hopes he trusts in God and lives blamelessly. It is not seen as problematic for Bertha to be taken and then isolated for her mental health issues. Englands legacy of colonialism appears in a number of ways throughout the course of the novel and emphasizes the theme of exploitation. The fire evokes hell and punishment, but Rochesters survival suggests rebirth and reformation. Want 100 or more? Rochester claims to have imprisoned her because she is mad, but it is easy to imagine an opposite relation of cause and effect, in which years of enforced imprisonment and isolation have made her violently insane or, at least, increased her insanity. If read as feminist commentary, Berthas entrapment and actions can reflect societys general treatment of women in the Victorian era. His references to atonement, expiation, and Gods tribunal hint at a crime, and Mr. Rochesters choice of words foreshadows his dark secret. Ace your assignments with our guide to Jane Eyre! eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Please wait while we process your payment. Upon leaving college, Rochester was persuaded by his father to visit the Mason family and court Bertha. According to the book, Antoinette's insanity and drunkenness are the result of Rochester's misguided belief that madness is in her blood and that she was part of the scheme to have him married blindly. Contact us Bertha Mason Rochester discloses the identity of the woman locked in the attic of his Thornfield Hall as his wife after a thwarted attempt to marry Jane Eyre. Discount, Discount Code She is described as being of Creole heritage on her mother's side. Following it, she comes to a house. Bertha is purposely hidden away so that Mr. Rochesters name and status arent sullied. Bertha lives in the attic for several years, and when Jane comes along, Bertha begins acting out. And, as a final reference to her newly established power, Bertha is framed by the flames of her creation. Why is Bertha Mason locked in the attic at Thornfield Hall? And yet, as we know how the story goes, there was never any true love between Miss Ingram and Mr. Rochester. (He later admits to Jane that he once thought he loved Bertha). What are the names of the servants who care for Mr Rochester at Bertha Mason is the only daughter of a very wealthy family living in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Grace Poole. To her, giving the gift of agency and possibility to others is worth more than a fortune. From the start of the novel, Jane struggles to find people she can connect with emotionally. Wed love to have you back! Rochester's marriage to Bertha eventually stands in the way of his marrying Jane Eyre, who is unaware of Bertha's existence and whom he truly loves. Why does the novels title page introduce the work as An Autobiography? Is Jane Eyre considered a feminist novel? Why did Mr Rochester marry Bertha Mason? (one code per order). Mrs. Mason marries Rochester to force him to stop drinking to him take her at this point to his own bed. April 30, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 (one code per order). Jane reminisces on unknowingly meeting Mr. Rochester for the first time. Rochester's marriage to Bertha eventually stands in the way of his marrying Jane Eyre, who is unaware of Bertha's existence and whom he truly loves. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Why does the novels title page introduce the work as An Autobiography? The fire kills Pierre, Antoinette's younger brother, and drives her mother's mental state over the brink. Why does Jane decline St. John Rivers marriage proposal? Jane leaves Thornfield Hall so she can avoid the temptation of becoming Rochesters mistress. She is the madwoman in the attic, reduced to unimportance and placed far away from others. Let me try to wait His will in silence. A voice answers, All men must die, but all are not condemned to meet a lingering and premature doom, such as yours would be if you perished here of want. The voice belongs to St. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Answer: Dissolution of marriage was not as easy then as it is today. As a young girl, she struggles to fit in with the other children in her household, and as she grows up, she continues to yearn for independence from traditional ideas of Victorian womanhood. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Another interpretation is that Rochester's marriage to Bertha represents the British Empire's cultural and economic exploitation of its colonial subjects. Subscribe now. Her rejection of St. John also demonstrates her valuing of herself in that she understands herself to be a naturally passionate person who could not live in a loveless marriage. | For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Purchasing Although she fears the possibility of dying in India as a missionary, her greater fear is the loveless life guaranteed by marriage to St. John. date the date you are citing the material. Rochester suggests that Bertha's parents wanted her to marry him, because he was of "good race", implying that she was not pure white, while he was. Why did Jane leave Rochester? - KnowledgeBurrow.com Jane Eyre Volume 2, Chapter 11 | Shmoop Similarly, Thornfield could be seen as British Society at Large, but Thornfield is more than just an allegory. Why does Rochester dress up as a fortune teller? What is Mason's connection to Rochester? Why does Jane fall in love with Rochester? These outlooks give Jane the opportunity to view her past life with the Reeds in a new way, and they will influence how she continues to view the world moving forward. Renews May 8, 2023 You can view our. Why did Rochester marry Bertha? The Socratic Method Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. for a customized plan. Jane notes a pair of strangers reading the headstones in the churchyard cemetery. He was always disappointed with his mistresses, because they were, as he puts it, the next worse thing to buying a slave. Then he met Jane. When Bertha sets fire to Mr. Rochesters bed, shes taking revenge for her maltreatment.