Jane Eyre Ch. 27-38 Questions

1. Like Mrs. Fairfax, audiences often wonder why Rochester loves Jane. Give examples. Or if you don't think he truly loves her, give examples (remember his "jealousy" method").

• I do think that Mr. Rochester truly loves Jane. Mrs. Faifax begins this question in chapter 24 when she says, "Equality of position and fortune is often advisable in some cases: and there are twenty years of distance in your ages." From her point of view and many readers, she believes like most people at this time, that marriage between two people should match up in their rank in society and amount of wealth. People of higher status did not usually marry "lower" than their own status. The age difference is also a big issue to Mrs. Fairfax and audiences. Since Mr. Rochester is almost old enough to be Jane's father it does seem awkward in today's present times. However, I do think that Mr. Rochester and Jane do truly love each other. They are able to understand each other and connect on a personal level. Jane is also not just interested in Mr. Rochester for his wealth, he could probably be dirt poor and it would not matter to Jane. When Jane discovers Mr. Rochester's hidden wife he is very distressed by her reactions to him afterwards. He wants to touch her, kiss, her, and love her again but she cannot be compelled to do that because of moral obligations. He becomes angry and wants her to forgive him and marry him again but it is of no use. We discover later in the book that after Jane leaves Mr. Rochester is a mess. In chapter 35, the innkeeper said that "Mr. Rochester sought her as if she had been the most precious thing he had in the world, he could never hear a word of her; and he grew quite savage." I think that this is a good description that proves that Mr. Rochester did love Jane. He became extremely distressed after she had left him and these aren't characteristics of a man who really did love someone. 

2. "St. John Rivers - pure-lived, conscientious, zealous as he was - had not yet found that peace of God which passeth all understanding..." What are your thoughts on this?

• I agree with this statement. Although St. John Rivers is called a good man many times, he had a few dark characteristics. He was very rigid and tried not to show any emotion at all. He rejected his love for Rosamond Oliver because she was not "missionary worthy." He only wanted to marry Jane because she was hard working and told her that she was not made for love but for labor. St. John is very forceful in his convictions and we see that in his behavior after Jane rejects his marriage proposal. He becomes very harsh and distant, essentially throwing a fit because she won't come with him to India. He claims that God is calling her to become a missionary and marry him and to reject him is to reject God. This is very unbiblical and not right at all. I think that if he had truly found the peace of God he would learn to be understanding and not forceful. He would be loving like how Jesus loved all people and forgave them. The Gospel is not about forcing it on people but showing them love and kindness like how Jesus was when He came. Jesus did get angry at times but it was a righteous anger, a justified anger. It would have done St. John well to find this true peace of God and become understanding and loving of others even when they do things against what he would prefer.

Jane Eyre - Vocab Chapters 31-38

Ebullition:

• -noun

1. a seething or overflowing, as of passion or feeling; outburst
2. the act or process of boiling up
3. a rushing forth of lava, water, etc., in a state of agitation

Coadjutor:

• -noun

1. an assistant
2. an assistant to a bishop or other ecclesiastic
3. a bishop who assists another bishop, with the right of succession

Superfluity:

• -noun

1. a superabundant or excessive amount
2. excessive
3. unnecessary or needless

Veneration:

• -noun

1. to regard or treat with reverence; revere

Diffidence

• -noun

1. lacking confidence in one's own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy
2. restrained or reserved in manner, conduct, etc.

Jane Eyre Ch. 17-26 Questions

1. Jane is wondering about Rochester and Blanche's reasons for marriage. Is Rochester marrying for "interest and connections"? Were they "...acting in conformity to ideas and principles instilled in them, doubtless, from their childhood"? See page 216 for the context. Why will you marry? If you want to be married, why?

• It did seem like Rochester was marrying for "interest and connections." This was not an uncommon thing to do at this time in history. Marriages were made in order to create peace between families or tie the wealth of two families together. Oftentimes marriage was not founded solely upon love. I think that they were "acting in conformity to ideas and principles instilled in them, doubtless, from their childhood." In a society such as this they were probably both taught that marriage is not just about love but about status as well. The goal is to marry "up" or at least to someone who can compliment with beauty and some wealth. The type of society Rochester and Blanche are from is one focused on materialistic things and getting more of those materialistic things. I do want to get married one day, not any time soon though. I want to be married so that I can have children and create a family. God tells us to subdue and multiply the earth and I hope that one day I can have children of my own and teach them right truths. I also would like to marry someone that will be a loving husband and one that lives a Godly life and can really be that head of the household. 

2. Rochester says the following about Jane on page 232-33, "I can live alone, if self-respect and circumstances require me so to do. I need not sell my soul to buy bliss, I have an inward treasure born with me, which can keep me alive if all extraneous delights should be withheld; or offered only at a price afford to give." Can this be said about you? Why or why not?

• I think this can be said about me. If something happened and I was required to live alone then I would like to think that I could be able to do so. I think it is foolish for someone to sell their soul for happiness. If all happiness is taken away from me I know that there is a plan for my life and I just need to pray and wait to see what that plan is. Happiness does not come from people or from material things. Happiness comes from doing what God calls us to do and living for Him every day. 

Jane Eyre - Vocab Chapters 29-30

Emaciated:

• -adj.

1. abnormal thinness caused by lack of nutrition or by disease

Pallid:

• -adj.

1. pale; faint or deficient in color; wan
2. lacking in vitality or interest

Quiescent:

• -adj.

1. being at rest; quiet; still; inactive or motionless

Remuneration:

• -noun

1. to pay, recompense, or reward for work, trouble, etc

Elysium:

• -noun

1. any similarly conceived abode or state of the dead
2. any place or state of perfect happiness; paradise
3. the abode of the death after death

Morass:

• -noun

1. a tract of low, soft, wet ground
2. a marsh or bog
3. marshy ground
4. any confusing or troubling situation, especially one from which it is difficult to free oneself; entaglement

Jane Eyre - Vocab Chapters 27-28

Inanition:

• -noun

1. exhaustion from lack of nourishment; starvation
2. lack of vigor; lethargy

Expostulate:

• -verb

1. to reason earnestly with someone against something that person intends to do or has done; remonstrate

Impetus:

• -noun

1. a moving force; impulse; stimulus
2. the momentum of a moving body, especially with reference to the cause of motin

Avaricious:

• -adj.

1. greedy; covetous

Eschew:

• -verb

1. to abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid

Remonstrance:

• -noun

1. a protest

Odious:

• -adj.

1. deserving or causing hatred; hateful; detestable
2. highly offensive; repugnant; disgusting

Jane Eyre - Vocab Chapters 25-26

Impediment:

• -noun

1. obstruction; hindrance; obstacle
2. any physical defect that impedes normal or easy speech; a speech disorder

Jane Eyre - Vocab Chapters 23-24

Vicinage:

• -noun

1. the region near or about a place; vicinity
2. a particular neighborhood or district, or the people belonging to it
3. proximity

Acumen:

• -noun

1. keen insight; shrewdness

Automaton:

• -noun

1. a mechanical figure or contrivance constructed to act as if by its own motive power; robot
2. a person or animal that acts in a monotonous, routine manner, without active intelligence
3. something capable of acting automatically or without an external motive force

Talisman:

• -noun

1. a stone, ring, or other object, engraved with figures or characters supposed to possess occult powers and worn as an amulet or charm
2. any amulet or charm
3. anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings or actions

Jane Eyre Ch. 13-20 Questions

1. Do you think people "...envy...peace of mind...clean conscience...unpolluted memory"? (See page 154 for full context.)

•  Yes, I do think that people envy peace of mind, clean conscience, and unpolluted memory. What you have done or seen cannot be undone. Some people become very focused on things of their past; what they could have done and where they could be. I'm sure everyone regrets at least one thing that they've done in their life. Some people spend so much time thinking about things of the past or worrying about things to come that they never have a peace of mind. They are never satisfied with their situation in life. There are also those people who have done very regrettable things in their past and have not come to terms with them. These people do not have a clean conscience and that bothers them yet they don't want to confess. Others have an unpolluted memory because they may have experienced something or saw something being done. It is very easy to envy these three things but it is important to know that what is in the past cannot be changed but how we act in the future can be. Mistakes that happened in the past were for a reason; to teach us and others how to act in the future.

2. Do you agree with the following: "...error brought remorse, and ...remorse the poison of existence" (156)? Why or why not? Give examples.

• I agree that error brings on remorse but I don't think that remorse is the poison for existence. I think that it's how you choose to act to that remorse that will either make it "the poison of existence" or something to learn from. Everyone has done something remorseful in their lives but it is up to them whether they are going to focus on that or use it as a learning experience. There are times where I've made big mistakes and my initial reaction is to keep thinking about it and how I should have handled the situation. However there is nothing I can do to fix it since it's in the past, the only thing I can do is learn from it so that it won't happen in the future. If I just kept thinking about it and letting it sit there in the back of my mind I wouldn't get anywhere and I wouldn't improve anything. Remorse does come with error but it doesn't always have to be "the poison of existence."