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Friday, October 21, 2016

Jane Eyre Read-Along: Chapter 33

A few chapters ago, I mentioned that the tendency for books of this era to rely on coincidence and convenience can be hard to accept.  We've come to the huge coincidence:  Jane just happened to land on the doorstep of her only living relatives in all of England.What're the odds?  Pretty slim, I would think.

However, I love this book anyway  You couldn't write it today without people calling you far-fetched, so I guess we can all be glad it was written when it was!

Don't you love how, when St. John tells Jane that she's being sought by a lawyer, she doesn't care a smidge why he's looking for her -- she only wants to know how Mr. Rochester is.  That is her single-minded inquiry, again and again until she is sure St. John can't tell her anything.  And, when St. John piously declares Rochester to be "a bad man" (p. 442), she insists on defending him.  Oh, steadfast Jane.

And I also love her generous nature.  She doesn't want to be an heiress anymore, with money to attract a Rochester.  She wants a family, and if she can buy one by sharing her fortune, she will consider the money well spent.


Favorite Lines:

"As you hope ever to be forgiven, Mr. Rivers, the high crime and misdemeanor of spoiling a sanded kitchen, tell me what I wish to know" (p. 445).

This was wealth indeed! -- wealth to the heart! -- a mine of pure, genial affections (p. 446).


Possible Discussion Questions:

Jane says "I don't want to marry, and never shall marry... I know I what I feel, and how averse are my inclinations to the bare thought of marriage" (p. 449).  If events had not transpired the way they do, do you think she would ever have married someone else?  Or would she have stuck to this and remained single?
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5 comments:

  1. NatalieOct 21, 2016, 12:55:00 PM

    I too love how steadfast Jane is and how she defends him against St. John. I just want to shake him and say, "You don't understaaaaaand!" when he starts criticizing Mr. Rochester. I love her response of: "You don't know him—don't pronounce an opinion on him."

    I believe Jane would have stuck to her resolution of never marrying.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hamlette (Rachel)Oct 21, 2016, 8:10:00 PM

      Yes. He doesn't understaaaaaaaand. Silly, judgey St. John.

      I think so too.

      Delete
  2. *ೃ༄ JillianOct 23, 2016, 6:12:00 PM

    I NOTICE YOU ARE READING THE BLYTHES ARE QUOTED. SO AM I!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hamlette (Rachel)Oct 25, 2016, 1:11:00 PM

      Hey, Jillian -- that's awesome! Have you read it before? It's entirely new to me. I'm going a bit slowly because I have to set it aside now and then to read things I'm teaching to my 9th grade niece, but I've been pretty fascinated by it so far. Especially since I didn't even know it existed until like a year ago.

      Anyway, I look forward to comparing reactions to it with you!

      Delete
    2. *ೃ༄ JillianOct 26, 2016, 3:36:00 PM

      No, I haven't read it before! I'm really curious to see how we both react! :D

      Delete

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