How Is Rochester Presented In Jane Eyre

In Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, Edward Rochester, Jane’s love interest, has a distinct sense of self. Although he understands society’s expectations of him to act like a man of his social class and to find a suitable wife, Rochester does not completely conform to these ideas. Throughout the novel, he entertains guests and hints towards a courtship with Blanche Ingram, both of which his class would approve of. However, he develops a connection with Jane, his ward’s governess, and eventually falls in love with her. Though Mr. Rochester is aware of society’s expectations of him as a wealthy man, he forgoes such beliefs in a pursuit of happiness with Jane.
Mr. Rochester’s interactions with Jane were peculiar. Along with being inappropriate for
After opening Rochester’s gift, she says thank you just like her mother used to, to which Rochester replies, “’Pre-cise-ly!’ was the answer; ‘and, ‘comme cela,’ she charmed my English gold out of my British breeches pocket.’” (143) He then feels the need to address Jane: “’I have been green, too, Miss Eyre, --ay, grass green: not a more vernal tint freshens you now than once freshened me. My spring is gone, however: but it has left me that French floweret on my hands; which in some moods, I would fain be rid of’” (143). This is another example of the inappropriateness Mr. Rochester often expresses when in Jane’s vicinity. Speaking of one’s former affairs to a female employee was surely not a social norm in the Victorian era. When Rochester tells Jane in extent of his relation to Adele and his relationship with Adele’s mother, the two are taking a walk in the gardens at Thornfield. Not only is it extremely scandalous for a Victorian man to be telling a woman of such an event, but Jane’s age is also a contributing factor to the political incorrectness. Jane, who is easily a decade of two younger than Rochester, is an inexperienced eighteen year old at the time of the event. Rochester, however, ignores what society dictates as appropriate, as he feels comfortable when talking to Jane. On their walk, he tells her
After giving Jane visual evidence of this secret, Rochester again goes against society by admitting that he was going to marry Jane for love and happiness because he cannot possibly find it with Bertha. He exclaims, “’That is my wife, … 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 … 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’” (296). Rochester feels he is justified to having such feelings for Jane because he was manipulated into marrying Bertha without knowing her ailments. He declares that Bertha’s sickness is not what makes him feel the way he does about Jane. In fact, he tells Jane that if it were her in Bertha’s position, he would not allow anyone to care for her except for him. He explains this to her when he