Jane Eyre Byronic Hero Analysis

What are the qualities of a Byronic hero? This character type, named after Lord Byron, is not similar to the archetypical hero of many stories. These characters display qualities such as intelligence, cunning, and violence. Byronic heroes do not act like normal heroes in the sense that they scorn typical heroic behavior and are not perfect. Mr. Rochester, from the novel Jane Eyre, is an example of a Byronic Hero. In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontё characterizes Mr. Rochester as a Byronic Hero by portraying him as self aware, emotionally traumatized, concerned with matters of justice over matters of legality, and manipulative. Throughout the novel, Mr. Rochester is shown to be aware of his condition and state of affairs. He does not deny anything that he has done. After it is found out that he already has a wife, Rochester wholly accepts the truth as he says, “Providence has checked me, ―perhaps the last. I am little better than a devil at this moment; … , deserve no doubt the sternest judgments of God, ―even to the quenchless fire and deathless worm” (Ch. 26, 556). Rochester understands that he is wrong and can distinguish this on
his own. Mr. Rochester is even aware of his appearance, as when speaking to Jane he says, “I have plenty of faults of my own: I know it, and I don’t wish to palliate them, I assure you. God wot I need not be too severe about others; I have a past existence, a series of deeds, a colour of life to contemplate within my own breast” (Ch. 14 256). Through this quote, Brontë shows how Rochester acknowledges the fact that he is not like other people in both appearance and action; he is the complete opposite of most others in society and he is aware. The situation of Mr. Rochester throughout the novel can be attributed to his past experiences. Rochester felt neglected by his family, especially his father. Due to his father, Mr. Rochester is the way he is now: miserable. His father “could not bear the idea of dividing his estate and leaving me [Rochester] a fair portion: all, he resolved, should go to my brother, Rowland. … I must be provided for by a wealthy marriage” (Ch. 27, 581). Due to the outright neglect of his father, Rochester is scarred. Even though he inherits all the money in the end, Rochester is still miserable. Brontë characterizes him to be influenced by this trauma, which leads him to a violent and aggressive lifestyle. However this is not the only trauma Rochester combats in the novel. After Jane’s departure from Thornfield, Rochester is grief-stricken: “I always woke and found it an empty mockery; and I was desolate and abandoned—my life dark, lonely, hopeless—my soul athirst and forbidden to drink—my heart famished and never to be fed” (Ch. 37, 833). Unlike a typical hero, the Byronic hero Rochester does not lead a perfect life. Charlotte Bronte displays Rochester’s traumatic past to characterize him as a Byronic hero, as he is far from perfect. Another trait of a Byronic hero that Mr.
Rochester shows is his concern with matters of justice over matters of legality. Mr. Rochester feels that the law is restrictive and unfair to him. It does not allow him to be happy, as he is unable to marry Jane: “I invite you all to come up to the house and visit … my wife! You shall see what sort of a being I was cheated into espousing, and judge whether or not I had a right to break the compact, and seek sympathy with something at least human” (Ch. 26, 557). Rochester acknowledges his wrong doings in accordance to the law and justifies them by complaining about his miserable life. If not stopped he would have continued with the ceremony and broken the law. In all, Brontë characterizes Rochester as being concerned with justice instead of the law, as he puts what he believes to be correct
first. Mr. Rochester is also observed as being manipulative. He knows how to get what he wants and will do what is needed to get it. He hides and distorts the truth regarding his wife by locking her up and keeping someone by her. He does this so that his dark past of sin does not get out into the public. Mr. Rochester even manipulates the feelings of Blanche Ingram and Jane. He pursues Blanche Ingram in a ruse to make Jane jealous. He uses Blanche Ingram to achieve his goal. When visiting as the gypsy, Rochester says to Jane, “You have seen love: have you not? —and, looking forward, you have seen him married, and beheld his bride happy?” (Ch. 19, 340). Rochester says this false fact as to make Jane jealous. As a gypsy, Rochester also manipulates the rest of his guests. He finds out what they actually think of them and even spreads a rumor about himself to see the reaction. Brontë shows these actions of Rochester to show that he is manipulative. In the novel, Jane Eyre, the character of Mr. Rochester is portrayed as a Byronic hero. He exhibits many of the qualities of a Byronic hero. As a Byronic hero, Rochester is far from the ideal image of a perfect hero. By displaying Rochester as manipulative, self aware, emotionally traumatized, and being concerned with matters of justice over matters of legality, Charlotte Brontë characterizes Rochester as a Byronic hero.