Alright, thus far I've been the ultimate cheerleader for feminist themes throughout the novel (Bronte's frequent use of the moon, the amount of female characters in the book, and Jane's overall strength). Now I'm at a loss however. Right after the scene where Roch. is gone and Jane is all paranoid going through the garden, picking up frozen apples (or perhaps this is during this scene) she takes a moment to look up at the moon. The moon kind of dances around for a bit before darting back behind the clouds. From this moment on, we see a huge shift in the power that Jane's held throughout the whole book. For one she goes completely mad at the prospect of Roch. not coming home; so much so that she goes on a little adventure down the drive to check on him coming home. Her dependency on him here is a little sickening. To continue, after the false wedding her dependency grows. She could just be in shock, but as even HE mentions, we would have expected more emotion and passion from her. I wanted tears and screams, perhaps a slap or two would suffice (I mean really the guy's been dragging her all around the yard by her leash, now that he's done the ultimate toll, wouldn't you kill him?) but instead, once she starts crying, she shuts up the moment it begins to annoy poor Mr. Rochester. Where the hell did Bronte go? Where is the strength that women are supposed to possess, instead of this total overbearing man controlling her every last move! It's insanity!!
I'm not quite sure what the beast is supposed to mean in the whole scheme of everything. I'm really not sure why it's a woman and what more she can do in the novel besides bite people and be Rochester's first wife. In saying that, if Rochester truly does love Jane, why doesn't he divorce the werewolf (I think beastly tendencies are reason enough for a divorce at that time period) and then commence with his marriage to Jane?
And who is this uncle and where the hell is he (sick I know but in the larger scheme he could have gotten to the manor quicker)...how did he find out about the marriage, how does he know Mason...what is going on there...
It seems like this was a good climactic point, but there are still a number of pages left to be read...so fortunately I'll have some questions answered at some point...right?
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3 comments:
Thanks for pointing out the frequent disappearing and re-appearing of the moon. I didn't realize the symbolic feminism behind it. I just thought it was foreshadowing Rochester's inconsistency that Jane also dreamt of which we see later on in the chapter. The most ironic usage of the moon was the day they go to millcote, and they are in the carriage, and Rochester explains to Adele that he will fly Jane to the moon, and carry her 'round, and clothe and shelter her and take care of her every need. This made me cry: WHAT? Have a man do all the work that Jane is fully capable of, and most ironically, ON THE VERY MOON! Which made me envision these men encroaching on women's territory, telling them they cannot feel, think, or do for themselves. (Which Jane points out to Rochester that she DOES feel just as much as he does, HER heart is just as full as his, on the night he proposes.)
Thanks for the insight!
Ok i'm not where you are quite yet but i totally agree that Mr. R. is reversing the positions. Personally I dislike Mr. R. because he says he loves her but he's basically a dick and i really like the fact that Jane didn't admit her feelings when he dressed up like a gypsy (creeper) but where has that Jane gone??? now she's all weepy and weak and it sucks because she was so cool before.
As for Jane's unnaturally subdued reaction--it's kind of cool (isn't it?) that it's NOT what we expect. Here she is locking HERSELF in a room (unlike at Gateshead) and instead of becoming passionate to the point of a hysterical fit (a la the red room), we get this almost eerie quiet. Hmmm...
And you make a good point about Bertha (the 'beast'). Why does she have to be a woman (another passionate woman locked in a room), and what does this do to reinforce--or undermine-the book's feminist themes? Something to chew on.
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