Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The whole proposal scene seemed cheesy and filled with bad omens. It was a very sudden change from just talking calmly about a family in Ireland (and him sending her away as he praises Blanche) to them both suddenly declaring their love for each other and getting engaged. It all seemed to happen in a few minutes. Then they kissed on the chime of midnight...it all seemed overblown and unrealistic to me. It also heavily foreshadowed a split, the most obvious sign being the tree they sat under being split by lightning. The courtyard is also filled with shadows, and the sad song of a nightingale is heard several times. The day grows darker and dies as they sit there. Rochester several times refers to her as his possession or something, ("I summon you as my wife" p. 293, "I must have you as my own-entirely my own" p. 294, "Come to me-come to me entirely now...make my happiness" p. 295, "I have her, and will hold her" p. 295 etc.) and a proud woman like Jane won't stand for that long, though now she is blinded by love. The enclosure theme also comes up again. The tree is enclosed in an orchard, and Jane is about to be enclosed in marriage, one that will greatly stifle her freedom. She will definitely leave him, maybe just before the marriage. I think though, that the main reason will be because of his "capital err", when that is revealed.
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3 comments:
I like your criticism of the proposal scene, it bothered me as well. Most importantly you circled into the "capital err" that Rochester has made, and that is bugging the hell out of me and I'm getting close I think to figuring it out, but I still need a little more information. Once again good post
I do like the fact that you talk about the "enclosure" theme. I feel like there was a huge build up from the begining like Jane was being rounded up from Lowood onward and finally she's rangled...but I also agree...she won't stay teathered for long...
"Cheesy" and "overblown" huh? (You're a tough reader to please--I think a lot of your peers were delighted that they finally hooked up, even if it turned out to be a mere month of happiness.
Very astute observations about recurring symbols and themes--the enclosure bit, for example. How is this supposed to work? Is it a good thing (the safety of the window seat, the sanctuary of the garden) or a negative one (the red room, Bertha's attic cubby).
Let me know what you think now that you're a bit further ahead (sorry I'm behind in responding to these posts).
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