Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Yet Another Doomed Proposal
Has anyone else noticed just how many matters of matrimony are ultimately doomed for failure? Mr. Rochester and Jane, Mr. Rivers and Miss. Oliver, and now Mr. Rivers and Jane, wow. I think this emphasise on the various obstacles to marriage in the novel enhance Jane's passionate yet independent character. I think Bronte wants us to see that Jane has the option of marriage, but she will never commit if she has to compromise her personal beliefs or character. Such as with Mr. Rochester she would have been tied to a man she loved, yet she would be in a constant state of inferiority (in her eyes). Then when Mr. Rivers proposes the idea of marriage to Jane, she feels she would never be herself with him. On page 470 Jane expresses that her passionate soul would be dimmed, "...forced to keep the fire of my nature continually low." Then five pages later she tells him he would kill her (not physically, emotionally) if they were to be married. I also find it odd that throughout Jane's life she has always resisted, but now under Mr. Rivers spell she becomes evidently submissive. Then Jane realizes she has more purpose in her life than to be a subject of Mr. River's demands/teachings, and God would not want her to throw away the life he has given her. One difference between Jane's refusal of Mr. Rivers proposal and of Mr. Rochesters, is the fact that Rochester uses passionate force to try to convince Jane to stay, while Mr. Rivers simply approaches Jane in a kind, holy manner. Jane find Mr. Rivers' technique much more effective, but the fact that she does not love him overpowers his kind nature and pure soul. I am wondering why Jane "hears" Mr. Rochester when we have no idea where he is.... is Bronte using supernatural means to bring Mr. Rochester and Jane back together?
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3 comments:
Wow...I think you've hit upon what might be a terrific topic for your essay. Why are there so many marriages in this book (both real and 'fake'--or unrealized)? What is Bronte saying about marriage, and how does it relate to any commentary she might be making on the status of women in the Victorian era? Keep in mind all those 'pretend' marriages (like the one between Blanche and Rochester during the charades). Have we seen any 'happy' marriages--marriages for love? Well, Jane's own parents married against their parents' (and, by extension, society's) wishes, and look what happened to them. Dead before the year was out.
Again, I think this might provide a fruitful focus for your essay. Let me know what you think.
The multiple marriages throughout the novel does interest me, but i can't seem to find a reason as to why Bronte does this. Is she trying to put an emphasis on her feminist approach to the independence of women, by showing that marriage is useless? I was thinking about using Mr. Rochester and Jane's first meeting as my 'scene' and i could definately include Bronte's use of multiple failed marriages for support...
I would definitely have to agree with you Juliette. I think that as soon as Jane felt that Ingram and Rochester were to be married, for the next 100 pages, that was all we saw. Marriage failed. Even true love couldn't overcome the obstacle of the failure of marriage that has been deemed so inevitable. When Mr. Rivers is talking about not being able to marry Ms. Rosamond, I was frustrated with Bronte and her obvious less-than-passionate relationship with marriage. What is she trying to say? I won't say anything more for those of you who haven't finished the book.... but I am curious if it has a background of a feminism issue or a societal issue.
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