Jane visits the Reed House:
1.
Jane can be seen as superior to the Reeds.
She is able to forgive and let go, while Mrs. Reed is not. She also attends to
the two sisters and tries to subdue their hate and resentment toward each other
through her rational thoughts.
a.
What does this visit say about the past
versus the present? In what ways does the Reeds live in the past, while Jane
lives in the future?
2.
Jane realizes during this visit just how
much she appreciates Mr. Rochester and her new home.
a.
Is Mr. Rochester’s love the sole thing that
makes Thornfield her home?
b.
Does Jane feel any connection to her first
home with the Reeds?
c.
Example: page 330 “Where you are is my
home-my only home.”
Jane and Mr. Rochester
1.
Mr. Rochester often notes that he fears
Jane will forget him? Jane’s inferior social position would suggest he would be
the one who could forget her. What does this say about the position of the social
caste within their relationship?
2.
Jane becomes devastated by the idea of
leaving Thornfield. Jane has often been depicted as an independent character
before this. What do her emotions say about the change in her independence? How
has love affected it?
Mr. Rochester’s marriage proposal
1.
During the proposal, Jane defends her
independence and will. This shows an insecurity in the dependence and
vulnerability her love for him causes. Why does Jane fear the idea of letting
another control her emotions?
2.
Jane finds it hard to believe that he
really wants to marry someone so below his social status. And again, she also
fears giving him power over her in a marriage. What is the relationship of
inferiority and their marriage?
a.
Jane’s skepticism: page 343 “I was not born
for a different destiny to the rest of my species…”
3.
Jane notes how Mr. Rochester likes to be conquered.
What does this say about how Mr. Rochester views and acts toward their
relationship? Compared to Jane?
4.
What is the significance of the chestnut
tree was split in two by lightening?
Jane and Mr. Rochester II:
1.
Jane adamantly rejects the jewels Mr.
Rochester orders for her. Why does she reject them? How does the theme of
autonomy play into that?
2.
Why is the title of the book “Jane Eyre”
when she is defined as Mrs. Rochester?
3.
Why doesn’t Mr. Rochester just tell Jane
about Bertha when Jane saw her enter her room at night and tear up her veil? If
he told her then, would it have made the information more easily digested?
4.
What do Jane’s dreams about a child
signify?
5.
Jane makes her own veil after the one
gifted to her was destroyed. She once again exerts her independence, while
symbolically rejecting Mr. Rochester’s gifts that would signify more
dependence.
6.
Why does Mason participate in destroying the
wedding if he has seen that Bertha is mad?
7.
If Jane had married Mr. Rochester, she
would have become his mistress, damaging her social status even more. How does
this change the way the reader feels about Mr. Rochester? Are his actions defendable?
8.
Jane’s
decision to leave Thornfield demonstrates how her need for independence and
respect outweigh her love of Mr. Rochester and his home.
a.
The dream of her Mother telling her to “feel
temptation” supports her decision.
b.
Page 417: “Life was yet in my possession:
with all its requirements, and pains, and responsibilities…”
9.
Jane states that she hates herself and has
no self-respect by leaving her master. How does this self-respect play into
both options to leave or stay? Why does she chose to leave?
a.
Does Bertha’s life of imprisonment play
into her fear of marrying Mr. Rochester?
10.
How
does religion play into the scenes of her journey? St. John?
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