I have to get it out. I do not like Rochester. I feel like he is a bully with low self esteem. He manipulates Jane and plays with her emotions. At the end of their relationship, he is sobbing, throwing himself on the couch; I can almost see him kicking his feet in a tantrum. He says he can't live without her, that he needs her to survive. While this could seem very romantic on the surface, I find it to be him telling her that he can't live without his puppet. That if he has no one to control, to toy with, he shall wither away. Well, so be it, Rochester. So be it.
And this being a woman's study course, I have to say that I find his mind-games with Jane to be very disturbing and borderline emotional abuse. I find Jane to be very introspective and quite perceptive character. Which is why I am almost maddened by Jane's willingness to overlook the fact that he is playing with her heart. It is almost as if Bronte is grandizing the fairy tale notion that all a girl needs is a man, regardless of how he treats you. Thus far in the book, Jane is a strong character physically; when it comes to love, Jane is not by any means, a heroine.
Yes, I get that she loves him. Yes, I get that she deserves happiness and love. But I do feel she can do better. Way, way better. I want to tell Jane to "ditch that zero and get with a hero". In this day and age, she and Rochester would be featured in a Jerry Springer episode.
I think Jane's problem is that she has to feel needed all of the time and Mr. Rochester gives her that opportunity. I feel like I have friends who fit this character and always try to fix those who need the most help.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I think Rochester is, for lack of a better term, a dick. His pompous attitude and the abuse he inflicts upon Jane totally outweigh anything good he ever did, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteLove that some of you are pushing back against this character and Jane's worship of him. I am torn on the subject, as my comments in class might have revealed...
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