Rochester in "Jane Eyre"

Charlotte Bronte creates a conventional hero in the character in Mr. Rochester in "Jane Eyre." This traditional portrayal has a twist in that Mr. Rochester has a dark, secretive side.

To what extent has Bronte created a conventional romantic hero in the character of Mr. Rochester?

Mr Rochester has great importance in the book Jane Eyre. This is why throughout the book his character has a lot of emphasis on. His character begins to develop where Mrs Fairfax describes him, forming impressions to Jane and the reader before we meet him. This builds up suspense in the novel as the reader begins anticipating what he will really be like.
In some ways, he is described to be a traditional romantic hero by Mrs Fairfax. She says "he has a gentleman's tastes and habits" and that "he has always been respected." However, as Jane's curiosity tempts her to ask further questions regarding him it is noticed that Mrs Fairfax is trying to hide something. She tends to hold back and speak with hesitation. This is seen when she says" you don't thoroughly understand him, in short- well at least, I don't..." Also the answers that Mrs Fairfax provides Jane are particularly unusual and in some way equivocal. Her reply to one of Jane's questions was "I have no course otherwise to like him; and I believe he is considered a ..." Here the writer, Bronte begins to confuse the reader as to why Mrs Fairfax stresses the "I" and why it is that she seems to be hiding something from Jane. This brings forward many questions in the readers mind and also suggests that Mr Rochester is a man of mystery.

Mrs Fairfax later continues to show Jane around the house and she particularly fascinated in the decorations of the rooms. This fascination I think is linked to Mr Rochester's personality, as it is well known that the decoration of reflects the personality of the owner. Jane mentions the rooms being "dark and low yet interesting." These images I think Jane begins to assume that Mr Rochester will hold within. She assumes that Mr Rochester may have a dark, secretive side in his personality.

Mr Rochester's first appearance in the novel is when he meets Jane. This meeting is very unusual. Mr Rochester comes in galloping on a horse which is a romantic entrance as to walking, However, as he is galloping, the horse collapses and by chance Jane is conveniently available to help him. Mr Rochester enters as though a knight in shining armour would, but then Bronte inverts the process of man saving the girl from trouble, to the girl saving the man. She began by making his character look romantic and then suddenly it all goes wrong. As Jane begins to help Mr Rochester she describes him having "a dark face with stern features." This contrast between romantic and harsh opinions is what makes the character sound real and interesting.

From Jane's first meeting with Mr Rochester, the reader can see there is a subtle interest in between the two characters. Bronte does not write the novel as any romance novel would be written, as there is no love at first sight. However, because of Jane's persistence to help, takes a lot of notice of her. Still, he does not act as a very nice man to help out even though Jane is helping him, he wishes her to leave him alone. This is seen when he says, "You must just stand on one side." Despite this Jane continues to try and help. As I mentioned earlier, the meeting of the two lovers was fairly unusual. The fact that Jane does not know that the man she was aiding was in fact her master, Mr Rochester proves this. I think that this is effective because it is different to romantic novels and also leaves the reader to think throughout why he did not mention who he is to Jane.

As the novel progresses more of Rochester's character is developed. Again he is in some ways described romantically and in some harshly. Throughout chapters 13-14 Jane and Rochester have a very deep and sincere talk with each other. This talk emphasises on the relationship between the two and shows its peculiarities. Rochester shares his personal secrets with Jane, which is very rarely seen between a master and his governess. The secrets that Mr Rochester shares with Jane shows his behaviour in the past. These include him keeping a mistress, and his rivalry against her lover, which persuaded him to shoot the man. However, he also reminds Jane of Adele and how he came to look after her. This relates to the romantic ideal of his personality and shows Jane that even though he committed some bad sins he still is a good man.

As the relationship between Jane and Rochester develops we begin to see Jane's contradictory feelings towards him, because of the way Rochester behaves with her. Bronte keeps her consistency throughout, describing Rochester in two ways. Jane tells us that she feels Rochester's "presence in a room was more cheering than the brightest fire" and then continues by going back on her words in saying "he was proud, sardonic and harsh." This shows Jane's mixed feelings towards him. Later in the novel Bronte shows the love story being inverted which relates to Rochester's behaviour, as both in some way confuses the reader and both bring out suspense in the novel. This is seen when the fire breaks out at Thornfeild.

In the following chapters Jane and Mr Rochester continue to express their feelings in the same way. Both still unsure of where they stand and what relationship they have between them. Whenever Jane assumes something pleasant of Rochester, he always in some way manages to discourage her in thinking further. At one point Rochester insists Jane to stay with him whilst his guests are present. This shows that Rochester wanted to his guests to see that she was of his standards. However, despite this he attempts in making Jane to feel jealous and uncomfortable. This is shown whilst he is playing charades with his guests. He acts out a scene of a wedding with Blanche, encouraging Jane to feel he wants to marry Blanche and that they are a good couple together. However, Jane does not give up in feeling the way she does towards him she says,"I had learnt to love Mr Rochester; I could not unlove him now."

Another part of the novel which shows Rochester's contradictory behaviour is after the incident of his friend Mason. Firstly it is unknown as to why he chooses to share yet more of his secrets with Jane and no one else. His romantic behaviour after the incident is very unusual as he contrasts between romantic and harsh behaviour towards Jane. He starts by calling her his "pet lamb." As usual Rochester begins to show his mixed emotions which is seen when Jane describes him by saying "he hastily took my hand, and hastily threw it back." However, regardless of what he does, Jane does not give up and is left to anticipate in hearing what she wants him to say. The romantic mood is built up to a huge climax between him and Jane, with the readers foreseeing that he will now declare his love for her finally. Rochester exclaims that "I believe I have found the instrument for my use in-"and then spoils the whole mood by suddenly talking about Blanche. During this scene I think the reader is bought to a lot of excitement, and left with an unexpected turn. Whilst Jane is left disappointed and is disheartened yet again.

Before Mr Rochester proposes to Jane, Bronte again builds up to a climax by creating a romantic setting. She describes the surrounding of Thornfield being "green and shorn; the roads white and baked...."This is a very effective way of bringing the audience to a peak level of excitement and to get the audience eager to know whet event will take place next. Bronte uses a chestnut tree with a circular seat at the base where Rochester proposes to Jane and show his greatest hidden feelings towards her. I think the significance of the tree shows the future unity the marriage could possess.

When Jane and Rochester have their sincere talk with each other before the proposal, there true feelings are expressed. Jane mentions some unexpected feelings that she feels Rochester holds of her. She stands up for herself by saying things like," Do you think because, I am poor, obscure plain and little, I am soulless and heartless?." The rhetorical questions help emphasise the power of her emotions. The feeling that Jane wants Rochester to purpose to her persuades him to do so.
Nevertheless, Rochester is very romantic whilst proposing to her, he uses language such as"because my equal is here, and my likeness." Rochester shows that he sees a reflection of himself in Jane and he is treating her as his equal. This is quite unusual as in the earlier days of when this book was published men felt they were superior and held a higher status than women. I think Bronte chose to use this technique so that she could be unusual and different to peoples opinions.
Throughout this book Bronte constructs Rochester as a contradictory character hence when he shows an act of romance he also in some way says something harsh. Another form of this technique is used when Rochester proposes to Jane. He asks for forgiveness from God he says, "God pardon me" and "it will atone." This confuses the reader as to why he is asking for forgiveness and what will atone. The reader gets the impression that by marrying Jane he is committing a sin. This confusion shows Rochester's dark and secretive side.
Another factor that is seen whilst reading the novel which relates to this is, if the two do get married at this point what will the rest of the novel consist of? This factor reflects the end of the chapter where the pathetic fallacy is used. The chestnut tree under which the proposal took place had over night been struck by lightening. This again relates to the earlier significance of the tree, but this time in a opposite manner. The unity which was beginning to hold the two together had spilt even before it managed to develop, showing an ominous sign.

When Jane discovers the truth about Mr Rochester's first wife, she is left unsure and hesitant regarding what to do next. She finds it extremely hard to decide what the best option is. After long and hard thought she comes to a conclusion in which she is to leave Thornfield and Mr Rochester instantly. Mr Rochester persuades Jane to remain with him giving various reasons such as that without her he would become a bad man. Even though Rochester is aware that law wise he would not be able to marry Jane he abides by his words. If you look at when this book was published and compare what wrong doings where at that time, it is clearly seen that Rochester's persuasion was in the wrong. If Jane did decide to stay she would be degrading herself as she would not have any relationship with Rochester, other than the one of a mistress which was in those days frowned upon. Many people at that time would not even think of compromising with Rochester's needs and would certainly agree with Jane's conclusion of leaving Thornfield.

When Jane returns to Thornfield there is nothing there but a ruined house and an inn keeper nearby. She spoke to this innkeeper in great detail discussing what events took place after she left. This is where the reader discovers quite a heroic side to Rochester. The reader finds out that Rochester risked his own life to save the life of his mad wife. This showed that even though he refused to hear of her in the past he still held some inner feelings for her. Despite his effort to save Bertha she still was determined to commit suicide. This left Rochester all alone so he went to live far away from the world as he could with two of his servants.

After tracing Mr Rochester Jane turned up at his house finding him to be blind and having only one arm. This however did not discourage Jane to express her feelings towards him. Nevertheless it made Rochester feel uncomfortable. Towards the end of the book you again see Mr Rochester as a contradictory character, but this time the bad side had nothing to do with his personality but his physical disability, which perhaps stops him being such conventional romantic hero. However, after all the misfortunes that occurred in his life he changed the way he thought of things and believed he had learnt his lesson. Rochester stated that "I did wrong: I would have sullied my innocent flower." This was referring to Jane. From this you can tell he now has realized that difference between right and wrong.

Mr Rochester began to bring religion into concern a lot, as he speaks words from the bible and believed that he began to feel "remorse, repentance and the wish for reconciliation" towards his maker. This specific line stands out due to the alliteration used. I think this was done to express Mr Rochester's feelings. From the religious views at that time it is seen Bronte tries to show step by step, that Rochester had first committed his sin, then suffered for it this is seen by the fire, which I think symbolically shows him being through purgatory after which he now was able to receive Jane's love. The religious imagery is used to describe Mr Rochester's feelings towards Jane more effectively.

Throughout the book Mr Rochester's character had a very interesting impact on the audience. Overall, I think he did prove to be a true romantic hero who deserved Jane. In the long run both characters showed their desired love for each other, even though they suffered a great deal. I think that true love never runs smoothly, there is always an obstacle in the way to which overcoming is the hardest part of life. As Rochester and Jane did overcome there obstacles there should be nothing to stop them living happily ever after.