Summary
Jaane, Adele and Mrs Fairfax go to Mr Rochester. Jane has her first conversation with Mr Rochester.
Themes
Poverty- comparison of Adele and Jane as a child, Adele expects presents, Jane has never really experienced them.
Character
Mr Rochester- Judges Jane's artwork. Says to Mrs Fairfax 'I shall judge for myself' in reference to Jane, does not rely on other's opinions.
Jane is suprised at Mrs Fairfax's previous description of Mr Rochester, fells that it was totally off. Jane learns some of his background.
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5 comments:
i've never considered the theme of poverty from that perspective... indeed, i don't think i even considered it as a theme of the book on previous readings... i thought that wealth was more of a background for themes of status. even so, i never saw that theme in that chapter in that way.
well yes, status doesn't necessarily mean wealth, it depends what tpye of status you mean really, as a reader you might class the in many different ways I guess. Status could be moral status. Just because Mr Brockelhurt is of a 'high status'(wealth wise) in the book it doesn't mean that he is more respected by the readers, in fact they might count his wealth against him, he has money and yet he uses it badly, the same amount of money at the hands of say...St John would be used very different. Likewise religion, the comparison of Helen's faith vs Mr Brockelhurst's, and Helen is the opposite of wealthy. Bronte uses defintion by contrast, I think, a lot to sway the readers into thinking about society as a whole, as a result of thinking about the character's morals etc etc etc
A good question (I can see why it was asked) and a good reply. Yes, status is not just about wealth. I like your point about Bronte using contrast.
i think that despite the fact that in this time period wealth and status go together most of the time because of what society dictated the prospect of society, wealth and poverty can be seen as very different things. Being wealthy doesn't necessarily mean being rich. You could be wealthy if you had a loving family, and poverty would be isolation (like janes childhood, despite the fact that she had luxurious things at gateshead did not make her wealthy).Adele and Jane replaced their lack of maternal and paternal figures in different ways it would seem. Jane retreated and became an introvert who escaped into books, Adele distracts herself by emphasising material things (and indeed becomes very upset without her 'cadeau').
I always think that status is curious in books of this time. As it is so very different from how we class status today...What do you think?
Today I think that status is very different. A lot of poeple would say that today we have narrowed the gap between upper class and lower class. I would say that We haven't, we've just filled in that gap, lots more people are just levitating in the middle, and it's easier to change class than it was back then. Look at Jane's struggle to be accepted by like minded people that I would say are her equal in intelligence and philosophy yet she made to feel inferior by them, look at her thoughts when in company with Blanche etc.
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