Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Professor_JT t1_je4g2h0 wrote

Reading this book I recently discovered two interesting meanings:

  1. This books is an INVERSION of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, with Jane's path being toward a sort of religion of the self
  2. Mr. Rochester symbolizes Satan, aka the tempter, the serpent

I broke this all down on my podcast, feel free to have a listen: https://www.everymanacademy.com/podcast/episode/78dbcd63/jane-eyre

7

Dana07620 t1_je7c5tp wrote

I disagree. Jane started out being a little pagan and became deeply Christian.

And Rochester also ended up following a Christian path.

>“Jane! you think me, I daresay, an irreligious dog: but my heart swells with gratitude to the beneficent God of this earth just now. He sees not as man sees, but far clearer: judges not as man judges, but far more wisely. I did wrong: I would have sullied my innocent flower—breathed guilt on its purity: the Omnipotent snatched it from me. I, in my stiff-necked rebellion, almost cursed the dispensation: instead of bending to the decree, I defied it. Divine justice pursued its course; disasters came thick on me: I was forced to pass through the valley of the shadow of death. His chastisements are mighty; and one smote me which has humbled me for ever. You know I was proud of my strength: but what is it now, when I must give it over to foreign guidance, as a child does its weakness? Of late, Jane—only—only of late—I began to see and acknowledge the hand of God in my doom. I began to experience remorse, repentance; the wish for reconcilement to my Maker. I began sometimes to pray: very brief prayers they were, but very sincere.

...

> He put me off his knee, rose, and reverently lifting his hat from his brow, and bending his sightless eyes to the earth, he stood in mute devotion. Only the last words of the worship were audible.

>“I thank my Maker, that, in the midst of judgment, he has remembered mercy. I humbly entreat my Redeemer to give me strength to lead henceforth a purer life than I have done hitherto!”

3

Professor_JT t1_je8dcrl wrote

Yeah, I broke it down on my podcast, feel free to listen. Detail, context, quotes, rationale, to be found there.

1

Professor_JT t1_jebpssm wrote

Here are many references/links to Mr. Rochester symbolizing Satan:

Isaiah 14:12-20

“You have been cut down to the earth,

You who have weakened the nations!"

When Jane first meets Mr. Rochester he is tumbling down to earth.

2 Corinthians 11:14

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

“I had hardly ever seen such a handsome youth…and should have shunned them as one would fire, lightning and anything else that is bright but antipathetic" (133-134)

When meeting Mr. Rochester again, he is surrounded by fire and speaks of blasphemy.

“Come to the fire, said the master”, “a novice not worship her priest! That sounds blasphemous” (p145)

Their next meeting Mr. Rochester is in his “after dinner mood” and is described as having “dark eyes”, “great dark eyes” (p 152-153)

Speaking of his previous womanizing ways, he talks of “sweet, fresh pleasure” and calls Jane a “neophyte” (p160)

The serpent said to the woman, You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:1-5

“I believe it was inspiration rather than temptation…it is no devil…it has put on the robes of an angel of light”

Jane says, “it is not a true angel”, to which Mr. Rochester replies, “how do you know between a seraph of the fallen abyss and a messenger from the eternal throne? Between a guide and a seducer” (p160)

Luke 10:18

He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”

When Jane and Mr. Rochester finally embrace in love, the great horse-chestnut in the yard is split by lightning (p196)

Engaged to be married she states “My future husband was becoming to me my whole world…my hope of heaven. He stood between me and every thought of religion, as an eclipse intervenes between man and the broad sun. I could not, in those days, see God for His creature: of whom I had made an idol. (p316)

Satan is also a deceiver, and Mr. Rochester certainly was deceptive in marrying Jane, with his crazy wife in the attic.

Later in the book, she hears him call out to her, it’s a supernatural moment in the book. It’s not god, it’s her man, Mr. Rochester, who symbolizes satan. He is now blind, and dependant on her. Jane attains godhood in her religion of the self by their reunification at the end.

1