Introducing
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Thesis Statement
Starting off at a new place with a new journey awaiting her, Jane makes great effort to display her strong self independence and self reliability through many of her actions, such as assisting Mr. Rochester without even knowing him.
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This is the first chapter in the third stage of Jane Eyre’s journey which is at Thornfield Hall. She arrives there and we are introduced to a new character, Mrs. Fairfax. Mrs. Fairfax explains that she isn’t the owner of Thornfield, but rather Mr. Rochester who was travelling. We are introduced to another character, Adele who will be Jane’s student at Thornfield.
Jane hears a demonic kind of laugh coming from the attic, but Mrs. Fairfax quickly responds to Jane's curiosity telling her that it must be Grace Poole, a servant.
While I paced softly on, the last sound I expected to hear in so still a region, a laugh, struck my ear. It was a curious laugh; distinct, formal, mirthless. I stopped: the sound ceased, only for an instant; it began again, louder:"
‘Mrs. Fairfax!’ I called out: for I now heard her descending the great stairs. ‘Did you hear that loud laugh? Who is it?’
‘Some of the servants, very likely,’ she answered: ‘perhaps
Grace Poole.’
Impediments: A hindrance or obstruction in doing something.
Hoist: Raise or haul up.
Leisurely: Acting or done at leisure; unhurried or relaxed.
Ample: Enough or more than enough; plentiful.
Spurned: To reject with disdain or contempt.
Inured: To accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant.
Apparatus: The complex structure of a particular organization or system.
Pervade: To be present and apparent throughout.
Eerie: Strange and frightening.
Implore: To beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something.
Solicitous: Characterized by or showing interest or concern.
Cawing: To utter the cry of a rook, crow, or similar bird.
Incumbent: Necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility.
Enigma: A person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.
Affable: Friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to.
Dame: The title given to a woman with the rank of Knight Commander
Condescension: An attitude of patronizing superiority; disdain.
Demurely: Reserved, modest, and shy.
Bewailing: To express great regret, sadness, or disappointment about (something).
Perfidious: Deceitful and untrustworthy.
Scanty: Small or insufficient in quantity or amount
Seldom: Not often; rarely
Swathe : To wrap in several layers of fabric.
Tenants: A person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord.
Queries: A question, especially one expressing doubt or requesting information.
Antiquity: Great age.
Embroideries: The art or pastime of embroidering cloth.
Coveted: Greatly desired or envied.
Girdling: To cut through the bark all the way round.
Foliage: To plant leaves collectively.
Azure: Bright blue in color like a cloudless sky.
Groping: To search blindly or uncertainly by feeling with the hands.
Mirthless: Lacking real amusement and typically expressing irony.
Preternatural: Beyond what is normal or natural.
Cachinnation: It's what you do when you laugh loudly, guffaw, or cackle
Analysis
As mentioned before, Jane is in a different stage in her life where she seems to have matured. This chapter is at the very beginning of this stage where she is being introduced to her new home. At this point in her life, self restraint is a weapon that is going to put lots of obstacles in her road for self fulfillment. She will use what she learned from Lowood Institution to trim and polish her passionate nature by merging them. Jane becomes her own mentor from now on. As she throws off her Lowood training, she suddenly realizes that now she has the inner resources to escape and overcome the obstacles ahead of her.
Jane settles in to Thornfield and finds satisfaction in her daily routines, especially with Adele. One night she was on her way to post a letter, when she sees a dog and horse with a rider. The rider falls off of the horse and is badly injured. Jane helps him and finds out he has injured his ankle. She returns to Thornfield and is shocked to see the same dog she saw outside. Mrs. Fairfax explains that the dog belongs to Mr. Rochester who has just returned with a sprained ankle.
The moment they met is very significant as it shows Mr. Rochester in need for Jane's assistance. It foreshadows Mr. Rochester's dependence on Jane by the end of the novel.
‘Can I do anything?’ I asked again.
‘You must just stand on one side,’ he answered as he rose, first to his knees, and then to his feet. I did; whereupon began a heaving, stamping, clattering process, accompanied by a barking and baying which removed me effectually some yards’ distance; but I would not be driven quite away till I saw the event.
Pledge: A solemn promise or undertaking.
Belied: Fail to give a true impression of (something).
Injudicious: Showing very poor judgement; unwise.
Idolatrous: Relating to or practising idolatry; idol-worshipping.
Egotism: The fact of being excessively conceited or absorbed in oneself.
Sequestered: Isolated and hidden away.
Vapid: Offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; bland.
Pliability: The quality of being easily bent; flexibility.
Brooklet: A small natural stream of water.
Congealed: Having become semi-solid, especially on cooling.
Stile: An arrangement of steps that allows people but not animals to climb over a fence or wall.
Steed: A horse being ridden or available for riding.
Ail: Trouble or afflict (someone) in mind or body.
Officious: Assertive of authority in a domineering way, especially with regard to trivial matters.
Shunned: Persistently avoided, ignored, or rejected.
Deuce: The two on dice or playing cards.
Raiment: Clothing
Bridle: The headgear used to control a horse.
Transitory: Not permanent.
Stagnation: The state of not flowing or moving.
Fathomless: Unable to be measured or understood; extremely deep.
In this chapter, Jane Eyre is introduced to Mr. Rochester who plays a huge part in the conflict of the novel. She helps him after he fell from his horse, not knowing who he is.
He is the character who will make her struggle between choosing her passion, her integrity, and her self-respect later on.
Jane Eyre is a fighter in a way and that will be shown when she fights for her self-respect as she catches feelings for Mr. Rochester. Her feelings for Mr. Rochester make her want to follow her passion. She has trouble deciding what to follow later on, her passion or her self-respect.
The following evening, Mr. Rochester invites Jane and Adele for tea. He questions Jane about her family, Lowood, and accomplishments. Mr. Rochester adopts a bantering tone that Jane gets attracted to. She learns that he is the youngest son in his family and he inherited Thornfield 9 years ago. She gives a feminist view that women need as much intellectual stimulation as men.
The most significant event in this chapter is when Mr. Rochester Invites Jane and Adele for tea, and the conversation between Mr. Rochester and Jane. For example, from page 186 to 187, When Mr. Rochester said "No wonder you have rather the look of another world. I marveled where you had got that sort of face. When you came on me in Hay Lane last night, I thought unaccountably of fairy tales, and had half a mind to demand whether you had bewitched my horse: I am not sure yet," which means that he started to like Jane. Then, he questions Jane about her family, Lowood, and her accomplishments, having her playing piano and taking particular interest in her art especially of her water colors. And the most important part is when he adopts a bantering tone with Jane and she falls in it.
Vacate: leave
Requisition: an official order laying claim to the use of property or materials.
Discerned: recognize or find out.
Rill: a small stream
Shrewdly: in a way that shows sharp powers of judgement; astutely.
Conjecture: an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.
Intimated: State or make known
Pupil: a person who is taught by another
Cessation: the fact or process of ending or being brought to an end.
Inquire: ask for information from someone.
Summon: order
Precede: Come before in time
Decisive: settling an issue; producing a definite result.
Denoting: be a sign of; indicate.
Divested: deprive someone of
Quiescence: inactivity or dormancy.
Assiduous: showing great care and perseverance
Acquaintance: knowledge or experience of something
Disown: refuse to acknowledge or maintain any connection with
Superintendence: the management or arrangement of an activity or organization; supervision
Countenance: a person's face or facial expression
Vouch: assert or confirm as a result of one's own experience that something is true or accurately so described.
Scrutinize: examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
Analysis
Rochester became so natural that Jane thinks she can be honest with him. When Rochester was elevated to see Jane's work, she became really happy. Although she has more freedom than she's ever had before, Jane still feels restricted. She misses having a companion such as Bessie or Miss Temple who she can have deep freely conversations with. Her view is about women's roles and needs which are against the status Que shows how Jane has grown. Her independent mind is one factor that makes her a heroine. Mr. Rochester has the air of mystery moodiness and unpredictable typical of the hero with Gothic romance fiction.
As we said before, Jane makes a great effort to display her strong self independence through her actions. Mr. Rochester finds her piano playing average, and he is impressed by her drawings. Her drawings may symbolize her independence.
One night, Mr.Rochester called for both Adele and Jane in the dining room. He gave Adele a present and as she played with it, he chatted with Jane. They discuss beauty and appearance. They then move onto class and equality. He mentions in their conversation that he needs an angel. Their conversation continued for too long turning to concepts of sin and forgiveness. Jane's awkwardness is relieved when Adele enters the dining room once again.
The most significant event in the chapter was the conversation between both Jane and Mr. Rochester. He seems very blunt with his questions and responses due to the wine as Jane says "There was a smile on his lips, and his eyes sparkled, whether with wine or not, I am not sure; but I think it very probable." An example to his blunt or frank questions, he asks Jane "You examine me, Miss Eyre,’ said he: ‘do you think me handsome?" After this question we quickly can observe Jane's self restraint as without even thinking for a second her quick response was "No,sir"
- Sprain: wrench or twist the ligaments of (ankle, wrist, or other joint) violently so as to cause pain and swelling but not dislocation.
- Seldom: rarely; not common.
- Reconnoitre: explore, often with the goal of finding something or somebody.
- Affability: geniality; the quality of being affable.
- Ebb: the outward flow of the tide.
- Quaker: a member of a specific society usually a religious society.
- Affectation: artificial behavior used to impress
- Inclement: unpleasant cold or wetness.
- Disembowel:remove the entrails of
- Porcelain: ceramic ware made of a more or less translucent ceramic
- Damask: a fabric of linen or cotton or silk or wool with a reversible pattern woven into it
- Hewn: cut or shaped with hard blows of a heavy cutting instrument like an ax or chisel
- Rejoinder: a quick reply to a question or remark
- Prominence the state of being widely known or eminent
- Sentient: endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness
- Physiognomy: the human face
- Demeanour: the way a person behaves toward other people
- Intrinsic: belonging to a thing by its very nature
- Adventitious: associated by chance and not an integral part
- Galled: painful from having the skin abraded
- Condescension: showing arrogance by patronizing those considered inferior
- Pique: a sudden outburst of anger
- Candour: the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
- Adverse: in an opposing direction
- Salubrious: promoting health
- Bilge: where the sides of the vessel curve in to form the bottom
- Limpid: clear and bright
- Indiscretion: the trait of lacking good judgment or tact
- Paltry: contemptibly small in amount or size
- Ribaldry: ribald humor
- Irrevocably: in a manner that cannot be taken back
- Countenance: the appearance conveyed by a person's face
- Charnel: gruesomely indicative of death or the dead
- Bane: something causing misery or death
- Enigmatical: not clear to the understanding
- Austere: of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
- Presentiment: a feeling of evil to come
- Vernal: suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh
It seems as though, Rochester doesn't feel fully comfortable conversing with Jane, so he got a bit drunk to be able to speak honestly and comfortably. Even though it was a bit awkward for Jane she felt some kind of deep spiritual connection with Rochester. When Adele danced around Rochester with her pink gown, she reminded him with his past. This shows how Adele is a living symbol for Rochester's past which he wants to reform. His need for reformation and assistance is represented by Jane.
In this chapter, the element of feminism is very prominent. During the time the novel was written, women had a weak role in society as they seemed powerless and submissive. Jane, on the other hand refuses to this stereotyping and refuses to bow down to a superior male
Our thesis statement focuses more on Jane's self reliability and independence. This element is shown a lot through the course of the chapters. The elements of the thesis statement are very prominent throughout this chapter. Through her conversation with Rochester, Jane was very confident with her answers. She didn't feel the need to answer in a specific way to impress him. She simply said what she believed was right for the moment. She was very honest which proves her support of the feminist move and her great self independence. She didn't need to depend on him so she didn't mind controverting Rochester.
Later, as promised, Mr.Rochester told Jane about Adele's past. He told her that he had a long affair with a French singer, Celine Varens, who is Adele's mother. Celine later cheats on Rochester and he takes Adele as his daughter. Not to leave Adele alone, he took her to England to be properly cared of knowing that she isn't his daughter. The same night, Jane heard a very strange laugh in the middle of the night. When she opened her room's door, she found a lot of smoke coming out of Mr. Rochester's room. She quickly ran towards it waking him up and saving him. He emotionally thanked Jane for saving his life. Jane was very confused when he made her promise to tell everyone that he was the one who started the fire.
The most significant incident that occurred in this chapter was the fire that started in the middle of the night right after a strange laugh, of which woke Jane up. Jane describes the laugh saying " This was a demonic laugh-low, suppressed, and deep-uttered, as it seemed at the very keyhole of my chamber door." When she opened the door to see who was out she heard " something gurgled and moaned". This incident is the most important incident in the chapter as her reaction showed how she is very reliable as she quickly ran towards the chamber to save Rochester. "I thought no more of Mrs. Fairfax; I thought no more of Grace Poole, or the laugh: in an instant, I was with-in the chamber.
Ardour: great enthusiasm
Sylph: imaginary spirit in air
Gnome: a dwarfish looking person
Trode: to walk
Spoony: overly sentimental
Consecrating: declaring something
Ensued: happen or occur
Sardonic: cold and mocking
Encumbrance: a burden
Equipages: carriages
Vicomte: a gentleman that works for a nobleman
Inamorata: A sweetheart, someone you love
Hitherto: previously
Bristling: short and stiff
Facade: false appearance
Anathemas:curses
Unmolested: unbothered
Hauteur: arrogance
Welkin: the sky
Peril: risk
Paroxysm: a sudden shock
Assuage: relieve and satisfaction
Rebuking: scolding
Noxious: injurious and harmful
Morose: sorrowful
Fulminating: violently exploding
Ewer: pitcher
Habergeon: a shield
Pastille: a table with aromatic qualities
Lugubrious: miserable and depressing.
Degression: detour
Imperious: arrogant and domineering
Exigency: urgent need or demand
Jane can be seen as the "angel" Mr. Rochester was requesting earlier. In these chapters, Rochester is portrayed as an attractive Gothic (Byronic) hero with a mysterious past that Jane will uncover. Mr. Rochester's irresponsible actions (with Bertha Mason) can be justified by his responsible actions towards Adele. Jane's passionate nature helps her sympathize with Rochester.
Jane truly shows how independent, resourceful, and witty she is when she quickly was able to act upon the fire and smoke coming out of Rochester's room. Rather than panicking or running a different direction, Jane was determined to save Rochester's life so she brought water and poured it all over the place. She did not only save his life but she was also determined to find the attempted murderer.
The next morning, Jane was surprised that the incident had caused no scandal. She believed that Grace should have been fired. She realizes that her feelings toward Rochester are growing and she feels disappointed when she finds out that he will be gone for several days attending a party with Blanche Ingram. She scolded herself for feeling jealous and tried to restrain her feelings by drawing two images. One representing Ingram as a beautiful lady and another representing Jane as a very plain lady that Rochester would never love.
Jane's Jealousy towards Blanche Ingram
She's notably upset to be told that the honorable , Blanche Ingram, was going to be at the party. Recognizing that she's falling smitten with Rochester, Jane tries to discipline her feelings by drawing 2 images: a portrait in crayon of herself, and one of Blanche on ivory. Whenever her feelings for Rochester become too intense, Jane compares her own plainness with Blanche's beauty. She said that the task " kept her head and hands employed" and that "she had reason to congratulate herself on the course of wholesome discipline to which she had thus forced her feelings to submit."
- Aerial : Sheer
- Bleared : Cloudy, unclear
- Brazen : Shameless; bold
- Confabulation : A conversation
- Conflagration : A large fire
- Conjecture : A theory
- Contrived : Forced
- Enigmatical : Like a riddle; without a solution
- Extrication : The act of becoming untangled, freed
- Folly : Ignorance, stupidity
- Harangue : To harshly lecture
- Impenetrability : Incomprehensibility
- Indelibly : Permanently
- Indigent : Poor
- Indignation : Anger
- Inscrutable : Mysterious
- Matronly : Elderly
- Miry : Swampy, muddy
- Phlegmatic : Indifferent, cool
- Plebeian : A commoner
- Propriety : Appropriateness, correctness, respectability
- Providential : Fortunate
- Provocation : An annoyance, irritation
- Prudence : Discretion, caution
- Sago : A food used to make pudding, a starch
- Staid : Serious
- Supposition : An opinion, theory
- Surfeited : Overindulged
- Taciturn : Silent
- Unvarnished : Simple, plain
- Vexing : Discussing at length; puzzling
Jane's love for Rochester becomes apparent in this chapter. Rochester has involved Jane in a deception that she doesn't understand by asking her not to reveal what really happened. His absence and interest in Ms. Ingram made Jane feel naive, for thinking of a possible future with a man who would likely not marry a woman of her status. Jane controls her emotions by limiting her expectations, reflecting the theme of self-control or self-restraint.
Jane knows the dangers of loving her employer, who would at most see her as a potential mistress, not as a wife. She chooses reason over passion; she is determined to discipline her feelings by drawing two pictures comparing them, to her own disadvantage. This enables her to endure the pain of watching Rochester with Blanche Ingram, though not without pain. This situation proves that Jane wanted to have more self-control and tried her best to stay independent.