Jane Eyre Research Paper

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Double-Sided Secrets In the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, the secrets kept by the various characters have two sides; both negative and positive consequences for the character keeping them. First, Jane keeps her whereabouts a secret while in her secret hiding spot as a child, allowing her to relax in peace, but causes her causing her harassment with her cousin and aunt. Next, Rochester keeps the secret that he is, in fact the gypsy that mysteriously visits Thornfield Hall, giving him insight into his guest’s lives, but also resulting in Jane trust in Rochester squandering. Last, Rochester keeps the secret that he has a wife in the attic, which gives him the ability to start a relationship with Jane, but causes her to leave him. The idea …show more content…

By pretending to be the gypsy that visits Thornfield Hall, Rochester gains insight of his guests’ opinions of himself, without them knowing, helping him in determining who to be cautious of. For example, Rochester, disguised as the gypsy, misinforms Blanche, his possible wife-to-be, that Rochester does not have nearly as much money as she had previously believed, which “[makes] her look wondrously grave; the corners of her mouth [fall] half an inch” (Bronte 210). Therefore, due to Blanche’s sullen attitude upon hearing false information regarding Rochester’s money, Rochester realizes that Blanche only has an interest in his money, a very beneficial ramification of his secret. A negative consequence, however, would be Jane’s beginning skepticism of Rochester. This is a negative consequence because Jane’s excessive pondering of Rochester and his gypsy secret does not help contribute to their future relationship, it in fact, it makes her question him, as well as lose trust. Because of Rochester’s secret of him actually being the gypsy, he gains insight of his guests that aids him in discovering who top cautious of, like Blanche. However, Rochester is also brought under scrutiny and skepticism of Jane, a negative consequence of the secret he kept. Both positive and negative consequences are exemplified once more, in the case of Rochester’s secret about …show more content…

Although it may seem difficult finding a positive consequence for Rochester keeping this enormous secret, it is actually one of the most significant consequences in the novel; Jane and Rochester’s relationship. If Rochester were to decide to not keep his wife in the attic a secret, Jane would never permit herself to fall in love with Rochester, as Jane would not fall in love with a married man. This is proven when Jane leaves Rochester upon hearing this secret, making her departing a duty. “([Jane] must renounce love an idol. One drear word compromised [her] intolerable] duty- “Depart!””(Bronte 335). Hence, Jane leaving Rochester is the negative consequence to his secret; neither Jane nor Rochester wants to separate but it must be done. Overall, without Rochester’s secret of having a wife kept in the attic, he, as a positive consequence of the secret, is able to fall in love with Jane, and she with him. As a negative consequence, Jane leaves Rochester because his secret deceived her. This secret and many more, contribute to the fact that the secrets in Jane Eyre contain both positive and negative

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