Chapters 27-28

This forum is for discussions of Jane Eyre, Chapters 27-28

Jane chooses the virtuous path rather than follow her heart and commit a sin in the eyes of those around her. She is tempted though because she feels sorry for Rochester and his situation as well as being in love with him. I think it is interesting that he uncle felt he must "save" her from a terrible fate when he never even met her. i find now that only Mrs. Pool and the doctors knew of Berthas relationship to rochester. I thought all staff knew including mrs. Fairfax.

Jane's path was very interesting. All her life she had a pathetic existence. She had an opportunity to change it with being a school governess at Lowood. That wasn't good enough.

She has the opportunity not to go with Rochester, but could have accepted Rochester's kindness. She did have the opportunity to get a new post with Rochester's help. That act showed me that she really had some faults and let her stubborness of "doing the right thing" fog clear thinking.

Jane chooses selflessness and is really trying to be a martyr. She has no one to judge her or ashame. She could have still kept her "goodness to God" and not been so stupid. When I say stupid, I mean acts of self preservation.

I think that it is interesting that her Uncle felt the need to help "save her", but when it came time for her to leave, she feels like she has no where to go....why doesn't she go to this uncle??

Also, I thought that it was sad that Jane is so physically weak. I understand that it is a different time, and that the author is iluustrating her mental strength in these chapters. But she seems like a weenie to me, falling and crawling, etc. It just doesn't seem to match up to her character.

I think Jane didn't go see her Uncle because of location. He was in Madeira. She had no way to get there.

As far as her weakness, these women of that time always were weak. Maybe it was because of poor health. No immune system and they never exerted themselves on a regular basis. They just sat sedentary all the time talking and reading. We are also talking about the women of the "middle and upper classes." I bet if she was a laborers wife she would have been more robust.