Chapter 14

Summary

This chapter is hard to summarize, but I’ll do my best. So after a few days of going out to visit, Mr. Rochester stays at Thornfield, and calls Jane and Adèle down in the evening. He gives Adèle her eagerly awaited present, and commands Jane to sit in the chair opposite him. The rest of the chapter is Jane and Mr. Rochester bantering. They are both silent at first, and Jane takes the opportunity to observe him. He notices her glance, and asks her if she thinks he is handsome. Jane immediately blurts out “No, sir” (148), and though she recants her statement afterwards, Mr. Rochester takes notice of and appreciates her honesty (he later repays the favor by telling her she is not pretty any more than he is handsome). By his cryptic remarks, Jane comes to understand that he is a good man that did immoral deeds in the past and now regrets them. However, he is struggling against temptation to continue them again. Jane cautions him not to, and he agrees to stay on the right path. When it is nine o’ clock, Jane decides to put Adèle to bed, but she comes in the room with her new pink dress on, and Mr. Rochester says that she looks like a miniature version of her mother, Céline Varens. He promises Jane he will tell her about Adèle’s mother later.

Mr. Rochester and Jane get along very well, and he almost seems to read her mind at times. Mr. Rochester also seems to be very impressed by Jane, and thinks that her demure façade belies her impish, bold spirit. Likewise, Jane likes his strong personality, and thinks that it makes him not seem ugly. She also appreciates his asking whether his gruffness and lack of manners hurts her feelings despite the fact that he is her boss and above her socially.

Reaction

Overall, the conversation leaves me slightly confused, and slightly impressed. I half wish people talked like that today…but then everyone would be confused all the time. I love Jane’s reactions to Mr. Rochester in this chapter – especially when she smiles after realizing that her employer is asking her if his orders hurt her feelings, and also when she keeps asserting herself. Even better, Jane more than once secretly thinks that he must be drunk during their conversation. I find that hilarious. And the winner of my favorite quotation in this chapter is: “I have no wish to talk nonsense” (156) – Jane to Mr. Rochester when she says she would like to end the conversation.