Summary
Jane and Mr. Rochester have a small, quiet wedding. Jane tells John and Mary, the servants, about it and they have amusingly calm reactions. She also writes to Diana and Mary to explain the marriage and her history with Mr. Rochester. Her letter to St. John goes ignored for six months, but he eventually writes to her about everyday topics. Adèle’s school is much too harsh, so Jane puts her in a more balanced school. Present-day Jane tells us that Adèle’s education erases her childhood superficiality and flightiness, and she has grown into a sensible and sweet girl.
Ten years later, Jane updates the reader on her life. She and Mr. Rochester are very content together, because they are extremely close and their personalities mesh perfectly. Fortunately, Mr. Rochester eventually gains back the sight in one of his eyes after visiting a doctor, and now he can see for himself that their first-born boy has his brilliant, flashing, black eyes. In addition, Diana and Mary are happily married, and St. John is a missionary in India like he always wanted. St. John’s latest letter to Jane indicates that he is going to die soon, and he awaits heaven eagerly.
Reaction
Happy ending! It was actually a perfect ending to their love story. Nothing particularly grand, just a quiet, happy life. And Jane is sure that she has a marriage of equality, and I’m going to trust her on that one. St. John…dies happily? Okay. So he was just waiting for death? I’m even more relieved that Jane ended up with Mr. Rochester.
