Mr. Rochester Quotes

Well, he is not a ghost; yet every nerve I have is unstrung: for a moment I am beyond my own mastery. What does that mean? I did not think I should tremble in this way when I saw him – or lose my voice or the power of motion in his presence. I will go back as soon as I can stir: I need not make an absolute fool of myself. I know another way to the house. It does not signify if I knew twenty ways; for he has seen me.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 22. Jane speaks of how she trembles, loses composure and feels nervous on seeing Rochester as she walks towards Thornfield. She didn’t think that she would react this way after her brief absense. What does it all mean, she asks herself? It clearly means that she is in love with Rochester.

“I have been with my aunt, sir, who is dead.”
“A true Janian reply! Good angels be my guard! She comes from the other world – from the abode of people who are dead; and tells me so when she meets me alone here in the gloaming! If I dared, I’d touch you, to see if you are substance or shadow, you elf! – but I’d as soon offer to take hold of a blue ignis fatuus light in a marsh.”

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 22. Jane meets up with Rochester after an absense of a month. During that time she was helping her cousins Georgiana and Eliza sort out affairs after their mother’s death. Rochester greets her cheerfully and teasingly, comparing to an other-worldly creature. Jane has indeed inhabited three very different worlds, Gateshead, Lowood and Thornfield. Ignis fatuus is a will-o-the-wisp, or a phosphorescent light that sometimes hovers over marshy ground.

I knew there would be pleasure in meeting my master again, even though broken by the fear that he was so soon to cease to be my master, and by the knowledge that I was nothing to him; but there was ever in Mr. Rochester (so, at least, I thought) such a wealth of the power of communicating happiness, that to taste but of the crumbs he scattered to stray and stranger birds like me, was to feast genially. His last words were balm. They seemed to imply that it imported something to him whether I forget him or not. And he had spoken of Thornfield as my home – would that it were my home!

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 22. On returning to Thornfield after a month’s absense in Gateshead Hall, Jane is greeted by Rochester. She is full of the joy of meeting him again. But she still calls him “master,” emphasizing their social class differences. To Jane, the love that she feels for Rochester is seemingly impossible and unrequited. She is happy with the metaphorical “crumbs” of friendship that he scatters to “stranger birds” like her. Yet while there is talk of marriage between him and Blanche Ingram, Jane notes that Rochester has referred to Thornfield as “your home.” This reveals Rochester’s desire that Jane should stay.

Mr. Rochester had sometimes read my unspoken thoughts with an acumen to me incomprehensible: in the present instance he took no notice of my abrupt vocal response; but he smiled at me with a certain smile he had of his own, and which he used but on rare occasions. He seemed to think too good for common purpose: it was the real sunshine of feeling – he shed it over me now.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 22. Jane’s thoughts about Rochester as they meet at the stile – she has just returned from visiting her dying aunt, and he from a trip to buy a new carriage. There is brief banter between them and Jane describes how Rochester gives her a smile he reserves for people he considers special. She likens it metaphorically to shedding sunshine over her. This is an incredibly romantic passage indicating the love bond that has grown between Rochester and Jane.

Thank you, Mr. Rochester, for your great kindness. I am strangely glad to get back again to you: and wherever you are is my home – my only home.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 22. Here Jane puts her feelings for Mr. Rochester on full display. She says this to him on her return to Thornfield after being at her aunt’s deathbed in Gateshead, her oppressive childhood home with so many unhappy memories. Jane is happy to be back in Thornfield, it has become like home to her. But home is not always a place and can sometimes be a person. Jane tells Rochester that he is that person to her.

And when friends are on the eve of separation, they like to spend the little time that remains to them close to each other. Come! we’ll talk over the voyage and the parting quietly half-an-hour or so, while the stars enter into their shining life up in heaven yonder: here is the chestnut tree: here is the bench at its old roots. Come, we will sit there in peace to-night, though we should never more be destined to sit there together.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 23. Mr. Rochester says this to Jane as they walk towards the horse chestnut tree in the orchard at Thornfield. He is telling her that he is to marry Miss Ingram and Jane must leave Thornfield. He has secured employment in Ireland for her and tells her that will never see each other again.

“I sometimes have a queer feeling with regard to you – especially when you are near me, as now: it is as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly and inextricably knotted to a similar string situated in the corresponding quarter of your little frame. And if that boisterous Channel, and two hundred miles or so of land come broad between us, I am afraid that cord of communion will be snapt; and then I’ve a nervous notion I should take to bleeding inwardly. As for you – you’d forget me.”
“That I never should, sir: you know” – impossible to proceed.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 23. Rochester speaks of the deep physical connection he has to Jane. He uses a striking simile with the image of a cord binding them together to convey the intensity of bond which unites them. He expresses the fear that if Jane travels hundreds of miles away to a job in Ireland, that cord will snap and she will forget him. Jane’s immediate response to that is – never! Rochester, who has told Jane that he is to marry Miss Ingram, is actually trying to determine Jane’s true feelings for him. This passage about the physical bond between them is foreshadowing of a supernatural occurance in Chapter 35, when Jane has left Rochester and is in Moor House – she hears the voice of Rochester calling her and she returns.

“I tell you I must go!” I retorted, roused to something like passion. “Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton? – a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! – I have as much soul as you, – and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh; – it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God’s feet, equal, – as we are!”
“As we are!” repeated Mr. Rochester – “so,” he added, enclosing me in his arms. Gathering me to his breast, pressing his lips on my lips: “so, Jane!”

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 23. Jane makes a passionate speech to Rochester, proclaiming her self-worth and equality, despite being of a poorer class than him. Her emotional outpouring comes after Rochester pretends to be engaged to beautiful socialite Miss Ingram, yet insists that Jane must stay. Despite her love for Rochester, Jane is adament that she will leave, asserting herself as an independent woman equal to Rochester. Using metaphors of food – “morsel of bread” and “drop of living water” – Jane reveals the depth of her passion for him. Had she been gifted with Miss Ingram’s beauty and wealth, he would find it hard to leave her, she boldly tells Rochester. After Jane lays bare her feelings for Rochester, he embraces and kisses her as an equal.

“Jane, be still; don’t struggle so, like a wild, frantic bird that is rending its own plumage in its desperation.”
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will, which I now exert to leave you.”

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 23. Mr. Rochester does not want Jane to leave him after she declares that she is because he is “as good as a married man.” He uses a nature simile to compare her to a desperate wild bird tearing its own feathers. However, the strong-willed and determined Jane rejects this imagery. She exerts her independence as a woman by declaring that she is no caged bird and is leaving to go to Ireland. Jane is very much a free woman and a revolutionary ahead of her time. She rejects the patriarchy of a Victorian society that treats women as subservient to men.

“Come to my side, Jane, and let us explain and understand one another.”
“I will never again come to your side: I am torn away now, and cannot return.”
“But, Jane, I summon you as my wife: it is you only I intend to marry.”
I was silent: I thought he mocked me.
“Come, Jane – come hither.”
“Your bride stands between us.”
He rose, and with a stride reached me.
“My bride is here,” he said, again drawing me to him, “because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?”

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 23. When Mr. Rochester proposes to Jane, she is full of doubt that a man of his social stature and wealth would want to marry a poor governess like her. She also thinks that Rochester is engaged to Miss Ingram. Rochester assures Jane of his feelings for her, saying that she is his equal and the one he wants for a bride. While Rochester loves Jane, his love is imperfect. For he doesn’t have the courage to tell Jane that he already has a wife – the mad Bertha Mason. So there is unintentional irony when Jane declares that “your bride stands between us,” mistakingly believing this to be Miss Ingram.

What love have I for Miss Ingram? None: and that you know. What love has she for me? None: as I have taken pains to prove: I caused a rumour to reach her that my fortune was not a third of what was supposed, and after that I presented myself to see the result; it was coldness both from her and her mother. I would not – I could not – marry Miss Ingram.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 23. Rochester reveals to Jane that there is no love between him and Miss Ingram. He tells her that Miss Ingram simply wanted to marry him for his money. When she learned that he wasn’t as wealthy as she thought, she turned cold.

“Jane, accept me quickly. Say, Edward – give me my name – Edward – I will marry you.”
“Are you in earnest? – Do you truly love me? Do you sincerely wish me to be your wife?”
“I do; and if an oath is necessary to satisfy you, I swear it.”
“Then, sir, I will marry you.”
“Edward – my little wife!”
“Dear Edward!”
“Come to me – come to me entirely now,” said he: and added, in his deepest tone, speaking in my ear as his cheek was laid on mine, “Make my happiness – I will make yours.”

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 23. Jane accepts the marriage proposal of the fiery, passionate and emotional Rochester. This passage, along with others in this very important chapter, shows why Jane Eyre is considered one of the greatest love stories.

And if I had loved him less I should have thought his accent and look of exultation savage; but, sitting by him, roused from the nightmare of parting – called to the paradise of union – I thought only of the bliss given me to drink in so abundant a flow. Again and again he said, “Are you happy, Jane?” And again and again I answered, “Yes.” After which he murmured, “It will atone – it will atone. Have I not found her friendless, and cold, and comfortless? Will I not guard, and cherish, and solace her? Is there not love in my heart, and constancy in my resolves? It will expiate at God’s tribunal. I know my Maker sanctions what I do. For the world’s judgment – I wash my hands thereof. For man’s opinion – I defy it.”

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 23. Jane recalls her joyful reaction to Mr. Rochester’s marriage proposal and his declaration of his love for her. Rochester believes that his genuine love for the friendless and needy Jane will find approval from God. “It will atone,” he says, and “expiate at God’s tribunal.” This foreshadows the dark secret that Rochester is hiding from Jane and will later be revealed to her. He is already wed to mad woman Bertha Mason, so taking another wife amounts to bigamy.

“This morning I wrote to my banker in London to send me certain jewels he has in his keeping, – heirlooms for the ladies of Thornfield. In a day or two I hope to pour them into your lap: for every privilege, every attention shall be yours that I would accord a peer’s daughter, if about to marry her.”
“Oh, sir! – never rain jewels! I don’t like to hear them spoken of. Jewels for Jane Eyre sounds unnatural and strange: I would rather not have them.”
“I will myself put the diamond chain round your neck, and the circlet on your forehead, – which it will become: for nature, at least, has stamped her patent of nobility on this brow, Jane; and I will clasp the bracelets on these fine wrists, and load these fairy-like fingers with rings.”
“No, no, sir! think of other subjects, and speak of other things, and in another strain. Don’t address me as if I were a beauty; I am your plain, Quakerish governess.”
“You are a beauty in my eyes, and a beauty just after the desire of my heart, – delicate and aërial.”
“Puny and insignificant, you mean. You are dreaming, sir, – or you are sneering. For God’s sake don’t be ironical!”

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 24. After proposing to Jane, Rochester wants to drape her in the family jewels and finery for their wedding, as befits her new social position. He wants the world to pay attention to Jane, as she is a beauty in his eyes. But the modest Jane doesn’t want any of this, it doesn’t feel natural or comfortable to her. She protests that she doesn’t see herself as a beauty, but is “your plain, Quakerish governess.” And she admonishes Rochester not to be ironical by calling her a beauty.

To women who please me only by their faces, I am the very devil when I find out they have neither souls nor hearts – when they open to me a perspective of flatness, triviality, and, perhaps, imbecility, coarseness, and ill-temper; but to the clear eye and eloquent tongue, to the soul made of fire, and the character that bends but does not break – at once supple and stable, tractable and consistent I am ever tender and true…I never met your likeness, Jane; you please me, and you master me – you seem to submit, and I like the sense of pliancy you impart…I am influenced – conquered; and the influence is sweeter than I can express; and the conquest I undergo has a witchery beyond any triumph I can win.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 24. Rochester is responding to Jane’s expressions of concern that his love will not last – “I suppose your love will effervesce in six months, or less.” In this speech he tells her how he admires an independent and strong-minded woman who has a voice of her own. He assures Jane that he has found this in her and promises to be always tender and true. He spells out the characteristics that caused him to be “conquered” by Jane – “eloquent tongue,” “soul made of fire,” etc. – and says that he has never met her likeness.

It was a fairy, and come from Elf-land, it said; and its errand was to make me happy: I must go with it out of the common world to a lonely place – such as the moon, for instance – and it nodded its head towards her horn, rising over Hay-hill: it told me of the alabaster cave and silver vale where we might live. I said I should like to go; but reminded it, as you did me, that I had no wings to fly.
“Oh,” returned the fairy, “that does not signify! Here is a talisman will remove all difficulties;” and she held out a pretty gold ring. “Put it,” she said, “on the fourth finger of my left hand, and I am yours, and you are mine; and we shall leave earth, and make our own heaven yonder.” She nodded again at the moon. The ring, Adèle, is in my breeches-pocket, under the disguise of a sovereign: but I mean soon to change it to a ring again.
“But what has mademoiselle to do with it? I don’t care for the fairy: you said it was mademoiselle you would take to the moon?”
“Mademoiselle is a fairy,” he said, whispering mysteriously.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 24. Rochester is telling Adele a fairy tale while driving in the carriage. In the story Jane becomes a fairy with magical powers. She arrives from Elf-land with an errant to make Rochester happy. Rochester hopes that through Jane to magically wipe out all his past transgressions so that he can begin a new, fresh life. But even 10-year-old Adele is skeptical of Rochester’s fanciful tale, as she ridicules it and protests “I don’t care for the fairy.”

My future husband was becoming to me my whole heart, and more than the world – almost my hope of heaven. He stood between me and every thought of religion, as an eclipse intervenes between man and the broad sun. I could not, in those days, see God for his creature of whom I had made an idol.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 24. Jane totally worships Rochester. Her obsession with him is even more important to her than her need for God or religion. He has become her idol and almost her “hope of heaven.” Loving Rochester is her new religion. Jane uses a nature simile to compare her losing sight of her religion and God to an eclipse of “the broad sun.” Such an eclipse would plunge the world into darkness, hinting at Rochester’s disturbing secret and how he may lead Jane down a morally murky path. A dark outcome to Jane’s worship at the altar of their love is being foreshadowed. An older Jane looking back on this moment admits that her judgment is clouded by her strong passion for Rochester.

You shall see what sort of a being I was cheated into espousing, and judge whether or not I had a right to break the compact, and seek sympathy with something at least human.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 26. After being outed as already married at his wedding ceremony to Jane, Rochester pities himself. Claiming he was forced into marriage by his father, he tells Jane that his wife Bertha Mason is mad and comes from a family of idiots and maniacs going back three generations. He demonizes Bertha, suggesting she is less than human, and invites Jane to come to the house and see the patient for herself.

He passed on and ascended the stairs, still holding my hand, and still beckoning the gentlemen to follow him, which they did. We mounted the first staircase, passed up the gallery, proceeded to the third story: the low, black door, opened by Mr. Rochester’s master key, admitted us to the tapestried room, with its great bed and pictorial cabinet.
“You know this place, Mason,” said our guide; “she bit and stabbed you here.”

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 26. Rochester is leading Jane up to the third floor of Thornfield to see his mad wife Bertha Mason, who is kept in a locked room. This passage evokes a very Gothic atmosphere, as Rochester’s skeleton in the closet is about to be revealed.

“That is my wife,” said he. “Such is the sole conjugal embrace I am ever to know – such are the endearments which are to solace my leisure hours! And this is what I wished to have” (laying his hand on my shoulder): “this young girl, who stands so grave and quiet at the mouth of hell, looking collectedly at the gambols of a demon. I wanted her just as a change after that fierce ragout. Wood and Briggs, look at the difference! Compare these clear eyes with the red balls yonder – this face with that mask – this form with that bulk; then judge me, priest of the Gospel and man of the law, and remember, with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged!”

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 26. Rochester gives his reasons for attempting to remarry while he already has a wife. Introducing Bertha to Jane, he portrays her as a grotesque monster, her physical appearance reflecting her inner madness. She has “red balls” for eyes, a “mask” for a face, and “bulk” for a body. Jane by contrast has “clear eyes,” a proper “face,” and “form.” To Rochester Bertha is no human wife but a devil from the “mouth of hell.” He challenges religious priests and lawyers to judge him for his bigamous attempt to marry Jane.

Jane, I never meant to wound you thus. If the man who had but one little ewe lamb that was dear to him as a daughter, that ate of his bread and drank of his cup, and lay in his bosom, had by some mistake slaughtered it at the shambles, he would not have rued his bloody blunder more than I now rue mine. Will you ever forgive me?

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 27. Rochester pleads with Jane to forgive him after it is revealed that he is already married. The passage contains a Biblical allusion to 2 Samuel 12:3 – “The poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.”

Reader! – I forgave him at the moment, and on the spot. There was such deep remorse in his eye, such true pity in his tone, such manly energy in his manner; and, besides, there was such unchanged love in his whole look and mien – I forgave him all; yet not in words, not outwardly; only at my heart’s core.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 27. After Jane’s wedding to Rochester is interrupted by the announcement that he already has a wife, he asks will she ever forgive him. Jane sees the deep remorse and love in his eyes and she forgives him – not in words, but in her heart. However that doesn’t mean she is going to remain under the same roof with him.

Though I possess an old house, Ferndean Manor, even more retired and hidden than this, where I could have lodged her safely enough, had not a scruple about the unhealthiness of the situation, in the heart of a wood, made my conscience recoil from the arrangement. Probably those damp walls would soon have eased me of her charge: but to each villain his own vice; and mine is not a tendency to indirect assassination, even of what I most hate.

– Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre, Chapter 27. Rochester explains himself to Jane about imprisoning his mad wife in a room in the attic at Thornfield. He attempts to humanize his actions by saying that he could have housed her in Ferndean Manor, an old house full of dampness and hidden in a wood.
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