What does Bertha represent in Jane Eyre?
Bertha Mason She impedes Jane’s happiness, but she also catalyses the growth of Jane’s self-understanding. The mystery surrounding Bertha establishes suspense and terror to the plot and the atmosphere. Further, Bertha serves as a remnant and reminder of Rochester’s youthful libertinism.
What does Bertha symbolize?
Bertha is a symbol for many cultures exploited and repressed by the British Empire. Brontë writing Bertha as the “mad woman” represents the fear that the English had if miscegenation was to occur between the British and “other” cultures.
Why does Bertha RIP Jane’s veil?
Bertha’s tearing of Jane’s wedding veil could be seen as symbolizing her revolt against the institution of marriage. Another interpretation is that Rochester’s marriage to Bertha represents the British Empire’s cultural and economic exploitation of its colonial subjects.
Can Bertha be seen as the dark side of Jane Eyre?
Most of the literary critics have focused on the heroine Jane in Bronte’s Jane Eyre, and considered Bertha Mason, the mad woman in the attic, only the dark double of Jane. However, the study of Bertha not as a dark side of Jane, but as an independent character has draw a comparatively less attention than that of Jane.
What is the Red Room in Jane Eyre?
When, at the end of chapter one, Jane defends herself against her cousin John Reed’s beating, Jane’s Aunt Reed punishes her by locking her in what Jane calls “the red room.” The red room is the room in which Aunt Reed’s husband, Jane’s biological uncle, died; unsurprisingly, Jane and her cousins believe it to be …
Is Bertha Mason a foil to Jane Eyre?
Bertha is both a foil and mirror to Jane Eyre. She represents the angry self that Jane has rejected and repressed as an adult. Yet Jane had been like Bertha as a child, acting out in rage against patriarchy and imprisoned in the red-room, just as the rage-filled Bertha is imprisoned in the Thornfield attic.
Who is Bertha in sweat?
Bertha is Sykes’ mistress from another town. She comes to live in a boarding house that he pays for. Most of the men of the town dislike Bertha and consider her ugly, but Sykes prefers her over Delia. Joe owns the village store and has the respect of the neighbors who spend time on his porch.
Does Rochester consider himself handsome?
Mr. Rochester is not classically handsome. As Jane describes him, he is of middling height, has a harsh face, and is past his first youth. She falls in love with him for reasons other than his looks.
Did Mrs Fairfax know about Bertha?
Fairfax did know about Bertha Mason-Rochester, however, her fear of bigamy came into play when Blanche Ingram came into the picture.
Is Grace Poole Bertha Mason?
Grace Poole is Bertha Mason’s keeper at Thornfield, whose drunken carelessness frequently allows Bertha to escape. When Jane first arrives at Thornfield, Mrs. Fairfax attributes to Grace all evidence of Bertha’s misdeeds.
Did Bertha Mason have syphilis?
Study focus: Mr Rochester and Bertha Mason/Rochester It is suggested that Bertha’s sexual excess caused her mental illness, which implies that her instability might have been caused by the final stages of syphilis rather than being genetic. Such a discussion of the cause of her mental state makes it seem quite real.
Is Bertha Mason black?
She is a Creole, the daughter of a white European settler in the West Indies.
What did Jane Eyre say about Bertha Mason?
Later in the novel, Jane sees Bertha’s burning passionate nature and it warns her that she will only become the maniac that Bertha has if she follows her passion and her temptation for her one love Mr. Rochester.
Why does Bertha tear the bridal veil in Jane Eyre?
Although Jane does not manifest this fear or rage, Bertha does. Thus, Bertha tears the bridal veil, and it is Bertha’s existence that stops the wedding from going forth.
What was the nature of Jane and Bertha?
Their natures are full of passion and fire, which they allow the whole world to see flaming. Nature reflects Jane and Bertha’s moods. Because they reveal their own nature it is reflected through the nature in the settings of the novel, unlike any of the other women in the book.
What happens at the end of Jane Eyre?
At the moment the dream ended Jane woke up to Bertha, “it removed my veil from its gaunt head, rent it into two parts, and flinging both on the floor trampled on them.” (p.442).