she goes back to Mr Rochester. So when I read the famous words, 'Reader, I married him' (which I always thought were written by Jane Austen, SHAME on me!), I yelled YES! Bloody Yes! inwardly of course   So flipping satisfying that she and Edward had a child and never tired of each other's company, as she feared he might do of hers a good few paragraphs earlier.

I'll let you in on a secret. I read The Eyre Affair not long ago and when Thursday Next talks about Jane Eyre having a naff ending, that she goes off to India with St John, I took it literally   I had it in my head that I'd read Jane Eyre years ago, but I couldn't remember the ending, so failed to see the irony and humour in Thursday Next's comments and assumed Jane really did trek off to the Far East. It's with this in mind that I read JE - right up until the line, 'Reader I married him'. So imagine my glee when I realised Jane DID go back to Mr Rochester and my D-O-H! moment when it dawned on me that Thursday Next's rewriting of Jane Eyre in The Eyre Affair was Jasper Fforde being tongue in cheek! I thought that Thursday changed the ending to one we all wanted to read, but really it was only in TEA that Jane went with whinging St John to India. Now I see how witty Jasper Fforde was being - obviously I didn't see it at the time, but when I read the exact ending Thursday described ('Jane, Jane, Jane'), and the revelation dawned on me, I had to giggle. I couldn't help but picture Thursday Next in the wings, impersonating Rochester's voice at the point we think Jane may give in to St John and accept his marriage proposal. Genius, Mr Fforde  

Right, back to Jane Eyre. I thought it was wonderful. I must admit, I found it dragged a bit when Jane decided to go wandering in the wilderness. I thought Mr Rochester was out of the picture altogether, of course  , and I was having Mr R withdrawal symptoms.  I remember thinking there were pages and pages to get through and for what? To see Jane ending up as a missionary's assistant. The thought, and injustice, of it made me want to chuck the book at the wall and I wondered how could this book be such a favourite amongst my book loving friends. I'm such a wally, aren't I?  

The ending was a fab surprise and totally saved the book (and myself  ). In a way, I'm glad I thought it was otherwise as it's been all the more satisfying to be proved wrong  

I thought St John was horrible. No doubt engineered to contrast with Mr R and make us pine for his return to the novel. He was brainwashing Jane because she was convenient for him and she no doubt felt indebited to him for saving her life, so gave in to his whims. As to the far fetched story of her ending up at Moor House, well after reading the ending and how a psychic link up of their souls reunited Jane and Mr R, I'm wondering if it was Fate who led Jane to her cousins' door? The light she saw across the moor was like the star the three wise men followed. I read in the notes that Charlotte Bronte heard voices dictating poetry to her, so after reading that and understanding it to be something she believed in, made the idea of external/supernatural forces seeking to unite characters in the book plausible. Hoping not to sound twee, I believe the Universe provides us with our hearts' desires and gives us signs to show we're on the right path, so this could be what is going on in the book. Just a thought.

I got the impression that Jane and Rochester were struggling to gain the upper hand over one another whenever they met. She particularly liked to tease and manipulate him. It must've been a thrill to wind him up:

Quote:

It little mattered whether my curiosity irritated him: I knew the pleasure of vexing and soothing him by turns; it was one I chiefly delighted in, and a sure instinct always prevented me from going too far: beyond the verge or provocation I never ventured; on the extreme brink I liked well to try my skill. Retaining every minute form of respect, every propriety of my station, I could still meet him in argument without fear of uneasy restraint: this suited both him and me.

Jane saved his life and in response he practically declared his feelings for her, making him vulnerable, and giving her the upper hand in the relationship. She wanted to question him about the fire, but instead he leaves with no bye or leave thereby taking control again, keeping her guessing. Quite cruel really! I also wonder if he wanted to avoid Jane's questions about who caused the fire, as well as to get away from the dungeon that Thornfield was for him.

It bugs me that Jane never takes Rochester aside and asks exactly what is going on in the attic. And he expects her to stay up all night to tend an injured man without any explanation. Using her because she's convenient, or cos he trusts her not to talk? You wouldn't go through that then agree to marry the man without some sort of explanation. How could he bring her to the brink of discovering Bertha, then not bother to reveal her existence? I know he was in desperate measures, but it was a despicable way to treat Jane's intelligence. Why doesn't she ask what's going on? . But then, if he's forever galloping off, it's no wonder she doesn't get the chance to ask! Blinkered by her love for him perhaps, and Rochester no doubt wanting to secure her love, afraid she'll leave if all is revealed.

I agree with Glynis, the character of Jane seems unlikely to give up on finding out what happened with the fire so easily... It seems she is content to believe that Grace Poole did it, but with no meaningful enquiry into why... oh well, I guess I'll have to read it all again to find out why!

I quite liked Jane; she was independent and a survivor – so why oh why did she fall for Edward Rochester??????

It must have been because he was the first ‘single’ man she had a chance to get to know.  What does this man have going for him? He’s ugly, he’s twenty years older than her, he likes to play underhand practical jokes, (dressing as a gipsy to try and get Jane to tell him what she felt), and he was ultimately very selfish.  He was more than willing to betray Jane by marrying her when he was already married.  Nice man!

But having said all that, compared to the other male characters in the book he was the best of the bunch.  John Reed may only have been a boy when she lived with them but what a very unpleasant, violent spoilt child.

Then there was Mr Brocklehurst.  A strict harsh man who didn’t practise what he preached.  Depriving the children of food and decent clothing because he ‘believed’ that he was his duty to God to do so, yet his wife and daughter were dressed in finery and were well fed.  

Then there was St John –I don’t love you be you would be a good missionary wife so marry me - ???????. Very romantic.

So I think Edward Rochester was best of a bad lot.  I did think better of him by the end of the book, when he had risked his own life to save his wife’s but I hated the way he spoke about her and the language he used to describe her when she was in the attic.

As to the question why didn’t Jane ask more questions about what was going on in the attic – sometimes you don’t ask the question because you don’t really want to know the answer.

I liked the book rather than loved it but it has wakened an interest in the Bronte’s. It is said that the book contains a lot of Charlotte own life, if this is right which of the religious figure represent her father?   Did Miss Temple represent her mother?  Dianna and Mary her sisters?  I must find out more.

Yes, I can see why Jane was concerned that he would just have his wicked way then send her on her way.  But I think he should have understand the situation and have realised that she won't have declared her feelings until she was certain of his. Mind you if he had been better behaved towards Jane the story would have been rubbish.

I loved the scenes where Jane discovers the River family and becomes accepted by them, after her wanderings in the wilderness. I'd completely forgotten the fact that she was their cousin, so when St John told her about her fortune and how they all were related, I really felt for Jane'e elation at the discovery that she has a family to love.

I did like Mr Rochester and can see why Jane loves him. However all the mind games he played were soooo annoying. I felt like shaking him. Also the bit where he threatens to be violent wasn't too impressive.

St John was hideous and it makes you wonder why Jane put up with him, but perhaps that's just a sign of the times. She gave him £5000 and yet he still parted company with her saying that she's borderline to condeming herself to Hell. His self importance was awful, but the subserviant side of Jane let him get away with it.