Chapter 11-16

Chapters 11-16

Summary

Jane arrives at Thornfield to meet Mrs Fairfax who Jane has supposed to be the owner, but who was really the housekeeper. As Mrs Fairfax and Jane are talking, there is a strange laughter, and it seems a woman named grace is too blame. Jane meets Adele and has settled into life at Thornfield. Jane unexpectedly meets Mr Rochester after he falls from his horse. Jane and Adele have tea with Mr Rochester and after Jane learns the reasons why Mr Rochester is ‘changeful and abrupt’ from Mrs Fairfax. Rochester sends for Adele and Jane one evening and is strangely talkative. Mr Rochester tells Jane of Adele’s mother- Celine Varens. Whilst lying awake in bed Jane once again hears the strange laughter this time much closer in the hallway, she leaves her room to find smoke and on entering Rochester’s room finds that his bed curtains are on fire. She saves his life by throwing water upon the flames. They discover it is Grace Poole the seamstress. Jane is confused when she discovers that the staff believes Mr Rochester caused the fire himself. Jane is sad to learn that Rochester is to go away for a few days and consequently realises she has feelings for him.

Characters

Jane has developed as character. Her time at Lowood has greatly benefited her. Jane seems to be reformed in her behaviour; she is more reserved and seems to holdback, although she is still as wild as ever in her thoughts, she now knows how to control her ever colourful imagination. Mrs Fairfax is introduced as a kind old woman who Jane immediately warms too and who seems to almost answer the reader’s questions as well as Jane’s. Adele is introduced as a lively young girl whom Jane teaches. Mr Rochester is also introduced as Jane meets him unexpectedly as she is on a moonlit walk. He appears to be a humble, fair and passionate man, much like Jane herself. At first he seems to be rather abrupt and at first a rather disagreeable character, however as the story progresses we warm to him as does Jane. We also meet Grace Poole the unruly seamstress who carries an aura of mystery about her, she adds more depth to the plot as the reader becomes intrigued in her story.

Themes

We see a clearly present theme of Freedom and new beginnings. Jane is free from her troublesome childhood and is now able to begin her new life at Thornfield where she can develop yet further in a social, emotional and intellectual context. Passion is also a key theme as both Jane and the newly introduced Mr Rochester seem to exude this quality also followed by love and friendship. Classes are also apparent as Jane learns of Blanche Ingram and social society.

Motifs & symbols

Mystery is a motif in these chapters as it appears on several occasions. The most obvious being the evening in which Jane saves Mr Rochester from the fire, also Grace Poole is a very mysterious character. The reasons that Rochester is allowing Adele to stay at Thornfield even whilst he believes her not to be her daughter is a mystery.


Personal Response

Jane is progressing on an emotional level and as the reader I begin to warm to her as she leaves her troubles in the past and begins to be content or at least for the time being. I feel that I am really starting to get an understanding of Jane and she seems to me to be much more likeable. As the new characters also develop so does the plot and I am much more involved than I have been thus far.