Frida's Blog by Frida Lopez

chapters 1-10 2/11

flopez20212_1 — 2021-02-12 01:31:37 UTC

This is probably the first book I have read that really talks about the idea of God, and his meaning in life. Jane has shown character growth, although it had only been 10 chapters, due to her relationship with Helen Burns. They were good friends during her time at the institution. They both clicked because they were both subject to abuse from a higher authority and both were not “ideal victorian women”. I really do believe that Jane loved her. In chapter 4 when she first meets Mr. Brocklehurst, he asks her about the bible and she responds with how she finds it uninteresting and doesn't care about the psalms. In this stage, she doesn't care about it and sees it as the root of hypocrisy and how Mr. Brocklehurst and Mrs. Reed uses it to be able to justify the abuse towards Jane. Later on at Helens death bed, Jane asks, “Where is God? What is God?” Helen responds with “My Maker and yours, who will never destroy what he created...God is my father; God is my friend: I love him; I believe he loves me.”(pg. 86) The last few moments of Helen's breathing life they were talking about God and his immense love for his creation. Although I do not consider myself a religious person, many find their happiness in their faith and in their God. Fast forward to ch. 10, Jane decides to continue with her prayer and teaches her students prayers. This is all due to Helen. I think Helen might be her “God” in this next phase of her life. We know that God was Helens happiness, I feel like Jane's happiness is Helen. I believe Bronte will continue with this theme of religion and I will love to see if it is still prominent in her life.

chapters 1-10 2/11

flopez20212_1 — 2021-02-12 01:40:17 UTC

In reading the first ten chapters of Jane Eyre, I will not lie, I was confused in the beginning. As I continued reading I was able to understand it more, and I actually connected a lot of things from the text to pop culture, creating these different parallels that helped me continue enjoying the book. When I first read the phrase “red room”, I thought of The Shining, and how Danny would say “red rum”. Although both have a different context, Danny saw ghosts and Jane thought she did and there was her uncle's corpse. Jane reminded me a lot of Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice, both were not afraid to speak up, they were open minded, strong independent women. They never really craved the male validation as most “ideal victorian women” did (at least in the beginning). During Jane’s time in the school/ institution( also institution sounds like a prison and not safe for children), the way she described it reminded me of The Queen's Gambit. Both Beth Harmon and Jane’s parents were gone and they both lived in an orphanage type facility. I hated how at the end of her stay at Reeds residency, her aunt kept on telling her she cared about her and she was a good person. Just because she wasn't up to the ideal female standards, doesn't mean she doesn't matter.

chapters 11-19 2/22

flopez20212_1 — 2021-02-23 04:34:37 UTC

Is Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester in love? “I expect you to appear in the drawing- room every evening; it is my wish; don't neglect it. Now go, and send Sophie for Adele. Good- night, my-.” He stopped, bit his lip and abruptly left me” (Bronte 179). I knew he really, really wanted to say good night, my love. He opened up to Jane, something I never pictured because the way he was described as strict and intimidating I believed he would be completely closed off. He talked about his late wife and the way he “adopted” Adele and cared for her. He stayed extra weeks than he usually does to be around Jane. Also conducting the party with a bunch of socialettes. He is gentle with her. Also when Jane saved Mr. Rochester life he gives her his cloath to make sure she was warm when he was freezing cold. I am interested in how this relationship will pan out and come together. Maybe they will end up together, but this is Jane's first relationship. She suffered a lot of abuse growing up and she is finally free now. Also the idea that she is half his age. I wonder what will manifest in their relationship.

chapter 11-19 2/22

flopez20212_1 — 2021-02-23 04:54:34 UTC

Supernatural. The theme continues throughout. We noticed in the first ten chapters that the supernatural and all things we deem as not normal come to Jane. When she was in the red- room she experienced the feeling of being in the presence of her uncle's body and all the negative surroundings around her. She recalls the crazy and the darkness. Now at Thornfield, she also experiences supernatural the night of Mr. Rochester attempted murder. She heard the laugh and thought it was some mysterious thing surrounding her. She recalls it to be demonic and deep. She continued hearing noises, and being struck with fear. She used before as a coping mechanism but now it still continues. We can tell that Bronte will continue this supernatural theme. Whenever Jane arrives at a new place she gets the sense of mystery and this very prominent fear.

chapters 20 -26 03/05

flopez20212_1 — 2021-03-04 07:32:38 UTC

Jane <3 Rochester. For Victorian english women, marriage was anaming thing and so many women looked forward to marriage. But Jane does not. She is a simple person who still wants to take care of Adele and educate her; while earning a yearly wage as her governess. I predicted that Jane and Rochester would end up together earlier. I think Jane does not care about marriage because one she is already a simple and independent person. She doesn't have to depend on a man for her living, and that is why she still wants to work. She also knows that Rochester has been married before and he has been to the rodeo before. He was also engaged to someone who he really didn't want to be with. So there is also the idea that he might not completely love her. He barely confesses her love for him but also he attempts to spoil her. Giving her jewels and a fancy veil. I think Jane also notes his behavior when Jane states at the very end of chapter 24, “ My future husband was becoming to me my whole world; and more than the world: almost my hope of heaven. He stood between me and every thought of religion.. made an idol.”(Bronte 266.) Earlier in the book, Helen was her “God” and now it is Rochester. She idolizes anyone who shows her comfort, protection, and love that she unfortunately did not receive when she was younger.

chapters 20-26 03/05

flopez20212_1 — 2021-03-04 08:10:17 UTC

Chestnut tree splitting in half but still together at the base. It was definitely a foreshadowing of Janes and Rochester's engagement/ wedding. How they might separate and break off. The day after Rochester confesses his love for her and asks for her hand in marriage, and bam lightning bolt splits the tree in half. Bronte uses this sudden weather change to note that this engagement will not last. MAny associate lighting or any storm to God, and we know that Helen is Jane’s christ figure: could Helen be sending a message that this marriage will not work in the future? After we find out that Mr. Rochester's first wife is still alive and metally ill, we know their wedding is not going to happen for the meantime. Bronte doesn't express much of Jane's anger or frustration. Jane was lied to, she believed that his first wife was dead but in reality she was at Thornfield the whole time. She was even the one causing all the “supernatural” stuff Jane had been experiencing. Back to the tree, Jane still loves Rochester and Rochester still loves Jane. They definitely have to separate for a while to handle the situation, now that we discover Rochester's wife is alive. But at the root they are still connected to each other and still care for each other.

chapters 27- 33 03/15

flopez20212_1 — 2021-03-15 23:42:43 UTC

Yayyy Jane! She got money from her dead Uncle. Wow, it's crazy how not too long for her she was going door to door begging for food and asylum and now she has a lot of money. With that amount of money you have the opportunity for anything, but Jane decided to give it to her cousins. The fact that Jane gave her money to her cousins which I thought was the kindest gesture ever. If I was Jane I would have run away to the farthest part of the world with my money and start my life up somewhere else. After all of what Jane has experienced in the 18 years of her life, I would go to a place where no one knows me. I think she feels bad for her cousins that the uncle that gave her the money is the same guy who made St. John, Diana, and Mary’s father lose his money. I think she doesn't want any more family to hate her. She chooses to surround herself with family and acceptance rather than money and disappearance. When I think of this situation, I think of “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Lemons being the money, lemonade being sharing the money.

chapters 27-33 03/15

flopez20212_1 — 2021-03-16 01:13:27 UTC

I would love to have Jane's sense of forgiveness. After everything that Rochester did to Jane, lying to her knowing that they could never be married as long as his current wife lives. He embarrassed her in front of everyone. But Jane just forgives him, doesn't tell him but deeps down forgives 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.. Only at my heart's core”(Bronte 290). She obviously still loves Rochester so much. I think she needs some time apart for him and decides if she really wants him. Rochester will return somehow because why would Jane forgive him, just to give up on him. She will always love Rochester and they will somehow come back to each other.

I really hated Rochester for what he did Jane and Bertha, locking Bertha up because of her mental illness, lying to Jane. He kept her apart from everyone else. A part of me does not want Rochester and Jane to be together because Jane has a lot of money, and Rochester seems a little power hungry. I still don't believe Rochester will treat her equal, if they end up together.

chapters 34 -38 03/20

flopez20212_1 — 2021-03-21 05:10:22 UTC

Wow! The ending of Jane Eyre was the ending I was hoping for. Everyone ended up happy and safe. Jane ended up with Rochester, St. John with a good relationship with God, Diana and Mary happily married. I predicted earlier in the blogs that after Jane left Thornfield, she would end up back with Rochester. And she did! She was so happy to be finally back with him. Also, Rochester got his eyesight restored in one eye, which I find awesome that he can finally see Jane again.

Also, in the beginning of the book we knew that Jane would not care to leave things uncomfortable or would always leave her opinion, but now she is compassionate and decides to make peace instead of leaving things uncomfortable. Which is something I very much admire about her. She has grown a lot throughout the book. I am happy that she has a family now and she is her own “mistress” (Brontes words, not mine lol).

I am also SUPER HAPPY, that Jane saved Adele from the horrible school. She saw her unhappy, depressed, and super skinny. She took her out of that school and made the effort to be her governess again; even though it did not work, Jane found a good school for her. Jane saw herself in Adele in that moment, and she did what she wanted Mrs. Reed to do for her at lockwood. Now Adele and Jane have a very good relationship, maybe like mother and daughter even.

chapters 34 - 38 03/20

flopez20212_1 — 2021-03-21 05:44:43 UTC

“Jane, you would not repent marrying me; be certain of that; we must be married. I repeat it; there is no other way” (Bronte 389)

Ok, like first of all Jane and St. John are cousins. Even though at that time period it wasnt frowned upon as it should be, it's very very very wrong. And Jane repeatedly said no and declined his hand in marriage multiple times. But St. John continually harassed her into making her marry him. If that was in our time period, that would not be acceptable at all. St. John makes me very uncomfortable.

When I was reading that chapter and listening to Jane's insight it reminded me of the show Everything Sucks!. In the show, Luke wants to be in a relationship with Kate, but in reality Luke just wants a distraction. She says “you like the idea of me, you like the idea of having a girlfriend” ( Outer Banks copied this quote from this show :( ). WHich basically what St. John does to Jane. Yea he likes her, but I think he just wants to be married. He knows that Jane is an amazing person. But he just wants to use her for his trip to India. Which again, it was expected in the time period, you didn't really marry for love but mostly out of convenience. Which is another reason why I love Jane and Rochetser so much together because they have a really nice bond.

Anyway St. John is a horrible person.

Reference starts at 2:00 minutes if you want to her it, it's also used in a bunch of TikTok videos. Its a pretty popular sound. :)