The Woman that Saved My Life

Thornfield - Edward Rochester was lit on fire one night by his estranged wife Bertha Mason. None other than Jane Eyre was there to save the day. Rochester considers this to be the first time that he absolutely knew that he owed everything to Eyre and that he wanted no less than to have her hand in marriage.

Here to speak on the topic is Rochester himself. 

Q: "What did you first think of when Jane Eyre first showed up? You are quoted as saying, 'Do you want a present, Miss Eyre?' It seems that you may be off put by her nature."

A: "Well at first I was quite gruff. You haveto remember my position however. My child is quite spoiled and I wanted to use Jane as an example to her. Eyre 'beat around the bush' when it came to the present. She proved herself humble. You see at the time I was trapped in a loveless marriage with that crude women in my attic. For the most part this set me off to other women. I knew I probably would not be able to experience the love I had sought out in Bertha. I felt the need to test Jane before allowing her company in my household."

Q: "So that is why you seem to be so gruff in the first couple of chapters that she interacts with you?"

A: "If you must call it that, then yes. I suppose I needed to know that if this woman were to be around I needed to know for the sake of my mentality and that of my people that I wasn't letting anything mad woman run around my house."

Q: "How would you describe Bertha? What do you think of the women that left Mr. Mason with "one arm (that) was almost soaked in blood."

A: "Oh she was horrendous. I never knew how mad she really was. She is quite unhinged. It was such a terrible burden to hide her away from the world."

Q: "Do you think that locking her up only unhinged her more?"

A: "You read about how she stabbed her own brother! She bit him too! I don't know clinically what was wrong with that woman I am just glad to have been able to move on to better things with Jane. 

Q: "Do you remember much about the night you were set on fire by Mason?"

A: "I only really remember after I was put out. I was asleep when she started the fire had Eyre not barged in and covered me in a pail of water I probably would not be here today. I owe Jane my life."

Q:  "It is stated that 'Tongues of flame darted round the bed: the curtains were on fire. In the midst of blaze and vapour, Mr. Rochester lay stretched motionless, in deep sleep.' What are your thoughts on this passage?"

A: "Well I think it is quite obvious. I had been wary about letting another person onto my estate but I trusted her with my safety. I am not suprised she is the one that saved me. After I let my guard down we became quite close. For the most part I don't think she really understood what was going on in the estate but I trusted her nonetheless. She has a certain way about her that one can simply trust."

Q: "And after that you intended to marry the woman that proved herself to you and saved your life instead of running out of the house?"

A: "She is a brave woman and had my heart ever after that moment."