An Interview with Adele Varens

Thornfield - Adele Varens was the first pupil of Jane Eyre when she became a governess. Jane Eyre had spent two years teaching at Lowood but her time there would not prepare her for what strange encounters she would recieve at Thornfield.

Through the interview of Varens, we will see just how well Jane Eyre handled herself.

Q: "Miss Varens, I'm curious do you think you and Jane are quite similar or are you disimilar?"

A: "I should not think so."

Q: "Do you think that was beneficial for your relationship?"

A: "I suppose it might. As a child I was very energetic. I don't think Jane could relate to that so much."

Q: "But when you were sent off to school it is said that Jane found you quite, 'pale and thin' and said that you, 'did not look happy.'"

A: "Oh yes, actually I often times forget that part of my life. I truly try to push past it. That school that I went to was quite unbearable."

Q: "Had Jane ever told you about Lowood?"

A: "Yes, however, not to a very deep extent."

Q: "Well she had a very similar experience at that school. Jane states that, "I took her home with me. I meant to become her governess once more, but I soon found this impracticable; my time and cares were now required by another—my husband needed them all. So I sought out a school conducted on a more indulgent system, and near enough to permit of my visiting her often."

A: "Yes, I in no way by saying that we are dissimilar meant any meanness toward her. I owe Jane quite a lot. Had she not been such a persistent tutor, I would have fared far worse there. An excerpt from her book that always makes me grow more and more fond of her every time I read it goes, "You have not quite forgotten little Adèle, have you, reader? I had not; I soon asked and obtained leave of Mr. Rochester, to go and see her at the school where he had placed her." Yes Jane was a very good friend and mentor.

Q: "What do you think we can attribute this to?"

A: "Well, in my honest opinion I think it would have to be the hardships she faced. I don't know what drove her to overcome each and everyone but she tackled them all with ferocity. Honestly, I felt more safe with her in the house. Some nights were very scary with Bertha and Grace running amok."

Q: "Jane writes that 'in return, with a degree of attachment sufficient to make us both content in each other's society.' What does she mean by that?"

A: "Well Jane coming to Thornfield could have gone various different ways. I being a child, feared that the most. I think what she meant there was here gratitude that we had come to terms with each. Not just come to terms but actually grew to like each other."

Q: "Jane is very harsh on herself for believing she could compete with Miss Ingram. She writes, 'That a greater fool than Jane Eyre had never breathed the breath of life; that a more fantastic idiot had never surfeited herself on sweet lies, and swallowed poison as if it were nectar.' Are you happy that she married Rochester?"

A: "Very much so. I don't think Miss Ingram would have brought much to the table other than her family and her money. Jane on the other hand saved Rochester and me. Jane Eyre is a welcomed part of my family. While her excerpt may be true it is also said that Rochester cares not of Ingram. I think he had found  a much richer passion for Jane than anyone in his whole life."