The Effect of Relationship with Rochester on Jane’s Personal Development

In Charlotte Bronte's novel “Jane Eyre” analyzing Mr.Rochester shows the reader how much he truly contributes to Jane’s development. The role he plays doesn’t impact Jane’s personal growth by itself, but the flow of the story as a whole. When Jane begins working as a governess for Mr.Rochester it is her first job out of her school Lowood, effectively he has given her a chance to experience freedom on her own. Jane always dreamt of venturing out and seeing the world; traveling to Thornfield gave her that opportunity and more. The author portrays a fine line between the differences of Jane and Mr.Rochester early on by defining and what they desire. Jane being a free spirit whom just wants to explore and find more to life, and Mr.Rochester just trying to find what it is that will match his passion; a love that is never ending.

All of Jane’s life she kept to herself, and was very independent because she was just doing what she had to do to get by. From a young age she had an idea of how society worked but didn’t understand the unfairness and difference between people’s social statuses. Upon meeting Mr.Rochester, Jane’s perspective on certain aspects changed, he was the first person who truly saw her worth and admired her. Jane and Mr.Rochester had a symbiotic kind of relationship, they both helped each other be a better version of themselves and they gave each other peace of mind. Jane felt secure around Mr.Rochester and realized she wanted to have mentally stimulating conversations with him. He was the only person Jane felt heard her words and understood her in a personal level. She felt a different kind of peace around Mr.Rochester, something she hadn’t felt before.

At first Mr.Rochester was only trying to objectify Jane, dressing her in expensive laces, and satins to try and reign over her, but instead they made her feel like a “performing ape” which shows the reader that she isn’t influenced by a materialistic view. This scenario can be conflicting as it is seen that Mr.Rochester collides with his own ideals which fuels the story and the development of the characters. Mr, Rochester wishes for someone that can match his passion yet doesn’t see himself with someone like him hence how he critiqued Blanche and Celine for being too materialistic or superficial even though in his own right he himself is materialistic. Mr.Rochester only started to change when he came to realize that he had love for Jane, and that he wished to spend his life with her.

After the time he spent with Jane, Mr.Rochester starts to feel different about her, he fell madly in love with her regardless of her poor background or the contrast between their personalities. Mr.Rochester was a wild and passionate man, on the other hand Jane was very quiet and shy. Jane was as much a presence to Mr.Rochester as he was to her, because of her he decides to change his lifestyle, he instead searches for freedom and freshness rather than the abrupt and wild behavior he exhibited before. He begins longing for conversations with her, he notices the small details about her, and he is observant and fond. This makes Jane feel flattered and see that she does not have to be dismal because of her past.

Jane valued her independence above all, even marriage, but Mr.Rochester convinced her that there was a way they could be together and still be as free as ever. All was well between Jane and Mr.Rochester until the wedding in which they had revealed of Mr.Rochester’s previous and still active marriage to a Bertha Mason. The reveal of his marriage caused conflict between their relationships for even though Jane loved him she couldn’t not be with a married man, hearing this crushed Mr.Rochester for he truly loved her, but even though the love was mutual he could not have her. Learning of Mr.Rochester’s marriage Jane decided she could no longer stay at Thornfield, even though she loved him, and wanted to spend her life with him she knew it would be wrong, she felt as if she would be his mistress.

Throughout the novel Mr.Rochester shows Jane the wonders of the world, and how it is a vast and mysterious place that could allow her to experience things she had only dreamt of. Mr.Rochester shows that he respects her need for independence and values her and the good head she has on her shoulders. Mr.Rochester didn’t change the way that Jane viewed the world but he created a bigger image for her, he gave her a different angle to see things from. Jane’s view had always been limited to her own tiny world, that is until she met Mr.Rochester who had the freedom she had so desperately desired.