Assignment 6

Jane Eyre continues to become more and more interesting as we continue to read it. Chapter 16 was very interesting in that the mystery of Rochester’s bed fire remains unknown and the growing feelings Jane has for him. Jane is certain that it was Grace Pool who lit his bed on fire, yet is shocked when the next morning, no one seems to be alarmed and Grace acts like nothing happened. All the servants assumed his story was true and that he just fell asleep with the candle lit. Jane’s growing feelings for Rochester become obvious, as she talks about him frequently in the book. She is very disappointed to find out he will be gone for a week, attending a party with women much more beautiful than herself. As a bildungsroman novel, Jane has achieved much growth throughout the first third of the novel. She has lived in many places, from Gateshead and Lowood, now at Thornfield. She has grown from a small child living in a terrible environment, subject to physical and psychological violence. From there she lived in a harsh boarding school in squalor conditions where she slowly began to blossom and create an identity for herself. She is now a young woman, withholding a substantial job and becoming more independent. Although Jane has grown significantly in a positive way, there is still that air of mystery that keeps you guessing as to what will happen next. Her increasing infatuation with Rochester hints at a possible obsession that may develop, especially since this is her first experience with love.