Jane Eyre Chapters 35-36 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
10-24-12

Chapters 35-36

Summary: In chapter 35, St. John is still angry at Jane for refusing to be his wife, she talks to him and tries to make amends the night before he leaves for India, and he tries to convince her to go as a coadjutor to another woman, but she refuses to go with strangers. She is persuaded by St. John and almost agrees to marry him when she hears a voice in her head, Mr. Rochester's voice was calling her. In chapter 36,  Jane gets a letter from St. John that says he wants her answer for marriage in a fortnight. She decides to leave for four days to visit Mr. Rochester and Thornfield Hall. When she arrives, the hall is in ruins, and she finds out that the building burnt down in a fire the autumn before.  Bertha had set fire to the house. In the fire, Bertha committed suicide. Because Mr. Rochester saved the servants over himself, he went blind and had to have his arm amputated. 

Quotation: " 'Formerly' I answered, 'because you did not love me: now, I reply, because you almost hate me. If I were to marry you, you would kill me. You are killing me now." (441).

Quotation Significance: Jane says this to St. John when she still refuses to marry him, despite his persuasion. She thinks that St. John is so cold that he almost hates her, and it would kill her to be tied to someone who almost hates her. Just by asking her to marry St. John, he is killing her already, just at the thought of it.

Reflection: Jane still refuses to marry St. John. I think St. John is upset that Jane won't marry him, but he doesn't love her, he just wants to convert her soul to work for God as a laborer. She almost marries him because she thinks she gets a message from God- but right after she hears Mr. Rochester's voice call out to her in her mind and then she leaves Thornfield. She is devastated when she hears about Bertha and the fire, but this also means that they can marry each other. Jane feels sad for Mr. Rochester because he is now blind, depressed, and a cripple. She wants to see him and plans to travel thirty miles away to a farmhouse to do it. I think Jane believes this is all her fault because if she had stayed with him and went on adventures through the world with him, he wouldn't have been in the fire. She is especially sad when she hears that he was so angry, depressed, and heartbroken when she left and he wouldn't leave Thornfield. I think next Jane will visit Mr. Rochester and marry him, and maybe a miracle will save his eyesight. 

Discussion Question: Why do you think Bertha lit Thornfield on fire and kill herself?