Voldi
When dealing with the late 18th/early 19th century you always have to be
aware that the appearance of something is very importance. Rochester is an
eligible bachelor and he has to play the part not only so that 'county'
society will not think him peculiar but for the benefit of his estate and
those who depend upon him and it. If the head of a family was thought to be
peculiar it could well affect the livelihoods of many of those associated
with him. A man could get away with an awful lot provided that there was no
scandal. The first whisper of scandal could cause the withdrawal of favour
by those who matter locally and that in turn could lead to all kinds of
disadvantages becoming important.
Rochester is obviously a man with a past which, if discovered, would change
society's attitude to him. His past precludes his marriage to one of the
leaders of society but he has to open himself up as an eligible bachelor.
Does he use the fortune telling charade as a way of trying to warn people
off?
To drive a coach and horses through the whole thing I would recommend Jasper
Fford's The Eyre Affair which gives a full explanation of why the story of
Jane Eyre is as it is.
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Voldi Gailans
Sent: 04 June 2013 11:08
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: back again
Hi Steve,
Thank you, I'm glad I'm not wasting my time. In fact I'm fast approaching
the point where I gave up with Jane Eyre last time. I think I'm a bit more
in tune with it this time. Part of the problem is I think that I don't like
Rochester much. I've reached the drawing-room gatherings at Thornfield, a
long description of all the women in the party and quite a bit about the
Charades they play. This is all rather slower than I'm used to, having read
more modern books lately. I haven't studied this book but presume the focus
on the women's appearance and physical description reflects Jane's anxiety
about Rochester's possible involvement with them and the Charades
description is presumably ment to typify the shallowness of that society.
With a wife shut up in the attic and lots of pretty women about I can't work
out whether Rochester is a ladies' man looking out for what he can get or
whether he is really a lonely man who finds Jane more attractive because she
is more intellectually stimulating than the rest of the bunch.
A few weeks ago I made a start on Caleb's Crossing by geraldine Brooks, but
found I couldn't get into it. Maybe I need to try at a differnt time.
Best wishes,
Voldi
At 17:13 02/06/2013, you wrote:
>Hi Voldi
>
>I would think it is essential to have read Jane Eyre before The Wide
>Sargasso Sea. I know it is supposed to take place before the action of
>Jane Eyre but if the author has foreknowledge so should the reader. I
>recently made the mistake of Reading March by Geraldine Brooks which is
>supposed to happen in parallael with Little Women and although all the
>publicity said that you need not have read Little Women I found it
>rather confusing at times because the author seemed to assume that you
>had the knowledge of Little Women. I didn't like March and suspect that
>I wouldn't want to read Little Women (admittedly I had seen some of a
>recent-ish television version).
>
>Steve
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>On Behalf Of Voldi Gailans
>Sent: 02 June 2013 14:56
>To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: back again
>
>Hi David,
>
>Welcome back and I'm glad to hear your mum is feeling better.
>
>I'm reading Jane Eyre at present, a book I started but didn't finish
>some years ago now. One of the books we are studying on our book
>course later in the year is The Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, so I
>thought that before reading it I should read Jane Eyre, just for
>completeness and because I didn't finish it before. I've also just
>started Priestley's Angel Pavement on the Stream and think I will enjoy it.
>
>Take care,
>
>Voldi
>
>At 11:11 02/06/2013, you wrote:
> >Hi all
> >
> >I am back home after spending a couple of days with mum who has been
> >a little unwell, but she feels a good deal better now.
> >
> >Not a lot of action on the list while I have been away. What is
> >everyone reading at the moment?
> >
> >I have to choose a new book to read, and I am scanning another Charity
> >Norman book called "Freeing Grace". It tells the story of a baby who
lost
> >her mother shortly after birth, and the battle between the baby's
> >father, who is not really equipped to look after her, but wishes to
> >do so, and prospective adopters who really want her as they are
> >unable to have children of their own.
> >
> >The story is told from both points of view.
> >
> >I will attach the book once it is scanned.
> >
> >
> >David
