Characterization- Rochester

“’Little Friend,’ said he, in quite a changed tone-while his face changed too; losing all its softness and gravity, and becoming harsh and sarcastic-‘you have noticed my tender penchant for Miss Ingram: don’t you think if I married her she would regenerate me with a vengeance?’” (222).


Rochester is a seemingly interesting character with his mysterious background and his sense of personality. I found throughout Jane Eyre that Rochester was a character that continued to make me read because his story was so hidden. In the quote above he displays his complexity with his sudden change in mood and tone. He first addresses Jane with “my little friend” but soon becomes harsh when referring to Miss Ingram. This was a key scene that characterized the realness of Rochester. What I admired most about Bronte’s characterization about Rochester is that she never laid him out to be this static character where from the get-go he was madly in love with Jane. Often Rochester did things to hurt Jane in turn for the emotion he wanted her to feel. I felt his manipulation and complexities of emotions only made him display a more true idea of what its like to get close to someone and bring your guard down. Rochester was not always the nicest prince charming to Jane which in turn made him seem more real. 

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