2013 prompt

Thesis

When Jane finds our Mr. Rochester has a wife, it tests her moral development as a character, which shapes the
work as a whole because her character matures from being dependent on Mr. Rochester’s love to becoming a
self-sufficient woman.

Body Paragraph 1:

Topic sentences

Jane begins her story as a young, impressionable orphan with barely any prospects for a good life. By the time
she meets Rochester, she is already in a reliant mindset from her past and quickly falls into love with him
regardless of how he feels about her. This sets the precedent for her moral development as she is constantly
having to choose between her Christian values versus the idea of the man she is in love with.

Quotes

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will, which I now exert to
you” (Brontë 251)

“He stood between me and every thought of religion, as an eclipse intervenes between man and the broad sun. I
could not, in those days, see God for His creature: of whom I had made an Idol” (Brontë 271).

“Taste the wine again, Jane”

“I obeyed him”
Even in Jane’s worst moment, she still does whatever he says. (Brontë 296)

Bullet point analysis with key words (what parts of the quote are you going to emphasize?)
• Although Jane says she is not a bird, her actions show differently when she continues to obey Mr. Rochester
and even idolizes him to be a god-like figure
• “His creature: of whom I had made an Idol” literal usage of the word idol to describe Mr. Rochester
• Jane however, has these values somewhere as they stay with her when it becomes more difficult as the story
progresses
• When she finds out Rochester has a wife, she continues to obey him before her values are really tested - “I
obeyed him”

Body Paragraph 2:

Topic sentences
At the climax of the novel, Jane’s morality is tested when she is faced with becoming Mr. Rochester’s mistress
since Bertha Mason is his wife. When Mr. Rochester kisses her, this is when her character shifts into who she
really is deep inside when faced with challenge.

Quotes

“He walked fast through the room and came back; he stooped towards me as if to kiss me; but I remembered
caresses were now forbidden. I turned by face away and put his aside. ‘What! - How is this?’ He exclaimed
hastily. ‘Oh I know! You won’t kiss the husband of Bertha Mason’” (Brontë 296).

“Did it not seem to you in the least wrong to live in the way, first with one mistress and then another?” (Brontë
chapter 307).
“I advise you to leave sinless, and I wish you to die tranquil” (Brontë chapter 321)

Bullet point analysis with key words (what parts of the quote are you going to emphasize?)
• The mistress situation completely shifts when Mr. Rochester tries to kiss Jane because the conversation
between them immediately changes
• Her values really kick in at this moment “I remember caresses were now forbidden” (she stays true to her
character at heart, and this is how she grows into who she is)
• She questions Mr. Rochester’s values and wonders how he is fine with living his life even though he has
mistresses “Did it not seem to you in the least wrong to live in the way”

Body Paragraph 3:

Topic sentences
When Jane leaves Thornfield and lives her life away from Mr. Rochester, she is matured by becoming fully
independent of Rochester which is clear to reader when she reconnects with him. Up until the wedding, Jane
glorifies Rochester. Now, she can see he is a flawed person not only on the outside, which shapes her character
into becoming less reliant for love.

Quotes

“I told you I am independent, sir, as well as rich: I am my own mistress” (Brontë 426).

“I don’t care about being married” (Brontë 427).

“I will be your companion- to read to you, to walk with you, to sit with you, to wait on you, to be eyes and
hands to you” (Brontë 426).

Bullet point analysis with key words (what parts of the quote are you going to emphasize?
• Jane says, “I don’t care about being married” this shows that she isn’t opposed to marriage, it’s just not her
main concern anymore as a character which shows how much she has changed after leaving Thornfield
• She makes it known as a character to Rochester that she is her own mistress because she is not only financial
secure without him but also independent.
• “I will be your companion” Companionship is more of an equal stance between them which shows that she is
looking equality even if it’s just kinship at this point.