Chapter 32

Question 1

Voice / narrative perspective:

Answer 1

• Lots of dialogue-
  St.John takes over, this is unlike Janes’ close relationships where they allow her to speak freely.
• Jane speaks the truth, flattering him, this fills his confidence of being a ambitious man,who only looks out for his future plans:
  “That she is not the partner suited to me”
• Because of Jane’s experience with Rochester she wants others around her to be truthful in their relationships unlike theirs, which causes her to talk passionately about their marriage: “You tremble and become flushed whenever Miss Oliver enters the schoolroom” showing how she is considerate for Miss Oliver since understands how much he loves her making Jane seem solitary.

Question 2

Character:

Answer 2

Jane is seen to be independent, she comes to term with her sense of self.
She speaks her truth which causes St.John to become flustered “Again the surprised expression crossed his face.
He had not imagined that a woman would dare to speak so to a man”.
- Compared to in chapter 27 where Jane discovers Rochester’s secret marriage Janes has become more of a respectable woman through her bildungsroman:
“I watch your career with interest, because I consider you a specimen of diligent, orderly,energetic woman.”

Question 3

Structure:

Answer 3

Motif of class-
In society Miss Oliver and St.John can not be married, this is since Miss Oliver is higher in the class structure: “Miss Oliver is surrounded by suitors and flatterers: in less than a month, my image will be effaced from her heart.
- Motif of gender- St.John is surprised by Jane’s way of talking to him: “he had not imagined that a woman would dare speak to a man.” demonstrating how wrong it was for women to have their own opinions, making Jane more of an outcast of class since she uses her spirit unremorsefully unlike other women.
- Motif of religion- St.John talks to Jane about his philosophy which reflects his personality of being ambitious and passionate of what he believes in: “I believe: and believe the Gospel.”

Question 4

Genre:

Answer 4

• Romantic genre- St.John is describing is unrequited love towards Miss Oliver who he has fallen in love with although she is of a different class: “She is mine- I am hers- this present life and passing world suffice me”
• This would be normal for a victorian audience since Miss Oliver is a of upper class compared to St.John who is part of the middle class.
• This would be exciting to read in the Victorian era since a woman had to depend on their husband’s class and money so their marriage would be looked down upon.
• St.John admitting that they can not get married is a part of Jane’s bildungsroman since she comes to understand from a personal experience how the class system works and how you must become eligible to marry depending on who you are-reflecting to her past engagement with Rochester.

Question 5

Context:

Answer 5

• With Jane speaking her truth towards St.John this would be strange in the Victorian era for the readers, as men would dominate and have more power than women in general.
• Since women had to depend on their husbands for their class, money and housing, it would be rare that a woman of higher class would marry a man lower than her.
• If this did happen she would become rejected in society.