How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Volume.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"You have nothing to do with the master of Thornfield, further than to receive the salary he gives you for teaching his protégée, and to be grateful for such respectful and kind treatment as, if you do your duty, you have a right to expect at his hands. Be sure that is the only tie he seriously acknowledges between you and him: so don’t make him the object of your fine feelings, your raptures, agonies, and so forth. He is not of your order: keep to your caste; and be too self-respecting to lavish the love of the whole heart, soul, and strength, where such a gift is not wanted and would be despised." (2.2.2)
Here Jane’s trying to sort out her relationship to Rochester, and it’s a lot harder because she’s developed several different relationships to him that aren’t entirely compatible. She’s reminding herself that (1) she’s his employee, (2) she’s lower-class than he is, and (3) he hasn’t necessarily shown a serious romantic interest in her.
But that highly rational assessment really doesn’t cover the instant connection they made in the forest on their first meeting, when he leaned on her shoulder to limp back to his horse and she began taking care of him.
Quote #8
"You should hear mama on the chapter of governesses: Mary and I have had, I should think, a dozen at least in our day; half of them detestable and the rest ridiculous, and all incubi—were they not, mama?"
"Did you speak, my own?"
The young lady thus claimed as the dowager’s special property, reiterated her question with an explanation.
"My dearest, don’t mention governesses; the word makes me nervous. I have suffered a martyrdom from their incompetency and caprice; I thank Heaven I have now done with them!"
Mrs. Dent here bent over to the pious lady, and whispered something in her ear; I suppose from the answer elicited, it was a reminder that one of the anathematized race was present. (2.2.97-101)
Thought #1: If Blanche Ingram were alive today she’d have been cast in Mean Girls. Thought #2: Ranting about the lower classes right in front of them shows who’s really low-class. Thought #3: Class and race seem to be getting a bit mixed up here… that’s interesting. It’s like someone took all their prejudices and swirled them together in a blender, and now Jane has to drink it. (Gross.)
Quote #9
"You are my little friend, are you not?"
"I like to serve you, sir, and to obey you in all that is right." (2.5.138-139)
You can’t forget that, whatever else is going on between Jane and Rochester, they’re never really equals. One of their first big conversations is an argument about whether Jane is going to let Rochester order her around and why she should, and he only wins the argument because she helps him.
And remember: Jane likes to call Mr. Rochester her "master." Yeah, it’s a little weird, but Jane, like Kate at the end of The Taming of the Shrew, knows that you can actually be in charge by seeming like you’re not in charge. If you’re really good at that kind of thing.