Rochester vs. St.John

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Rochester's Religious Awakening

          Toward the end of the novel, Rochester describes a moving religious experience. He I began to "wish for reconcilement to my Maker". Rochester had a religious awakening, his faith in god is renewed. His humbling and degradation to his crippled state led him to "pray: very brief prayers... but very sincere". This is an important moment as for almost the entire novel Rochester's lack of faith juxtaposing Jane's religious devotion was a major obstacle for them in achieving an equal relationship. It is with this final declaration that Jane and Rochester are now equal. Coincidentally is is only after Rochester finds his faith that he and Jane are reunited. Once Rochester believes in gods mercy and miracles can he move on to a new chapter. However it takes the birth of his first born son to remove all doubt and truly "with a full heart, acknowledg[e] that God had tempered judgment with mercy". At the end of the novel Rochester is purged of all his sins and has transformed into a true Christian believer.

Jane Eyre in the Sims

          I generated a virtual version of Jane Eyre and Rochester, using the virtual reality game the Sims 3. In the game yu can design your sim from their looks to their personality. I choose the traits Good, Bookworm, Loner, Hopeless Romantic, and Nurturing. These traits represent her intelligence and aptitude for teaching children, also her belief in marrying for love. For Rochester I chose Loner, Neurotic, Brooding, Hopeless Romantic, and Genius. These traits represent Rochester's changeible personality, Loneliness, intelligence, and fierce love for Jane. Once I created my sims I placed them in a house resembling Thornfield and reenacted some important scenes:

Like the proposal scene

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And the fireside talk scene

Red Room Script

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Rosamond Oliver

       I chose to represent Rosamond Oliver, using a doll generator, as she was when Jane drew her. Jane admires Rosamond's outward appearance,  describing her as having "a face of perfect beauty". I chose to highlight her seeming physical perfection and generate her "Chestnut tresses" and "Eyes... large, and dark, and full".  Although Rosamond is beautiful and seemingly perfect, Jane feels no jealousy towards her. Contradicting her feelings towards Blanche Ingram, described as similarly gorgeous. In both instances, the man she is most close to is being courted by these "perfect women". It is only in Rochester case, whom she loves, that she envies the courting woman's physical appearance. Jane's encounters with Rosamond, foreshadows her feeling toward St.John; her lack of envy implying Jane doesn't and never could love him. 

Bertha Mason as a Human

          I drew what Bertha Antoinetta Mason might have looked like before she became the madwoman in the attic.  As a character Bertha Mason is seen more as a symbol and less of like a person. This time, I decided to investigate Bertha as a human. Mr Rochester describes her as "the boast of Spanish Town for her beauty" (352), before she went mad. So I drew her as a beautiful proud woman with glossy locks of black hair, instead of the "dark, grizzled hair, wild as a mane," (338) Jane describes. Seeing Bertha dressed finely with comely features creates a stark comparison the monstrous creature she becomes. It points out that Bertha wasn't always mad. She was once a beautiful smart woman who had hopes, dreams, and aspiration like all of us.

Jane Eyre vs. Blanche Ingram

          The image above, made using a doll generator, highlights the physical differences between Jan Eyre on the left and Blanche Ingram on the right. I recreated the dinner party scene in which Blanche taunts Jane for her position and plainness. Herer the differences between the two women are most marketed. Jane describes herself as "a Governess, disconnected, poor, and plain" (187). While Blanche is mention as being "greatly admired not only for her beauty, but for her accomplishments" (185). However, Rochester prefers Jane over Blanche, because of Jane's mind and spirit. Jane is holding a book, to represent her intelligence and hunger for knowledge. Blanche is holding a handkerchief and a rose. The handkerchief is blank and shapeless, like Blanche's false and non-existent personality. And, while a rose may seem more appealing than a book, as Blanche seems more appealing than Jane, the book, like Jane, offers greater rewards in the long term.