How far do you agree with the statement ‘Jane is subjected to unacceptable levels of manipulation and deceit at the hands of Mr. Rochester’?
By Margaret
It is certainly true that Mr. Rochester subjects Jane to extreme and nearly intolerable levels of manipulation throughout Charlotte Brontë’s 1847 novel Jane Eyre. Indeed, it is one of the central themes of the book, and almost none of the major events of the story would have taken place if Rochester had not deceived Jane regarding a certain skeleton-in-the-closet, or in this case, wife-in-the-attic. However, the question remains: are Rochester’s attempts to manipulate and deceive Jane in any way acceptable?
The first and most notable of instance of Rochester’s deceit and manipulation towards Jane is when he brings Blanche Ingram to Thornfield. From the first mention of Miss Ingram, she is described as “‘beautiful’, ‘accomplished’” and “‘graceful’”. Mr. Rochester correctly guesses that Jane will compare herself to Miss Ingram and feel inferior due to Miss Ingram’s great status, wealth, beauty and talent. A ‘noble lady’, Jane calls her, while she herself is an ‘insignificant plebeian'. Rochester ensures that Jane will have full exposure to Miss Ingram’s array of qualities by making it his “‘particular wish’” to have Jane present “‘in the drawing room after dinner’”. By doing this, Rochester also creates an opportunity to put on a show of false affection for Miss Ingram in front of Jane. He flirts with her by saying things like “‘Commands from Miss Ingram’s lips would put spirit into a mug of milk and water”’. This charade troubles Jane to the extent that she becomes, as Rochester observes, “‘so much depressed that a few more words would bring tears to [her] eyes”’. This mortifying process repeats many times during the visit of Rochester’s friends. Unbeknownst to Jane, this is Rochester’s deliberate method of testing Jane, tormenting her so that he may gauge her reaction. Indeed, he takes it so far as to allude to Miss Ingram by name as his future wife: “‘it was my intention… to take Miss Ingram to my bosom”’. Rochester is utterly merciless in this manipulation and deception of Jane; he acts as if he cares nothing for her feelings, yet, as we later discover, the opposite is true. When Rochester’s love charade with Miss Ingram begins to be revealed, Jane recognises this manipulation and deceit, asking “‘Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You are wrong!”’ Many people would, at this moment, condemn Rochester’s schemes as entirely unacceptable. However, due to Jane’s nature- her inexperience, her innocence, her love for him- she nullifies all of his actions in her mind and accepts him as a husband.
The second instance of Mr. Rochester’s deceit and manipulation, which is perhaps the most inexplicable, is when he disguises himself as an elderly, female, gypsy fortune-teller in an endeavour to converse with Jane more intimately regarding her feelings for him. While this is certainly a strange and very awkward method of choice for Rochester, it is actually a rather innovative way of circumventing the social rules of the Victorian period. It would have been wholly inappropriate for Rochester, an upper-class man, to have had a private conversation with Jane, a lower-class woman. Rochester completely debases himself solely to create an opportunity to speak to Jane alone, on his own terms. Nevertheless, despite the convenience of the situation, it is still undeniably bizarre, as well as deceptive. Rochester is described wearing a ‘red cloak and a… broad-brimmed gipsy hat, tied down with a striped handkerchief’. Although the physical disguise is absolute, Rochester’s own character and mannerisms are still eminent, if one is looking for them, which Jane is not. Thus, she is utterly taken in by the façade, yet not by the old woman’s tricks. The first thing Jane says to the Rochester-woman is “‘I ought to warn you, I have no faith”’. Rochester uses his detailed knowledge of Jane’s wonts and character to appear as though his character, the fortune-teller woman, is authentic. He says things like ‘“I expected it of you”’, then covering it up with ‘“I heard it in your step as you crossed the threshold”’. Rochester also intentionally introduces the subject of his own potential marriage saying, ‘“of all the tales told here about matrimony, Mr Rochester has been favoured with the most lively?”’ This is an excellent example of Rochester subjecting Jane to manipulation, as well as later on in the chapter, when he says, ‘“looking forward, you have seen him married, and beheld his bride happy?”’ By saying this, Rochester is trying to evoke a reaction from Jane. However, he is not being honest in cornering her like this, as he is, obviously, in disguise. Thus, this almost certainly an unacceptable level of deceit and manipulation towards Jane.
Finally, Rochester subjects Jane to manipulation and deceit when he tries to convince her to effectively become his mistress, after Rochester’s secret has been discovered. This instance of Rochester’s deceit and manipulation is perhaps the most dangerous of the three examples I have used. It seems that Rochester initially tries to endear Jane to himself by describing his feelings and thoughts about her in a fervent, intimate manner. He describes her as an ‘indestructible gem’, ‘my good angel’, speaking of her ‘nobleness and magnanimity’, her ‘sagacious grace’ and the ‘penetration and power’ in her gaze. It is evident in this passage that Rochester truly believes these things about Jane, which is precisely why it makes it so difficult for Jane to think rationally in this situation. It is difficult to say whether Rochester is doing this deliberately to manipulate Jane or whether he is influenced purely by his emotions, but he is certainly doing everything he can to make Jane doubt her own principles. In contrast to Jane, Rochester describes his actual wife as a ‘hideous demon’ and asks Jane if it is “‘better to drive a fellow-creature to despair than to transgress a mere human law?’” It could be argued that Rochester is simply resorting to these extreme levels of manipulation due to the intensity of his love for Jane and not out of malice. However, it is clear that Rochester has lost his sense of moral direction, if indeed he ever had one, especially when questioning Jane’s moral integrity when he says, ‘“And what a distortion in your judgement, what a perversity in your ideas, is proved by your conduct!”’ This is particularly dangerous ground, especially considering Rochester’s significant advantage due to his age and influence over Jane. A wiser Rochester would never have attempted to pressure Jane in this way. Rochester also uses physical affection to try and persuade Jane to stay with him. For example, by ‘embracing [Jane]’ and ‘softly kissing [her] forehead and cheek’. Again, Jane’s youth and inexperience make her extremely vulnerable to this kind of temptation, especially in the face of such emotional turmoil. The way Rochester exploits this, whether intentionally or thoughtlessly, is entirely manipulative. Moreover, the basic fact that Rochester deceived Jane regarding his wife, Bertha, is a driving force of the dynamic in this scene. Therefore, it could be considered audacious that Rochester still attempts to manipulate Jane like this, even after his whole deception, and indeed character, has been laid bare. Rochester’s behaviour would be deemed inappropriate even if many of these factors were disregarded. Therefore, the manipulation and deceit to which he attempts to subject Jane is indeed unacceptable, not to mention misguided and perilous for Jane.
In conclusion, I agree that Jane is subjected to unacceptable levels of manipulation and deceit at the hands of Mr Rochester. Three striking examples of this are when Rochester presents Miss Ingram to Jane as an object of jealousy, when Rochester attempts to deceive Jane by disguising himself as a fortune-teller and when Rochester tries to make Jane ignore her own moral integrity and become his mistress. However. I believe it is important to consider the implications of Jane’s mental and intellectual acuity, moral rectitude and strength of character, as well as Rochester’s evident devotion to, and love, respect and admiration for Jane.
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