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Love Heart Character Biography

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Edward: "I had determined, and was convinced that I could and ought. It was not my original intention to deceive, as I have deceived you. I meant to tell my tale plainly, and make my proposals openly: and it appeared to me so absolutely rational that I should be considered free to love and be loved, I never doubted some woman might be found willing and able to understand my case and accept me, in spite of the curse with which I was burdened."

For ten years, he roamed about Europe, and in spite of his wealth and good blood, allowing him to choose his own society, he could not find that woman. "You are not to suppose I desired perfection, either of mind or person I longed only for what suited me--for the antipodes of the Creole, and I longed vainly."

Disappointed and reckless, he eventually took to the companionship of mistresses, beginning with Celine Varens. On a warm July night, he called on her when she was not expecting him. When she arrived home in her 'voiture', Edward meant to murmur 'mon ange' down to her; however the masculine form that followed her prevented that. They entered her boudoir, and, when they saw Edward's card on the table, 'they insulted me as coarsely as they could in their little way, especially Celine, who even waxed rather brilliant on my personal defects--deformities she termed them.' Entering the room from the balcony, he released Celine from his protection, 'disregarded screams, hysterics, prayers, protestations, convulsions..' and challenged the vicomte to a duel, leaving him 'with a bullet in one of his poor, etiolated arms...' Celine had two successors--Giacinta, an Italian, and Clara, a German. Both were considered singularly handsome, but their beauty meant nothing to him in a few months.

That January, recalled by business, he returned to Thornfield Hall in a bitter frame of mind, not expecting peace or pleasure in that long-abhorred spot. He passed Jane, 'a quiet little figure', without notice, until he fell off his horse which slipped on ice. Having a sprain, he accepted Jane's assistance in getting to his horse.

'When once I had pressed the frail shoulder, something new--a fresh sap and sense--stole into my frame."

After riding away, Jane possessed his mind that night. The next day, he watched her, himself unseen, while she taught Adele and dreamed. When leaving the room to see Mrs. Fairfax, he was angry that she left his sight. Impatiently he waited for evening, when he could summon her to his presence--in her he sensed a perfectly new character that he desired to know better.

"I was at once content and stimulated with what I saw: I liked what I had seen, and wished to see more."

For a while, however, he rarely saw Jane, and at times passed her gruffly, others kindly. He wanted to 'prolong the gratification of making this novel and piquant acquaintance: besides, I was for a while troubled with a haunting fear that if I handled the flower freely its bloom would fade.'

Eventually however, he allowed himself to be kind to her, "and when I stretched my hand out cordially, such bloom and light and bliss rose to your young, wistful features I had much ado often to avoid straining then and there to my heart." He became more open with her, sharing his past with Celine Varens and telling Jane of Adele's parentage, Celine Varens and an unknown man. Celine had told Edward that he was the father, but there was nothing in Adele that remotely resembled him. But even when Celine abandoned her child, Edward decided to care for Adele, though he acknowledged no parental tie between them.

That night, Edward Rochester was almost burned in his bedroom; only saved when Jane doused him and his bed liberally with water. Telling her to remain there without waking anyone, he slipped up to the third story, finding out it was Bertha who set it afire. He returned, filled with strange emotion.

"You have saved my life: I have a pleasure in owing you so immense a debt. I cannot say more. Nothing else that has being would have been tolerable to me in the character of creditor for such an obligation: but you: it is different;--I feel your benefits no burden, Jane..... He paused; gazed at me: words almost visible trembled on his lips,--but his voice was checked.I knew," he continued, "you would do me good in some way, at some time;--I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you: their expression and smile did not"--(again he stopped)--"did not" (he proceeded hastily) "strike delight to my very inmost heart so for nothing. People talk of natural sympathies; I have heard of good genii: there are grains of truth in the wildest fable. My cherished preserver, goodnight!"

The next morning, feeling that Jane did not have the same amount of feeling for him as he for her, he set off for the Leas, inviting many of the gentry to Thornfield, in an attempt to make Jane jealous as the quickest way to that end. After two weeks' absence, he returned to Thornfield, apparantly courting Miss Blanche Ingram, an extremely beautiful and accomplished lady of rank, yet who is proud and shallow. One morning, he declares to set off for Millcote on business, but instead disguises himself as a Gypsy to find more of Jane's feelings for him. First, he talks to Blanche Ingram, whose interest for Edward Rochester fades when the Gypsy tells her of his insolvency. Later, he talks to Jane, who, on her guard from the beginning of the interview, makes it difficult for Edward to discover anything. After revealing his masquerade, Jane mentions Richard Mason, a 'friend' from Spanish Town. He cannot hide his emotions, and becomes pale and staggers with the fear that Richard has revealed his long-hidden secret of a wife. After assistance at Jane's hands, he invites Mason to the library.

That night, Richard visits his sister, Bertha, who both bites and stabs him, and swears she'll drain his heart. While Edward goes for a surgeon, he requests Jane to keep Richard from going into shock. After the surgeon takes Mason to his home, Edward walks with Jane, offers her a flower, and asks her, during their conversation,

"Is the wandering and sinful, but now rest-seeking and repentant, man justified in daring the world's opinion, in order to attach to him for ever this gentle, gracious, genial stranger, thereby securing his own peace of mind and regeneration of life?"

"Sir," I answered, "a wanderer's repose or a sinner's reformation should never depend on a fellow-creature. Men and women die; philosophers falter in wisdom, and Christians in goodness: if any one you know has suffered and erred, let him look higher than his equals for strength to amend and solace to heal."

As some of the gentry are in the stables, he tells Jane to go through a back entrance, and cheerfully tells them that Mason had left before sunrise. The next day, Jane is sent for by her dying Aunt Reed; reluctantly, Edward allows her a leave of absence.

After Jane is gone for a week, he leaves for London, presumably to make arrangements for his marriage to Miss Ingram. When Jane returns after a month, he meets her when she returns.

"A fortnight of dubious calm succeeded my return to Thornfield Hall. Nothing was said of the master's marriage, and I saw no preparation going on for such an event.....One thing specially surprised me, and that was, there were no journeyings backward and forward, no visits to Ingram Park: to be sure it was twenty miles off, on the borders of another county; but what was that distance to an ardent lover? To so practised and indefatigable a horseman as Mr. Rochester, it would be but a morning's ride. I began to cherish hopes I had no right to conceive: that the match was broken off; that rumour had been mistaken; that one or both parties had changed their minds. I used to look at my master's face to see if it were sad or fierce; but I could not remember the time when it had been so uniformly clear of clouds or evil feelings. If, in the moments I and my pupil spent with him, I lacked spirits and sank into inevitable dejection, he became even gay. (joyful) Never had he called me more frequently to his presence; never been kinder to me when there--and, alas! never had I loved him so well."

On a beautiful Mid-summer's Eve, Jane and Edward walk together in the orchard. He indicates that in a month, he will be a bridegroom, and he mentions his looking for a new situation for Jane in Ireland. Eventually, Jane can repress her emotions no longer, and Edward proposes to her.

"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will, which I now exert to leave you."

Another effort set me at liberty, and I stood erect before him.

"And your will shall decide your destiny," he said: "I offer you my hand, my heart, and a share of all my possessions...."

......"My bride is here," he said, again drawing me to him, 'because my equal is here, and my likeness Jane, will you marry me?"......

..............................................................

Again and again he said, "Are you happy, Jane?" And again and again I answered, "Yes." After which he murmured, "It will atone--it will atone. Have I not found her friendless, and cold, and comfortless? Will I not guard, and cherish, and solace her? Is there not love in my heart, and constancy in my resolves? It will expiate at God's tribunal. I know my Maker sanctions what I do. For the world's judgment--I wash my hands thereof. For man's opinion--I defy it."

At twelve that morning, they run in from the rain.

"'Hasten to take off your wet things," said he; "and before you go, good-night--good-night, my darling!"'

He kissed me repeatedly. When I looked up, on leaving his arms, there stood the widow, pale, grave, and amazed. "

The next morning, he meets Jane in the school-room, kisses her, and takes her shopping--much to her displeasure.

"Go to your room, and put on your bonnet," he replied. "I mean you to accompany me to Millcote this morning; and while you prepare for the drive, I will enlighten the old lady's understanding. Did she think, Janet, you had given the world for love, and considered it well lost?"

"I believe she thought I had forgotten my station, and yours, sir."

"Station! station!--your station is in my heart, and on the necks of those who would insult you, now or hereafter.--Go." (Compare this to Mr. Darcy)

That night, Jane asks Edward to give her a song; Jane attempts to accompany him on the piano, but after being named 'a little bungler', he accompanies himself while singing..... (These are just three of the stanzas, and compare this to Mr. Darcy)

The truest love that ever heart Felt at its kindled core, Did through each vein, in quickened start, The tide of being pour.

Her coming was my hope each day, Her parting was my pain; The chance that did her steps delay Was ice in every vein.

I dreamed it would be nameless bliss, As I loved, loved to be; And to this object did I press As blind as eagerly.

After courting for a month, Edward is called from Thornfield for a day on business. When returning, he is ecstatic to find Jane walking toward him. However, he is disturbed by her 'look and tone of sorrowful audacity.' She explains that she is not worried that he will fail to be a good husband, nor is she apprehensive about the new sphere she is entering.

"I think it a glorious thing to have the hope of living with you, Edward, because I love you"

Rather, she had had two dreams which disturbed her--she had found Thornfield Hall a ruin, and she and Edward were separated by insuperable obstacles. She was awakened by candlelight, held by what she described as a tall, large woman, with long thick and dark hair. Her face reminded her of a Vampire, and she saw Bertha putting on Jane's veil, and, afterwards, trampling on them. Jane fainted from terror, and when rising, found the veil torn in half.

After telling her story, 'I felt Mr. Rochester start and shudder; he hastily flung his arms round me. "Thank God!" he exclaimed, "that if anything malignant did come near you last night, it was only the veil that was harmed. Oh, to think what might have happened!" He drew his breath short, and strained me so close to him, I could scarcely pant. After some minutes' silence, he continued, cheerily--

"Now, Janet, I'll explain to you all about it. It was half dream, halfreality. A woman did, I doubt not, enter your room: and that woman was--must have been--Grace Poole. You call her a strange being yourself: from all you know, you have reason so to call her--what did she do to me? what to Mason? In a state between sleeping and waking, you noticed her entrance and her actions; but feverish, almost delirious as you were, you ascribed to her a goblin appearance different from her own: the long dishevelled hair, the swelled black face, the exaggerated stature, were figments of imagination; results of nightmare: the spiteful tearing of the veil was real: and it is like her. I see you would ask why I keep such a woman in my house: when we have been married a year and a day, I will tell you; but not now. Are you satisfied, Jane? Do you accept my solution of the mystery?"

Relieved (though not completely satisfied) at his explanation, Jane agrees to Edward's request to sleep in Adele's room.

Unable to sleep, Jane leaves Adele's bedroom before sunrise, and, with Sophie's help, dresses for her wedding. When she decends, the impatient Edward calls her 'fair as a lily, and not only the pride of his life but the desire of his eyes.' (And again compare this to Darcy.)

After giving her ten minutes to eat breakfast, they head for the church.

'I rose. There were no groomsmen, no bridesmaids, no relatives to wait for or marshal: none but Mr. Rochester and I. Mrs. Fairfax stood in the hall as we passed. I would fain have spoken to her, but my hand was held by a grasp of iron: I was hurried along by a stride I could hardly follow; and to look at Mr. Rochester's face was to feel that not a second of delay would be tolerated for any purpose. I wonder what other bridegroom ever looked as he did--so bent up to a purpose, so grimly resolute: or who, under such steadfast brows, ever revealed such flaming and flashing eyes. I know not whether the day was fair or foul; in descending the drive, I gazed neither on sky nor earth: my heart was with my eyes; and both seemed migrated into Mr. Rochester's frame. I wanted to see the invisible thing on which, as we went along, he appeared to fasten a glance fierce and fell. I wanted to feel the thoughts whose force he seemed breasting and resisting. At the churchyard wicket he stopped: he discovered I was quite out of breath. "Am I cruel in my love?" he said. "Delay an instant: lean on me, Jane." '

When they arrive, Jane sees two men entering the chapel; the marriage proceeds, until...

'The clergyman, who had not lifted his eyes from his book, and had held his breath but for a moment, was proceeding: his hand was already stretched towards Mr. Rochester, as his lips unclosed to ask, "Wilt thou have this woman for thy wedded wife?"--when a distinct and near voice said--

"The marriage cannot go on: I declare the existence of an impediment."

The clergyman looked up at the speaker and stood mute; the clerk did the same; Mr. Rochester moved slightly, as if an earthquake had rolled under his feet: taking a firmer footing, and not turning his head or eyes, he said, "Proceed."

Profound silence fell when he had uttered that word, with deep but low intonation. Presently Mr. Wood said-- "I cannot proceed without some investigation into what has been asserted, and evidence of its truth or falsehood."

"The ceremony is quite broken off," subjoined the voice behind us. "I am in a condition to prove my allegation: an insuperable impediment to this marriage exists."

Mr. Rochester heard, but heeded not: he stood stubborn and rigid, making no movement but to possess himself of my hand. What a hot and strong grasp he had! and how like quarried marble was his pale, firm, massive front at this moment! How his eye shone, still watchful, and yet wild beneath! Mr. Wood seemed at a loss. "What is the nature of the impediment?" he asked. "Perhaps it may be got over--explained away?"

"Hardly," was the answer. "I have called it insuperable, and I speak advisedly. "The speaker came forward and leaned on the rails. He continued, uttering each word distinctly, calmly, steadily, but not loudly-- "It simply consists in the existence of a previous marriage. Mr. Rochester has a wife now living."

My nerves vibrated to those low-spoken words as they had never vibrated to thunder--my blood felt their subtle violence as it had never felt frost or fire; but I was collected, and in no danger of swooning. I looked at Mr. Rochester: I made him look at me. His whole face was colourless rock: his eye was both spark and flint. He disavowed nothing: he seemed as if he would defy all things. Without speaking, without smiling, without seeming to recognise in me a human being, he only twined my waist with his arm and riveted me to his side.'

Briggs, the solicitor, produces the wedding certificate, as well as the witness, Richard Mason.

'Mr. Rochester turned and glared at him. His eye, as I have often said, was a black eye: it now had a tawny, nay, a bloody light in its gloom; and his face flushed--olive cheek and hueless forehead recieved a glow, as from spreading, ascending heart-fire...."

Though his white lips tremble, Mason declares that his sister resides at Thornfield Hall. For ten minutes after this announcement, Edward muses, then finally announces his resolve. He admits to the existence of his wife, and takes Jane and the other men to the third-story chamber where Grace Poole is watching his wife. Suddenly, Bertha attacks, and Mr. Rochester pushes Jane behind him