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Compare the different houses in Jane's life focusing in Moor House and the Rivers. What has she found in Moor House?
by Pilar Cabello (2008-09, 5ºC)
Once your beloved one has taken you to the highest acme/summit of passionate love to then let you fall in the bottomless pit of utter desperation, there is nothing more comforting and reassuring than finding acceptance and affection in worthy new friends. That is, in my opinion, the most valuable of the many gifts Moor House will offer Jane, true friendship.
Jane will find that, in the short span of time she spends in this household, not only does she receive much more than she gives in response, but also in a much more disinterested and open-minded manner than ever so far.
In fact, Jane has quite a broad experience in dwellings and households for, in spite of her young age, she has already lived in more different houses that many women of her time in all their lives.
Let's consider Jane's prior dwellings starting from the beginning. As far as she can remember, Gateshead was her first home for she was an orphan of no means sheltered by her well-off relatives. Although her basic needs were covered since she lived within a wealthy family, she had not, and most important, she felt she had not what could be considered a real family as no one in the household showed her affection, tenderness or love.
Not only do all her cousins despise her, but also the firstborn bullies and abuses her; and to crown it all, her aunt and only tutor considers her a disgrace to the family. Such a disgrace and discredit that she soon becomes a family outcast at the early age of ten.
Notwithstanding her difficult position, Jane rebels violently not only against her cousins but also against her aunt. Her wrath and lack of measure in both her words and deeds led her to Lowood, a charity institution that will be her second home for another long lapse of about eight years.
In Lowood things are different; Jane is among her peers, orphan girls of no means. Her ascend in this secluded reduced society is not fulgurating, but steady: she puts her clever mind at work and step by step she becomes first the brightest pupil in the school and next a teacher. She earns with her own effort not only her own preeminent position in the school, but also the appreciation of Miss Temple, the most beloved person at Lowood.
As time elapses, Jane's experience grows. Although, her first weeks as a dweller at Thornfield are presided by her tranquillity of spirit and a gradual growth of inner happiness and self assurance, the following months become most turbulent, the amount of sentiments she experiences becomes excessive for such a young inexperienced heart: she first learns to love without response, then to be loved and finally, in the very day of her wedding, deceived by this very same lover that still loves her passionately. No doubt she is compelled to rush away with not only a broken heart but forlorn hopes and destroyed spirits from Thornfield, the house that was going to be her own forever, her home to be.
After three days in the moorlands with no food or roof to cover her and not a single tender word to sooth her wounded heart, Jane experiences the deepest desperation, "the moral degradation, blent with the physical suffering", (1) she feels a social outcast: "No tie holds me to human society at this moment". (2)
In these terribly poor conditions, as an absolute destitute from both body and soul, she arrives to Moor House only to find that the Rivers, who quite unexpectedly accept her though she was a complete stranger, are not only willing to offer her shelter and food, but the understanding and compassion she so desperately needs.
Let's realize that the Rivers attitude is extremely liberal and open-minded, let's remember that although Jane refuses to disclose her real name or that of the house she comes from and declines to give the reasons why she has quitted this house; she is accepted as a peer, as an equal, as guest with full rights to be in the house.
And to crown it all, Jane's reactions and words are not always as grateful and polite as they should be. If truth be told, her words are sometimes harsh and even offensive, not only with Hannah, the loyal old servant of the family, but also with Mr. St John, the priest and master of the house.
In fact although Jane acknowledges he has rescued her from a sure death and taken her under the shelter of his roof, she makes explicitly clear that she owes to his sisters' "spontaneous, genuine, genial compassion as large a debt as to his evangelical charity". (3) And though Mr. River resents such words he still agrees to shelter her in his own home, among his sisters, and to help her further in searching for a convenient post for her.
Mr. St John's reaction may be somehow understandable since he is a devoted priest and among his duties can be that of protecting the poor and taking new parishioners in. Nonetheless, as time passes by, he may as well cherish some other future plans for Jane.
As regards the Rivers sisters, both are incredible tolerant and kind-hearted with Jane from the very beginning. However, soon the three of them will realize their mutual likeness and Jane will discover a pleasure tasted by her for the first time, "the pleasure arising from perfect congeniality of tastes, sentiments, and principles" (4) Jane has found the pleasure arising from discovering perfect friendship. For love maybe long-lasting, but a true friendship as the one Jane has found in the Rivers sisters from Marsh End, based in mutual acceptance and true affection, will be everlasting.
Charlotte Brontë; Jane Eyre:
(1) & (2) Chapter XXVIII, pages 378 and 371; (3) Chapter XXIX, page 399;
(4) Chapter XXX, page 402; Penguin Classics, Black Edition.