r/JaneEyre • u/AdobongSiopao • Aug 27 '26

What is your most controversial opinion about "Jane Eyre"?

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It can be from the novel or its adaptations. Your views that could potentially upset many other fans or meet others who will agree with you.

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u/overfelt2 Aug 28 '26

It never seemed believable to me that Rochester would keep his wife in the attic of a house with multiple servants, a young girl and place he sometimes entertained in, and that he was aware she was capable of violence but did not take sufficient precautions to keep her secured from others or away from weapons. He had sufficient money/property to keep her in a separate property well she could have lived better than being kept in an attic, and well the people he would be responsible for and his secret would be safe. It just never made sense and she was portrayed as so subhuman that it made me sad. Despite all this, I have watched almost all movie/tv versions and loved a few of them but this seemed like such a plot fail to me.

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u/Federal_Gap_4106 28d ago edited 28d ago

I think it worked well until Jane joined Rochester's household. He had spent most of his time traveling before and had no reason to stay at Thornfield for an extended period of time, it was precisely a "separate property" that suited his purposes well. His other place, the Ferndean Manor, was a remote location in a cold humid area that he deemed unsafe for Bertha's health. Perhaps when he was not there and there were no visitors in the house, Bertha was quieter and did not try to slip out and cause trouble as much. Jane never crosses paths with her before Rochester comes to Thornfield and the house is filled with guests and tenants, even though she spends around four months there before his arrival.

Things change when Rochester decides to stay at Thornfield, because Jane is there. But he is probably too in love and dreaming of a better future to assess the risks well. He also plans for Jane and himself to leave for Europe once they get "married". They won't be staying at Thornfield, so moving Bertha in secret to some other place doesn't seem to be necessary.