Table of Contents
What happens to Bertha Mason in Jane Eyre?
Despite not loving her, Rochester attempts to save Bertha from a fire she starts in the house when she again escapes. Bertha dies after throwing herself off the roof, leaving her husband free to marry Jane.
How does Mr Rochester describe Bertha?
Bertha Mason is Edward Rochester’s first wife from Spanish Town, Jamaica. Jane describes her as “purple…the lips swelled and dark”, “savage” with “thick and dark hair” and altogether reminiscent of a vampire (270). She is likewise compared to a beast, specifically a hyena, emphasizing again “dark, grizzled hair” (278).
Did Bertha Mason have syphilis?
Study focus: Mr Rochester and Bertha Mason/Rochester It is suggested that Bertha’s sexual excess caused her mental illness, which implies that her instability might have been caused by the final stages of syphilis rather than being genetic. Such a discussion of the cause of her mental state makes it seem quite real.
Is Grace Poole Bertha Mason?
Grace Poole is Bertha Mason’s keeper at Thornfield, whose drunken carelessness frequently allows Bertha to escape. When Jane first arrives at Thornfield, Mrs. Fairfax attributes to Grace all evidence of Bertha’s misdeeds.
What illness does Bertha Mason have?
Mason suffered from a progressive and familial psychiatric illness with violent movements. We hypothesize that Mason’s character had features of Huntington disease, as she fulfills the tenets put forth by Huntington in his seminal essay.
What did Mr Rochester look like?
He is described as having black hair, a “decisive nose”, a “colourless, olive face, square, massive brow, broad and jetty eyebrows, deep eyes, strong features,” and a “firm, grim mouth”. In the novel, Jane often compares him to a wild bird, such as an eagle, falcon and cormorant.
What disease did Bertha Mason have?
How long did Bertha Rochester live in the attic?
Bertha lives in the attic for several years, and when Jane comes along, Bertha begins acting out. She first sets fire to Mr. Rochester’s bed, which Jane luckily catches before he is burned alive.
What was the family history of Bertha Rochester?
Unbeknownst at first to Mr. Rochester, Bertha’s family has a history of mental illness. Her mother had been placed in an institution, and her younger brother had mental disabilities.
Who is problematic in the story Bertha Rochester?
It is only problematic for Mr. Rochester, who worries for himself and his reputation. This shows that the white English men and women are cared for and have a degree of autonomy, while Bertha, who is from another (quite different) country, is othered, trapped, and misunderstood.
What kind of heritage did Bertha Mason have?
She is described as being of Creole heritage. According to Rochester, Bertha was famous for her beauty: she was the pride of the town and sought after by many suitors. Upon leaving college, Rochester was persuaded by his father to visit the Mason family and court Bertha.