chapter 25

Time has passed, and we are now only a few days away from the big day! However, Jane is starting to get nervous; not only because of the imminent wedding, but also because of the recurring dream she is having again. The night before the wedding, Jane is sleeping fitfully, and wakes to find a woman trying on her wedding veil! The strange lady then proceeds to rip the veil from her head, tear it in two, and trampled it. Mr Rochester seems worried, and states that Jane should sleep in Sophie and Adele’s room that night, just in case

Themes

The superstitious theme is back, as Jane has started to dream of the sickly child again. Her dreams also seem to have premonition tendencies, as she dreams of a ruined Thornfield, where only the bats and birds lived. This is indeed what happens later on in the book.

Characters

Bertha Mason, also known as the madwoman in the attic, makes her first physical appearance in the novel, although she had been pressing on the minds of the readers for some time I imagine. Described as a vampire, and a purple ghost, she doesn’t seem to have made a good impression on Jane. She tore Jane’s veil in two, perhaps as it reminded her of her own wedding day.

Motifs and metaphors

The chestnut tree is back again, Jane is saying that despite the fact that the chestnut tree seems broken, in fact the two halves are still reaching for each other. The movie is also mentioned again, described as blood red and half overcast. This is a bad omen for Jane, as the Moon is red, which signifies trouble, and as it is the Moon, the trouble relates directly to Jane.

Narrative voice

Jane seems quite uncertain in this chapter, as she soon to become Mrs. Rochester instead of Miss Eyre, as she was used to. She is worried about the loss of her identity, and how her new life will be. Most recounting her dreams she sounds calm, but it is obvious that she was scared, especially when she awoke to find Bertha by her side. It is hard to tell whether she's more anxious about her dreams or her new life.

Response

I found this chapter to be quite spooky, as it is very supernatural and doesn’t hold good omens for the Jane’s later life. Have found it quite strange that Mr. Rochester seemed so unconcerned about Jane's troubles, as she's his fiancée, and I would have thought this would mean he'd be more worried for her, especially once he knew that Bertha was paying visits to her during the night.

Words and phrases I liked

I like the description of the chestnut tree, and how that despite the fact it looks broken in half, in reality the two pieces are still clinging to each other, as Jane and Mr. Rochester do.