2. Bertha Mason is one of the most mysterious characters ever to be written in literature. What are your thoughts about Bertha in the way that she is described/portrayed in Jane Eyre?!
I think that Bertha Mason was a very puzzling character to find out about at the end of the story. I think that she could have represented different things to Jane. I think that she could have simply been a piece of Rochester's past that had to be revealed to Jane in order to make the decision to continue with the marriage or not. Jane finding out about this huge family secret was necessary to continue a healthy life with Rochester. I think that Bertha Mason also could have been a warning to Jane. It is obvious that Bertha has severe mental issues, but Rochester had gotten her no help and locked her in the attic. If I were Jane, I would have considered how Rochester has treated Bertha and think about his true intentions. I do think that Rochester loved Jane and treated her well, so I think that Bertha's character was probably unlocking a piece of his past.
At first, I was rather frightened by the image of Bertha Mason. The way she was described as walking on all fours and having an eerie laugh left a great impression. We find out that she was responsible for biting her brother and for setting a fire in the rooms of both Mr. Rochester and Jane. For her well being, I can only wonder why Mr. Rochester would lock her away for such a long time. It would be no wonder then, that she was totally driven insane. Despite Mr. Rochester's assumption that madness ran in her blood, I believe her insanity was in part, the result of mistreatment. The fact that she was seen with Jane's wedding dress, reveals that Bertha was a part of the past which led to the obstruction of marriage between Jane and Mr. Rochester. If I were Jane, then I would have gone into deeper investigation of Bertha Mason. However, despite the impediment created by Bertha, it was necessary for Jane to be aware of Bertha's existence, so that she could have maintained her integrity. Of course, Bertha could not have been hidden forever.
Bertha Mason was definitely a frightening character to me in the beginning. She was described as acting in an animalistic way, and there was no denying her madness. I think that Bertha was a very important character, however, because she represented Rochester's past. Rochester acted very differently towards Jane than he did towards Bertha. I understand that Rochester and Bertha's marriage was not one filled with love, but he treated her poorly by locking her up in a room all of the time. Also, I agree with Miguel in the sense that it was necessary for Jane to be aware of Bertha's existence. Had Jane not found out about Bertha, she would have entered a marriage with Rochester, whom she would not have fully known. In a way, I think Jane's discovery of Bertha was a blessing in disguise because I do not think that Jane was truly ready to marry Rochester at the time. Although Bertha was an insane pyromaniac, I sympathized for her because she was neglected by her husband and eventually committed suicide. I truly feel that Bertha was an essential character in the story and her existence can be interpreted in many different ways.
I find it interesting that you view Bertha as a "blessing in disguise". I never really thought that Bertha helped Jane by giving her more time to become comfortable with the idea of marrying Mr. Rochester, but now I can see it.
Bertha Mason was definitely a frightening character to me in the beginning. She was described as acting in an animalistic way, and there was no denying her madness. I think that Bertha was a very important character, however, because she represented Rochester's past. Rochester acted very differently towards Jane than he did towards Bertha. I understand that Rochester and Bertha's marriage was not one filled with love, but he treated her poorly by locking her up in a room all of the time. Also, I agree with Miguel in the sense that it was necessary for Jane to be aware of Bertha's existence. Had Jane not found out about Bertha, she would have entered a marriage with Rochester, whom she would not have fully known. In a way, I think Jane's discovery of Bertha was a blessing in disguise because I do not think that Jane was truly ready to marry Rochester at the time. Although Bertha was an insane pyromaniac, I sympathized for her because she was neglected by her husband and eventually committed suicide. I truly feel that Bertha was an essential character in the story and her existence can be interpreted in many different ways.
When the character of Bertha Mason was first introduced, I was extremely shocked. I could not imagine that Mr. Rochester would ever marry a woman as insane as Bertha Mason. Her general description, of having animal-like characteristics, caused me to question what Bronte intended for this character to represent. Overall, I feel that she symbolizes Mr. Rochester's mysterious past. We know that he has made some interesting choices in the past,such as his relationship with Adele's mother, but otherwise we are not fully aware of his past life. The inclusion of Bertha Mason helps to depict what kind of man Mr.Rochester truly is. After learning more about Bertha Mason, I began to sympathize with her. Mr. Rochester had not given her any attention and treated her as if she was nothing. I feel that she went insane due to a lack of affection. Her character reveals that there is a darker side to Mr. Rochester. He is very sweet and caring towards Jane, but clearly he has not always been this way. Bertha Mason helps Jane to realize that she does not fully know Mr. Rochester, and that she should not marry him. I feel that in some ways Bertha Mason provided an epiphany for Jane. If Bertha Mason was not included, Jane would have most likely married Mr. Rochester without knowing who he truly was. Overall, I feel that Bertha Mason is both a mysterious and crucial character.
Bertha Mason is a character who is far from the "ideal" women that people desire to have/be. She's insane, hideous, animal like, and trapped in a room, however, it’s hard not to feel some sympathy towards her even though her actions are very off putting. Bertha was clearly described by Rochester as someone who was young, lively, and attractive. However, someone who once was so beautiful and intelligent became someone who was stuck in a room for years. Her circumstances and actions are not necessarily her fault, considering mental issues ran throughout her family, and Mr. Rochester put her in a room for years without giving her any aid, attention, or love. Anyone who is in those circumstance would mentally deteriorate as time went on. However, as the other commenters have also mentioned, Bertha's situation gave a new perspective on Mr.Rochester because he certainly dealt with the situation in a cruel way. He is shown in a different light that's not so perfect as Jane particularly saw him. If Jane had gone down the same route, would Rochester have acted the same way? It gave Jane the chance to contemplate if she really wanted to spend the rest of her life with this man after she had been lied too. Bertha's actions were dangerous and malicious nor does she get a happy ending, but she heavily contributed to the love story of Rochester and Jane. In some aspects, she even helped Jane realize how much she loved Rochester even after all he had done. All in all, Bertha is a mysterious and controversial character, who invokes sympathy and pity.
Bertha Mason was described as more of a beast than a human in the novel. The way Jane explains entering a room to see a woman in an animal like form on all fours is definitely off-putting to the reader. While being overcome and disgusted by Bertha, I also felt pity for her considering her life consisted of being locked in a room by the man she loves. This was an extremely cruel way of handling the situation by Rochester he should have brought her somewhere she could get the proper care she needs. Instead he only drove her more mentally insane and into an aggressive state. To Rochester's defense I can see why he didn't see his current situation as a marriage considering she acted as more of an animal than a real person. It also makes you wonder how a woman who was once normal could turn into something like this. This makes the reader and Jane question whether Rochester is mentally sane himself. While being a character who the reader feels hatred for considering she ruins Jane's chance at happiness, Bertha is an extremely crucial character. She provides closure for several situations such as she gives the reader a look into Rochester's mysterious past and for the violent outbreaks. Overall, Bertha was a necessary and thrilling addition to the story. The way she is portrayed confused the character as they can't tell whether or not they despise or feel bad for this character.
Bertha Mason is a very strange character and a horrifying one at that. I have never been as deeply repulsed by any fictional character as I was with Bertha Mason. She is mysterious because of her lack of description and explanation for being during the novel. Yet, when she is finally portrayed as the ugly and mad woman that she is, I could picture her all too well. I vividly saw the image of Bertha walking into Jane's bedroom and tearing the veil in half. I almost felt the same fear that she felt because of how accurately my image of Bertha matched the one being described in the novel. Ideally, I would like to sympathize with her for her situation, but the way she is portrayed makes it hard for me to judge whether or not she deserves sympathy. I do feel bad that she could not help becoming like this. However, a part of me just wants to think of her as a monster in the attic. Overall, I have to say that most of the time I tend to side with the monster-like view of her because I cannot get the image of her face out of my head.
When Bertha Mason was introduced, her character was extremely startling. I did not expect the sounds that Jane Eyre would hear to turn out to be a crazy woman living in the depths of Thornfield Hall. Bertha represents Mr. Rochester's unknown past. Bertha shows that Mr. Rochester was a hard man and not easy to love. Their loveless marriage caused her to go insane, stripping her of her humanity leaving a disheveled monster. Mr. Rochester seemed to have neglected her and the fact that she still loved him is why she attempted to kill him. Bertha is the embodiment of Mr. Rochester's deceit, secrets, and unpredictability. Her character creates uncertainty for the future of Jane and Mr. Rochester's marriage, for both the reader and Jane.
Bertha Mason was a character with a story that could have been interpreted in many different ways. Although, her character provided the mystery in Rochester's past. Her animalistic description allowed the reader to know that Rochester's past was not something that he was proud of nor that he wanted to share. I think that Bertha having gone crazy due to her marriage with Rochester provided some suspense about whether or not Jane would realize how hard this man truly was. Due to Mr. Rochester's hard shell and difficulty to love, she became crazy. I would have liked to know her character a little more. I wish that I would have been able to know more details about her past and really get to know. I sympathize with Bertha Mason. She never did truly love Mr. Rochester and she felt as though she were in a cage, and eventually she was locked away. I think that the way that she is portrayed provides an uncertainty to the future of Jane and Mr. Rochester.
Bertha Mason was a very mysterious and dark character. The reveal of who she was and what her affiliation was with Mr. Rochester served as a major plot twist in the novel. It was alarming that Mr. Rochester had kept her hidden in his home even when she was mad and had very violent impulses. Bertha added much suspense to the novel due to her actions of burning Mr. Rochester's bed, attacking Mr. Rochester's guest, and visiting Jane in the middle of the night. She wasn't always mad, however, and their marriage might have been the cause of her craziness. In a sense, I somewhat feel sympathetic towards her since she is locked in a room and knows her husband is planning to marry a woman other than her. She was very alienated and forgotten that her husband ignoring her probably added on to her insanity.
When I began reading Jane Eyre I was not expecting a character like Bertha Mason to be introduced. As the plot of the novel thickens, however, it becomes very apparent that she has much to do with Mr. Rochester's past. This he attempts to hide from Jane, as he knows it will (and does) serve as an impediment to his marriage with Jane. From a modern perspective, it seems slightly ridiculous, as we now hold somewhat different views about marriage. For some it would only seem so until we consider the harsh way in which Mr. Rochester stowed her away, which likely exacerbated whatever mental illness she suffered from. One is inclined to feel at least some pity for Bertha Mason, despite her obvious offenses, such as mauling her brother and setting fire to her husband's bed. I still think she is definitely an antagonist of sorts in the novel, but mental illness was difficult topic to grapple with in the 1840s, making her character difficult, yet interesting character to assess.
Bertha Mason is a complex and mysterious character that has significant meaning to the overall story. Bertha is a hidden part of Mr. Rochester’s past that he obviously did not want Jane to find out about. Mr. Rochester only sees Bertha as a mistake from his past that prevents him from moving on with his life and finding true happiness. She was originally just a shiny prize to Mr. Rochester who did not have a developed sense of discretion during his young age. Soon enough, Bertha’s true colors were exposed, but Mr. Rochester was already trapped in the cage of rash decisions. The actions in his early youth prevented any chance of finding happiness later on in life. Though I do feel sympathy and pity for the maltreatment of Bertha’s mental illness, her character was necessary for the development of Jane’s character. Without Bertha’s role in the story, Jane would not have become as independent or met her family. Bertha’s death also held an integral part of Mr. Rochester and Jane’s marriage. Mr. Rochester was finally free of everything holding him back in his past, his wife and Thornfield.
When the author first introduced Bertha into the story, I was very confused as to who she was. At first I thought she was a ghost or apparition who was coming back to haunt Jane and Mr. Rochester. The mystery surrounding her did leave me a bit scared as to who she actually was, especially after trying to kill Mr. Rochester and stomping on Jane's wedding dress. Eventually, we do discover that she is married to Mr. Rochester, but was devoid of his love and affection, which she essentially depended on to live, and therefore becomes insane. Upon reading this, I found Bertha to be a crazy monster who solely depends on someone else to give her happiness and satisfaction. However, this made me sympathize a little towards her. She loved a man who could not reciprocate the love she gave him and was heartbroken. This plot line was one of the really interesting modern elements of 'Jane eyre' because so many people today look to someone else for their happiness and they become their world as they idolize them, but once the relationship ends they are left in utter despair (although they most often do not become as insane). But I do think this relationship between Bertha and Mr. Rochester definitely showed a different side of him to Jane and made me question if Jane should really get into a marriage with a man who abandoned his wife when things were not going as they should. I can understand it to be difficult to live and be married with someone who is irrational and then want to escape that. However, I feel as though marriage is a significant and valuable thing that is not to be taken lightly. This idea also represents how 'Jane Eyre' is a modern novel as she uses Bertha to demonstrate how marriage is not the same as it used to be, and is not as serious as it once was. Therefore, I was creeped out by Bertha at first, but then slowly realized her purpose in the character development of Jane and Mr. Rochester and also brought about flaw and ideas to consider.
I was surprised when Bertha was introduced, as I thought the various happenings were caused by Poole. However, once I learned her backstory, I felt sorry for her, as being locked in a room and ignored is a cruel fate. I would have found a novel based on her point of view to be interesting, in the way that anti-hero stories are interesting. Learning about her eventually doomed story made me more interested in the character, even though the Jane Eyre was not ultimately about her.
I think Bertha Mason is a very mysterious and interesting character in the way she is used in the novel by Charlotte Bronte. Deemed as a monster, Bertha Mason has acted on her insanity in various ways towards Mr. Rochester and anyone reading the novel would agree that her insanity and tendencies make her a fearsome character but it’s important to analyze some key components to this. One example is that Bertha came from a wealthy family where her expectations were probably much higher than Jane's and she had to conform to whoever society and her family wanted her to be. On the flip side, Jane Eyre came from a poor household where these expectations didn’t really matter to her as much. The way Charlotte Bronte might have wanted people to notice is that this example and various other ones show that Bertha and Jane are two very different characters in the same boat. Bertha Mason is basically a foil to Jane. As women, they had marital and societal expectations to live up to and they both liked Mr. Rochester although Jane ended up with him because Betha was crazy. I think their different environments made them be who they ended up being and I think that’s why Charlotte Bronte made Bertha Mason the way she was in the novel to be able to reveal and show the difference between someone like Bertha and someone like Jane.
Lurking in the shadows of Gateshead for the first half of the novel, we are introduced to the idea of Bertha as some sort of a ghost, an apparition that appears only to cause harm. This much is true in Mr Rochester's eyes, as he casts her off as a burden that he has to endure and that causes him everlasting discontent. I felt nothing but sorrow for Bertha and the life she had to live while reading the novel. Instead of being given the love that Mr Rochester feels for Jane, Mr Rochester was cold and callous towards her, locking her away because she was not the woman he wanted her to be. It should be no surprise that this would damage the psyche of anyone, whether they be "crazy" from the start or not. Bertha definitely serves as a vessel for suspense in the novel, as well as a warning sign for Jane as to the possibilities of what may happen if she stayed with Mr Rochester. Her appearance in the novel gave Jane an excuse to think over the circumstance and not rush into the marriage like Mr Rochester had with Bertha.
Lurking in the shadows of Gateshead for the first half of the novel, we are introduced to the idea of Bertha as some sort of a ghost, an apparition that appears only to cause harm. This much is true in Mr Rochester's eyes, as he casts her off as a burden that he has to endure and that causes him everlasting discontent. I felt nothing but sorrow for Bertha and the life she had to live while reading the novel. Instead of being given the love that Mr Rochester feels for Jane, Mr Rochester was cold and callous towards her, locking her away because she was not the woman he wanted her to be. It should be no surprise that this would damage the psyche of anyone, whether they be "crazy" from the start or not. Bertha definitely serves as a vessel for suspense in the novel, as well as a warning sign for Jane as to the possibilities of what may happen if she stayed with Mr Rochester. Her appearance in the novel gave Jane an excuse to think over the circumstance and not rush into the marriage like Mr Rochester had with Bertha.
I appreciate your pity towards Bertha because I didn't originally think of her in that way. I felt sympathetic towards Mr. Rochester because he was tricked into the marriage and couldn't love freely but you're right that Bertha was not loved and should have been cared for in a thorough manner.
Bertha is a very mysterious character for multiple reasons. Part of her mystery comes from the fact that her identity isn’t revealed until late in the novel. Both Jane and the reader are led to believe that Grace Poole is causing all of the chaos in the household. This deception unnerves Jane because she wonders why Grace is allowed to roam freely when she is trying to harm Mr. Rochester. Grace appears normal and relatively stoic in the daytime, which contributes to the nighttime terror that surrounds Bertha Mason’s violence. Bertha’s escapes from her chamber and assaults on both Mr. Rochester and Jane parallel scenes from a horror movie. Mr. Rochester further adds to the mystery by assuring Jane that her visions in the nighttime were just dreams. However, these weak explanations are tossed out of the window when Jane Eyre sees proof of the bridal veil that Bertha Mason tore. When the mystery is finally revealed, Bertha Mason’s first full appearance in the novel is truly haunting. Mr. Rochester’s disgust towards his psychotic “wife” combined with Jane’s despair over the failure of their marriage are further attributed to the existence of Bertha Mason. Interestingly enough, Bertha is the force that both draws Jane and Mr. Rochester apart and then back together. As a result of his unfortunate marriage with Bertha, Jane is unable to marry Mr. Rochester and flees the household. However, when Bertha sets Thornfield Hall up in flames, Mr. Rochester loses his sight and Jane returns to him as a lover and caregiver. She finally saves him from the anguish and utter desolation that encompassed his life following his marriage with Bertha Mason.
I think that Bertha Mason is extremely intriguing because we do not actually find out about her existence until late in the book but we are given several clues to know that something is afoot on the third floor as there are constant noises and movements up there and something at Thornfield keeps Rochester away as it bothers him. It is interesting that Bertha MAson is both the reason that Jane and Rochester can not marry, as she is still alive and Rochester's wife, and is also the reason that Rochester and Jane eventually do marry as when she burns down the mansion she both widows Rochester and hurts him which causes Jane to be drawn to him more dearly. Thus Bertha Mason is intriguing because we never find out that much about her, besides she is insane and Rochester married her in Jamaica, but she keeps cropping up throughout the book.
My thoughts on Bertha Mason are limited and this is mostly because the information on her is limited. I think she is one of the few lucky characters in this book, being insane she doesn’t understand the consequences of her actions and thus doesn’t have to live with the pitiful tale of her life. Described as she was before her illness set in she was a beautiful woman who had all the graces a victorian wife could want, this definitely makes her one of the best characters in this book. She had a bright future but it was all ripped out of her hands because of the sad reality of genetics, in truth I pity this poor woman who was bound by the mistakes of her ancestors to suffer.
As a reader, I found the most mysterious aspect of Bertha Mason to be her consistent presence before it was revealed that she existed. The havoc caused in the household prior to her reveal was clearly not deferrable to Grace Poole. The secret of her existence also intertwines with Mr. Rochester's darker side. The way he kept Bertha locked up and hidden with the intent of marrying another woman showed his concerning lack of compassion and regard for someone who was once of great importance to him. Though Bertha's existence was a mystery for a long time, it becomes apparent upon her reveal that a part of Mr. Rochester was a mystery for a long time as well. Though Bertha is depicted as a monster, it is hard for me to believe this entirely because her life is simply devastating. Though not much is known about her at all, I do not think that she is entirely bad or disgusting by any means. She is just a woman who was forced to endure an unfair hidden life because of her mental illness.
Bertha Mason is an intriguing character, whom Bronte uses symbolically in multiple ways. Firstly, she represents Mr. Rochester’s secrets and darker past, alluded to but only revealed right before Jane and Mr. Rochester’s wedding as his wife. I also believe that Bertha can be used to represent the nineteenth century working woman. A passionate, talented woman is considered a threat to men and their work and thus they are deemed “crazy” and locked away. Although madness supposedly runs through Bertha’s family, I think her insanity is in part due to Mr. Rochester’s mistreatment and cruelty towards her, locking her up once he got to know her better and did not appreciate her passions. Bronte also draws several parallels between Bertha and Jane. They both grew up caught in between situations, for Bertha she was half-Creole and half-English, for Jane she grew up in an upper class home but ranked below servants. Bertha was imprisoned for ten years in the attic room at Thornfield before she was revealed, and was insane, “like some wild animal”. Jane was ten years at Gateshead and when locked in the red room, goes crazy “like a mad cat”. Bertha is insane and Jane hears voices. When Bertha visits Jane’s room, I think it is a warning to Jane that she could end like Bertha, except that Jane appears to be more desirable to Mr. Rochester than Bertha ever was, and this saves Jane. Bertha is certainly mysterious, but I think Bronte uses this mystery masterfully, to mold her into different symbols at different points in the book.
I think that Bertha Mason was a very puzzling character to find out about at the end of the story. I think that she could have represented different things to Jane. I think that she could have simply been a piece of Rochester's past that had to be revealed to Jane in order to make the decision to continue with the marriage or not. Jane finding out about this huge family secret was necessary to continue a healthy life with Rochester. I think that Bertha Mason also could have been a warning to Jane. It is obvious that Bertha has severe mental issues, but Rochester had gotten her no help and locked her in the attic. If I were Jane, I would have considered how Rochester has treated Bertha and think about his true intentions. I do think that Rochester loved Jane and treated her well, so I think that Bertha's character was probably unlocking a piece of his past.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I was rather frightened by the image of Bertha Mason. The way she was described as walking on all fours and having an eerie laugh left a great impression. We find out that she was responsible for biting her brother and for setting a fire in the rooms of both Mr. Rochester and Jane. For her well being, I can only wonder why Mr. Rochester would lock her away for such a long time. It would be no wonder then, that she was totally driven insane. Despite Mr. Rochester's assumption that madness ran in her blood, I believe her insanity was in part, the result of mistreatment. The fact that she was seen with Jane's wedding dress, reveals that Bertha was a part of the past which led to the obstruction of marriage between Jane and Mr. Rochester. If I were Jane, then I would have gone into deeper investigation of Bertha Mason. However, despite the impediment created by Bertha, it was necessary for Jane to be aware of Bertha's existence, so that she could have maintained her integrity. Of course, Bertha could not have been hidden forever.
ReplyDeleteBertha Mason was definitely a frightening character to me in the beginning. She was described as acting in an animalistic way, and there was no denying her madness. I think that Bertha was a very important character, however, because she represented Rochester's past. Rochester acted very differently towards Jane than he did towards Bertha. I understand that Rochester and Bertha's marriage was not one filled with love, but he treated her poorly by locking her up in a room all of the time. Also, I agree with Miguel in the sense that it was necessary for Jane to be aware of Bertha's existence. Had Jane not found out about Bertha, she would have entered a marriage with Rochester, whom she would not have fully known. In a way, I think Jane's discovery of Bertha was a blessing in disguise because I do not think that Jane was truly ready to marry Rochester at the time. Although Bertha was an insane pyromaniac, I sympathized for her because she was neglected by her husband and eventually committed suicide. I truly feel that Bertha was an essential character in the story and her existence can be interpreted in many different ways.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you view Bertha as a "blessing in disguise". I never really thought that Bertha helped Jane by giving her more time to become comfortable with the idea of marrying Mr. Rochester, but now I can see it.
DeleteBertha Mason was definitely a frightening character to me in the beginning. She was described as acting in an animalistic way, and there was no denying her madness. I think that Bertha was a very important character, however, because she represented Rochester's past. Rochester acted very differently towards Jane than he did towards Bertha. I understand that Rochester and Bertha's marriage was not one filled with love, but he treated her poorly by locking her up in a room all of the time. Also, I agree with Miguel in the sense that it was necessary for Jane to be aware of Bertha's existence. Had Jane not found out about Bertha, she would have entered a marriage with Rochester, whom she would not have fully known. In a way, I think Jane's discovery of Bertha was a blessing in disguise because I do not think that Jane was truly ready to marry Rochester at the time. Although Bertha was an insane pyromaniac, I sympathized for her because she was neglected by her husband and eventually committed suicide. I truly feel that Bertha was an essential character in the story and her existence can be interpreted in many different ways.
ReplyDeleteWhen the character of Bertha Mason was first introduced, I was extremely shocked. I could not imagine that Mr. Rochester would ever marry a woman as insane as Bertha Mason. Her general description, of having animal-like characteristics, caused me to question what Bronte intended for this character to represent. Overall, I feel that she symbolizes Mr. Rochester's mysterious past. We know that he has made some interesting choices in the past,such as his relationship with Adele's mother, but otherwise we are not fully aware of his past life. The inclusion of Bertha Mason helps to depict what kind of man Mr.Rochester truly is. After learning more about Bertha Mason, I began to sympathize with her. Mr. Rochester had not given her any attention and treated her as if she was nothing. I feel that she went insane due to a lack of affection. Her character reveals that there is a darker side to Mr. Rochester. He is very sweet and caring towards Jane, but clearly he has not always been this way. Bertha Mason helps Jane to realize that she does not fully know Mr. Rochester, and that she should not marry him. I feel that in some ways Bertha Mason provided an epiphany for Jane. If Bertha Mason was not included, Jane would have most likely married Mr. Rochester without knowing who he truly was. Overall, I feel that Bertha Mason is both a mysterious and crucial character.
ReplyDeleteBertha Mason is a character who is far from the "ideal" women that people desire to have/be. She's insane, hideous, animal like, and trapped in a room, however, it’s hard not to feel some sympathy towards her even though her actions are very off putting. Bertha was clearly described by Rochester as someone who was young, lively, and attractive. However, someone who once was so beautiful and intelligent became someone who was stuck in a room for years. Her circumstances and actions are not necessarily her fault, considering mental issues ran throughout her family, and Mr. Rochester put her in a room for years without giving her any aid, attention, or love. Anyone who is in those circumstance would mentally deteriorate as time went on. However, as the other commenters have also mentioned, Bertha's situation gave a new perspective on Mr.Rochester because he certainly dealt with the situation in a cruel way. He is shown in a different light that's not so perfect as Jane particularly saw him. If Jane had gone down the same route, would Rochester have acted the same way? It gave Jane the chance to contemplate if she really wanted to spend the rest of her life with this man after she had been lied too. Bertha's actions were dangerous and malicious nor does she get a happy ending, but she heavily contributed to the love story of Rochester and Jane. In some aspects, she even helped Jane realize how much she loved Rochester even after all he had done. All in all, Bertha is a mysterious and controversial character, who invokes sympathy and pity.
ReplyDeleteBertha Mason was described as more of a beast than a human in the novel. The way Jane explains entering a room to see a woman in an animal like form on all fours is definitely off-putting to the reader. While being overcome and disgusted by Bertha, I also felt pity for her considering her life consisted of being locked in a room by the man she loves. This was an extremely cruel way of handling the situation by Rochester he should have brought her somewhere she could get the proper care she needs. Instead he only drove her more mentally insane and into an aggressive state. To Rochester's defense I can see why he didn't see his current situation as a marriage considering she acted as more of an animal than a real person. It also makes you wonder how a woman who was once normal could turn into something like this. This makes the reader and Jane question whether Rochester is mentally sane himself. While being a character who the reader feels hatred for considering she ruins Jane's chance at happiness, Bertha is an extremely crucial character. She provides closure for several situations such as she gives the reader a look into Rochester's mysterious past and for the violent outbreaks. Overall, Bertha was a necessary and thrilling addition to the story. The way she is portrayed confused the character as they can't tell whether or not they despise or feel bad for this character.
ReplyDeleteBertha Mason is a very strange character and a horrifying one at that. I have never been as deeply repulsed by any fictional character as I was with Bertha Mason. She is mysterious because of her lack of description and explanation for being during the novel. Yet, when she is finally portrayed as the ugly and mad woman that she is, I could picture her all too well. I vividly saw the image of Bertha walking into Jane's bedroom and tearing the veil in half. I almost felt the same fear that she felt because of how accurately my image of Bertha matched the one being described in the novel. Ideally, I would like to sympathize with her for her situation, but the way she is portrayed makes it hard for me to judge whether or not she deserves sympathy. I do feel bad that she could not help becoming like this. However, a part of me just wants to think of her as a monster in the attic. Overall, I have to say that most of the time I tend to side with the monster-like view of her because I cannot get the image of her face out of my head.
ReplyDeleteWhen Bertha Mason was introduced, her character was extremely startling. I did not expect the sounds that Jane Eyre would hear to turn out to be a crazy woman living in the depths of Thornfield Hall. Bertha represents Mr. Rochester's unknown past. Bertha shows that Mr. Rochester was a hard man and not easy to love. Their loveless marriage caused her to go insane, stripping her of her humanity leaving a disheveled monster. Mr. Rochester seemed to have neglected her and the fact that she still loved him is why she attempted to kill him. Bertha is the embodiment of Mr. Rochester's deceit, secrets, and unpredictability. Her character creates uncertainty for the future of Jane and Mr. Rochester's marriage, for both the reader and Jane.
ReplyDeleteBertha Mason was a character with a story that could have been interpreted in many different ways. Although, her character provided the mystery in Rochester's past. Her animalistic description allowed the reader to know that Rochester's past was not something that he was proud of nor that he wanted to share. I think that Bertha having gone crazy due to her marriage with Rochester provided some suspense about whether or not Jane would realize how hard this man truly was. Due to Mr. Rochester's hard shell and difficulty to love, she became crazy. I would have liked to know her character a little more. I wish that I would have been able to know more details about her past and really get to know. I sympathize with Bertha Mason. She never did truly love Mr. Rochester and she felt as though she were in a cage, and eventually she was locked away. I think that the way that she is portrayed provides an uncertainty to the future of Jane and Mr. Rochester.
ReplyDeleteBertha Mason was a very mysterious and dark character. The reveal of who she was and what her affiliation was with Mr. Rochester served as a major plot twist in the novel. It was alarming that Mr. Rochester had kept her hidden in his home even when she was mad and had very violent impulses. Bertha added much suspense to the novel due to her actions of burning Mr. Rochester's bed, attacking Mr. Rochester's guest, and visiting Jane in the middle of the night. She wasn't always mad, however, and their marriage might have been the cause of her craziness. In a sense, I somewhat feel sympathetic towards her since she is locked in a room and knows her husband is planning to marry a woman other than her. She was very alienated and forgotten that her husband ignoring her probably added on to her insanity.
ReplyDeleteWhen I began reading Jane Eyre I was not expecting a character like Bertha Mason to be introduced. As the plot of the novel thickens, however, it becomes very apparent that she has much to do with Mr. Rochester's past. This he attempts to hide from Jane, as he knows it will (and does) serve as an impediment to his marriage with Jane. From a modern perspective, it seems slightly ridiculous, as we now hold somewhat different views about marriage. For some it would only seem so until we consider the harsh way in which Mr. Rochester stowed her away, which likely exacerbated whatever mental illness she suffered from. One is inclined to feel at least some pity for Bertha Mason, despite her obvious offenses, such as mauling her brother and setting fire to her husband's bed. I still think she is definitely an antagonist of sorts in the novel, but mental illness was difficult topic to grapple with in the 1840s, making her character difficult, yet interesting character to assess.
ReplyDeleteBertha Mason is a complex and mysterious character that has significant meaning to the overall story. Bertha is a hidden part of Mr. Rochester’s past that he obviously did not want Jane to find out about. Mr. Rochester only sees Bertha as a mistake from his past that prevents him from moving on with his life and finding true happiness. She was originally just a shiny prize to Mr. Rochester who did not have a developed sense of discretion during his young age. Soon enough, Bertha’s true colors were exposed, but Mr. Rochester was already trapped in the cage of rash decisions. The actions in his early youth prevented any chance of finding happiness later on in life. Though I do feel sympathy and pity for the maltreatment of Bertha’s mental illness, her character was necessary for the development of Jane’s character. Without Bertha’s role in the story, Jane would not have become as independent or met her family. Bertha’s death also held an integral part of Mr. Rochester and Jane’s marriage. Mr. Rochester was finally free of everything holding him back in his past, his wife and Thornfield.
ReplyDeleteWhen the author first introduced Bertha into the story, I was very confused as to who she was. At first I thought she was a ghost or apparition who was coming back to haunt Jane and Mr. Rochester. The mystery surrounding her did leave me a bit scared as to who she actually was, especially after trying to kill Mr. Rochester and stomping on Jane's wedding dress. Eventually, we do discover that she is married to Mr. Rochester, but was devoid of his love and affection, which she essentially depended on to live, and therefore becomes insane. Upon reading this, I found Bertha to be a crazy monster who solely depends on someone else to give her happiness and satisfaction. However, this made me sympathize a little towards her. She loved a man who could not reciprocate the love she gave him and was heartbroken. This plot line was one of the really interesting modern elements of 'Jane eyre' because so many people today look to someone else for their happiness and they become their world as they idolize them, but once the relationship ends they are left in utter despair (although they most often do not become as insane). But I do think this relationship between Bertha and Mr. Rochester definitely showed a different side of him to Jane and made me question if Jane should really get into a marriage with a man who abandoned his wife when things were not going as they should. I can understand it to be difficult to live and be married with someone who is irrational and then want to escape that. However, I feel as though marriage is a significant and valuable thing that is not to be taken lightly. This idea also represents how 'Jane Eyre' is a modern novel as she uses Bertha to demonstrate how marriage is not the same as it used to be, and is not as serious as it once was. Therefore, I was creeped out by Bertha at first, but then slowly realized her purpose in the character development of Jane and Mr. Rochester and also brought about flaw and ideas to consider.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised when Bertha was introduced, as I thought the various happenings were caused by Poole. However, once I learned her backstory, I felt sorry for her, as being locked in a room and ignored is a cruel fate. I would have found a novel based on her point of view to be interesting, in the way that anti-hero stories are interesting. Learning about her eventually doomed story made me more interested in the character, even though the Jane Eyre was not ultimately about her.
ReplyDeleteI think Bertha Mason is a very mysterious and interesting character in the way she is used in the novel by Charlotte Bronte. Deemed as a monster, Bertha Mason has acted on her insanity in various ways towards Mr. Rochester and anyone reading the novel would agree that her insanity and tendencies make her a fearsome character but it’s important to analyze some key components to this. One example is that Bertha came from a wealthy family where her expectations were probably much higher than Jane's and she had to conform to whoever society and her family wanted her to be. On the flip side, Jane Eyre came from a poor household where these expectations didn’t really matter to her as much. The way Charlotte Bronte might have wanted people to notice is that this example and various other ones show that Bertha and Jane are two very different characters in the same boat. Bertha Mason is basically a foil to Jane. As women, they had marital and societal expectations to live up to and they both liked Mr. Rochester although Jane ended up with him because Betha was crazy. I think their different environments made them be who they ended up being and I think that’s why Charlotte Bronte made Bertha Mason the way she was in the novel to be able to reveal and show the difference between someone like Bertha and someone like Jane.
ReplyDeleteLurking in the shadows of Gateshead for the first half of the novel, we are introduced to the idea of Bertha as some sort of a ghost, an apparition that appears only to cause harm. This much is true in Mr Rochester's eyes, as he casts her off as a burden that he has to endure and that causes him everlasting discontent. I felt nothing but sorrow for Bertha and the life she had to live while reading the novel. Instead of being given the love that Mr Rochester feels for Jane, Mr Rochester was cold and callous towards her, locking her away because she was not the woman he wanted her to be. It should be no surprise that this would damage the psyche of anyone, whether they be "crazy" from the start or not. Bertha definitely serves as a vessel for suspense in the novel, as well as a warning sign for Jane as to the possibilities of what may happen if she stayed with Mr Rochester. Her appearance in the novel gave Jane an excuse to think over the circumstance and not rush into the marriage like Mr Rochester had with Bertha.
ReplyDeleteLurking in the shadows of Gateshead for the first half of the novel, we are introduced to the idea of Bertha as some sort of a ghost, an apparition that appears only to cause harm. This much is true in Mr Rochester's eyes, as he casts her off as a burden that he has to endure and that causes him everlasting discontent. I felt nothing but sorrow for Bertha and the life she had to live while reading the novel. Instead of being given the love that Mr Rochester feels for Jane, Mr Rochester was cold and callous towards her, locking her away because she was not the woman he wanted her to be. It should be no surprise that this would damage the psyche of anyone, whether they be "crazy" from the start or not. Bertha definitely serves as a vessel for suspense in the novel, as well as a warning sign for Jane as to the possibilities of what may happen if she stayed with Mr Rochester. Her appearance in the novel gave Jane an excuse to think over the circumstance and not rush into the marriage like Mr Rochester had with Bertha.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your pity towards Bertha because I didn't originally think of her in that way. I felt sympathetic towards Mr. Rochester because he was tricked into the marriage and couldn't love freely but you're right that Bertha was not loved and should have been cared for in a thorough manner.
DeleteBertha is a very mysterious character for multiple reasons. Part of her mystery comes from the fact that her identity isn’t revealed until late in the novel. Both Jane and the reader are led to believe that Grace Poole is causing all of the chaos in the household. This deception unnerves Jane because she wonders why Grace is allowed to roam freely when she is trying to harm Mr. Rochester. Grace appears normal and relatively stoic in the daytime, which contributes to the nighttime terror that surrounds Bertha Mason’s violence. Bertha’s escapes from her chamber and assaults on both Mr. Rochester and Jane parallel scenes from a horror movie. Mr. Rochester further adds to the mystery by assuring Jane that her visions in the nighttime were just dreams. However, these weak explanations are tossed out of the window when Jane Eyre sees proof of the bridal veil that Bertha Mason tore. When the mystery is finally revealed, Bertha Mason’s first full appearance in the novel is truly haunting. Mr. Rochester’s disgust towards his psychotic “wife” combined with Jane’s despair over the failure of their marriage are further attributed to the existence of Bertha Mason. Interestingly enough, Bertha is the force that both draws Jane and Mr. Rochester apart and then back together. As a result of his unfortunate marriage with Bertha, Jane is unable to marry Mr. Rochester and flees the household. However, when Bertha sets Thornfield Hall up in flames, Mr. Rochester loses his sight and Jane returns to him as a lover and caregiver. She finally saves him from the anguish and utter desolation that encompassed his life following his marriage with Bertha Mason.
ReplyDeleteI think that Bertha Mason is extremely intriguing because we do not actually find out about her existence until late in the book but we are given several clues to know that something is afoot on the third floor as there are constant noises and movements up there and something at Thornfield keeps Rochester away as it bothers him. It is interesting that Bertha MAson is both the reason that Jane and Rochester can not marry, as she is still alive and Rochester's wife, and is also the reason that Rochester and Jane eventually do marry as when she burns down the mansion she both widows Rochester and hurts him which causes Jane to be drawn to him more dearly. Thus Bertha Mason is intriguing because we never find out that much about her, besides she is insane and Rochester married her in Jamaica, but she keeps cropping up throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on Bertha Mason are limited and this is mostly because the information on her is limited. I think she is one of the few lucky characters in this book, being insane she doesn’t understand the consequences of her actions and thus doesn’t have to live with the pitiful tale of her life. Described as she was before her illness set in she was a beautiful woman who had all the graces a victorian wife could want, this definitely makes her one of the best characters in this book. She had a bright future but it was all ripped out of her hands because of the sad reality of genetics, in truth I pity this poor woman who was bound by the mistakes of her ancestors to suffer.
ReplyDeleteAs a reader, I found the most mysterious aspect of Bertha Mason to be her consistent presence before it was revealed that she existed. The havoc caused in the household prior to her reveal was clearly not deferrable to Grace Poole. The secret of her existence also intertwines with Mr. Rochester's darker side. The way he kept Bertha locked up and hidden with the intent of marrying another woman showed his concerning lack of compassion and regard for someone who was once of great importance to him. Though Bertha's existence was a mystery for a long time, it becomes apparent upon her reveal that a part of Mr. Rochester was a mystery for a long time as well. Though Bertha is depicted as a monster, it is hard for me to believe this entirely because her life is simply devastating. Though not much is known about her at all, I do not think that she is entirely bad or disgusting by any means. She is just a woman who was forced to endure an unfair hidden life because of her mental illness.
ReplyDeleteBertha Mason is an intriguing character, whom Bronte uses symbolically in multiple ways. Firstly, she represents Mr. Rochester’s secrets and darker past, alluded to but only revealed right before Jane and Mr. Rochester’s wedding as his wife. I also believe that Bertha can be used to represent the nineteenth century working woman. A passionate, talented woman is considered a threat to men and their work and thus they are deemed “crazy” and locked away. Although madness supposedly runs through Bertha’s family, I think her insanity is in part due to Mr. Rochester’s mistreatment and cruelty towards her, locking her up once he got to know her better and did not appreciate her passions. Bronte also draws several parallels between Bertha and Jane. They both grew up caught in between situations, for Bertha she was half-Creole and half-English, for Jane she grew up in an upper class home but ranked below servants. Bertha was imprisoned for ten years in the attic room at Thornfield before she was revealed, and was insane, “like some wild animal”. Jane was ten years at Gateshead and when locked in the red room, goes crazy “like a mad cat”. Bertha is insane and Jane hears voices. When Bertha visits Jane’s room, I think it is a warning to Jane that she could end like Bertha, except that Jane appears to be more desirable to Mr. Rochester than Bertha ever was, and this saves Jane. Bertha is certainly mysterious, but I think Bronte uses this mystery masterfully, to mold her into different symbols at different points in the book.
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