Jane Eyre Quotes – 4 – I am your plain, Quakerish governess.

Jane Eyre Quotes “I am your plain, Quakerish governess.”

“Oh, sir! – never mind jewels! I don’t like to hear them spoken of. Jewels for Jane Eyre sounds unnatural and strange: I would rather not have them.”

“I will myself put the diamond chain round your neck, and the circlet on your forehead, – which it will become: for nature, at least, has stamped her patent of nobility on this brow, Jane; and I will clasp the bracelets on these fine wrists, and load these fairy-like fingers with rings.”
“No, no, sir! think of other subjects, and speak of other things, and in another strain. Don’t address me as if I were a beauty; I am your plain, Quakerish governess.”

“You are a beauty in my eyes, and a beauty just after the desire of my heart, – delicate and aërial.”

“Puny and insignificant, you mean. You are dreaming, sir, – or you are sneering. For God’s sake don’t be ironical!”

Explanation of the above passage

Jane’s famous self description of herself as a “Quakerish Governess” shows how she views herself. Edward Rochester has just won the consent of Jane Eyre to marry him. But he makes the error of wanting to change her appearance with Jewelery and other adornments. This classic mistake brings about this response from Jane Eyre who is determined to stay true to herself and her character.
She has led a quiet life and has a strong faith of her own despite being mistreated in a “Christian” school. She expresses a number of times her acknowlegment of God and his influence on her life. But Rochester has little belief of his own and is expecting to tranform Jane into one of his mistresses.
In the book Jane Eyre, Mr Rochester also wants to buy new clothes and other fancy gifts. But Jane will have none of it. This shows her strength of character to stand up to Rochester and his imposing nature. One of the enduring mysteries of the book Jane Eyre is how she stands up to Mr Rochester and is not intimidated by him. In the end he is in awa of Jane as he marvels at her character and her tenacity.