Melissa Ziemba

Divorce is not an option for Edward Rochester, for the only way anyone could obtain a divorce in that time was by claiming adultery. Bertha, his first wife, is insane but not unfaithful, so he has to endure the marriage no matter how unhappy he is. As remarked by Joan Perkin, "insanity after marriage did not invalidate it" (12). Bertha became insane after she married Edward, and according to the law since both parties were lucid at the time of the marriage, it could not be invalidated.

In Jane Eyre, Edward's behavior and courting of Jane is not reproached, which is possibly due to the sexual freedom granted to men. The only time anyone speaks out against Edward's behavior is when he is about to go through with the marriage ceremony. As Helene Moglen states, "Rochester's economic position, class, and sexual status allow him to act as if he were not . . . responsible to society" (119). None of the characters, not even Mrs. Fairfax, who knows about Bertha, says anything about his courting of Jane. Even further, she does not say anything when they are going to the church to be married.

However, it must not be assumed that because none of the characters say anything, except for Mason at the ceremony, that Bronte herself condones this behavior. In fact, there are many clues that suggest the opposite. As soon as Jane accepts Edward's proposal, he remarks, "God pardon me . . . and man meddle not with me: I have her, and will hold her" (284; ch. 23). A stronger foreshadowing of something foreboding appears soon after this when Jane says, "Before I left my bed in the morning, little Adele came running in to tell me that the great horse-chestnut at the bottom of the orchard had been struck by lightning in the night, and half of it split away" (285; ch. 23). This is relevant because the "great horse-chestnut at the bottom of the orchard" is where Edward proposed to Jane the night before. The striking of the tree by lightning has a supernatural connotation, for it is a sign of a supernatural being’s displeasure with Edward's action.

Bronte also shows her disapproval of Rochester's behavior by endowing Jane with such strong and virtuous characteristics, which she especially demonstrates after she finds out about the existence of Bertha. When Edward wants Jane to stay and live with him as his companion or in other words his mistress, Jane's moral strength is shown in her refusal. For she states, when she says goodbye to him, "God bless you, my dear master . . . God keep you from harm and wrong--direct you, solace you--reward you well for your past kindness to me" (345; ch. 27). Jane holds no animosity towards Edward Rochester for what he did to her. She does not condemn him, or even show anger towards him. On the contrary, she deeply loves him and can only wish him well in the future. Although she would like to remain with him and is strongly tempted to stay, her morals and virtues tell her it would be highly improper for her to do so. The night she is to leave Thornfield, she hears a voice that says, "My daughter, flee temptation" and she replies, "Mother I will" (346: ch. 27). Her character is strong enough to enable her to resist the temptation of Edward Rochester, thus acting as a foil to Rochester's immoral behavior.