10 quotes
A Commitment to Right Action
Jane
I would do anything for you, sir. Anything that was right.
[deeply]
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Confrontation of Truth and Authority
Young Jane
You said I was a liar. I'm not. If I were I'd have said I loved you, and I don't. I dislike you less than anybody in the world. People think you are good, but you are bad, and hard-hearted. I will let everyone know what you have done.
Mrs. Reed
Children must be corrected for their faults.
Young Jane
Deceit is not my fault.
Mrs. Reed
You are passionate.
Young Jane
Uncle Reed is in heaven. So are my mother and father. They know how you hate me and wish me dead. They can see, they see everything you do, and they will judge you Mrs. Reed!
Mrs. Reed
Get out.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Consequences of Wickedness Discussed
Mr. Brocklehurst
Do you know, Jane Eyre, where the wicked go after death?
Young Jane
They go to hell.
Mr. Brocklehurst
And what is hell?
Young Jane
A pit full of fire.
Mr. Brocklehurst
Should you like to fall into this pit and be burned there forever?
Young Jane
No, sir.
Mr. Brocklehurst
How might you avoid it?
Young Jane
I must keep in good health and not die.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Proposal Challenged by Doubt
Rochester
I offer you my hand, my heart. Jane, I ask you to pass through life at my side. You are my equal and my likeness. Will you marry me?
Jane
Are you mocking me?
Rochester
You doubt me.
Jane
Entirely.
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Recognition of Humanity in Connection
Rochester
Who's there? This hand. Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre.
Jane
Edward, I'm come back to you. Fairfax Rochester with nothing to say.
Rochester
You're altogether a human being Jane.
Jane
I conscientiously believe so.
Rochester
I dream.
Jane
Awaken then.
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A Command for Silence and Understanding
Rochester
Say nothing about this. You are no talking fool.
[after Jane and Mr. Rochester have put out a fire that was set to his bed]
Jane
But...
Rochester
I'll account for the state of affairs. Say nothing.
Jane
Yes, sir.
Rochester
Is that how you would leave me? Jane, fire is a horrible death. You've saved my life. Don't walk past me as if we were strangers.
Jane
What am I to do, then?
Rochester
I have a pleasure in owing you my life.
Jane
There is no debt.
Rochester
I knew you would do me good in some way. I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you. Their expression did not strike my very inmost being so for nothing. People talk of natural sympathies. You...
Jane
Good night then, sir.
Rochester
You will leave me, then.
Jane
I am cold.
Rochester
Go.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Moment of Truth and Decision
Rochester
I know you; you're thinking. Talking is of no use, you're thinking how to act.
Jane
All has changed sir. I must leave you.
Rochester
No. No. Jane do you love me.
Rochester
Then the essential things are the same. Be my wife.
Jane
You have a wife.
Rochester
I pledge you my honor, my fidelity...
Jane
You cannot.
Rochester
...my love until death do us part.
Jane
What of truth?
Rochester
I would have told you the truth.
Jane
You are deceitful sir.
Rochester
I was wrong to deceive you. I see that now, it was cowardly. I should have appealed to your spirit as I do now. Bertha Antoinette Mason, she was wanted by my father for her fortune. I hardly spoke with her before the wedding. I lived with her for 4 years. Her temper ripened, her vices sprang up, violent and unchaste. Only cruelty would check her and I'd not use cruelty. I was chained to her for life Jane. Not even the law could free me. Have you ever set foot in a mad house Jane?
Jane
No sir.
Rochester
The inmates are caged and baited like beasts. I spared her that at least. Jane?
Jane
Yes I pity you sir.
Rochester
Who would you offend by living with me? Who would care?
Jane
I would.
Rochester
You would rather drive me to madness than break some mere human law.
Jane
I must respect myself.
Rochester
Listen to me. Listen. I could bend you with my finger and my thumb. A mere reed you feel in my hands. But whatever I do with this cage, I cannot get at you, and it is your soul that I want. Why can't you come of your own free will?
Jane
God help me.
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Punishment and Discipline in Education
Mr. Brocklehurst
I see you are mortifying this girl's flesh.
[Helen is about to be beaten by Miss Scatcherd]
Miss Scatcherd
Sir, she was not...
Mr. Brocklehurst
It is your mission to render her contrite and self-denying. Continue.
Mr. Brocklehurst
And you, girl.
Mr. Brocklehurst
This is the pedestal of infamy, and you will remain on it all day long. You will have neither food nor drink for you must know how barren is the life of a sinner. Children, I exhort you to shun her, exclude her, shut her out from this day forth. Withhold the hand of friendship and deny your love to Jane Eyre, the liar.
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The Governess's Unexpected Response
Rochester
From whence do you hail? What is your tale of woe?
Jane
Pardon?
[confused]
Rochester
All governesses have a tale of woe. What is yours?
Jane
I was brought up by my aunt, Mrs. Reed of Gateshead, in a house even finer than this. I then attended Lowood school where I received an education as good as I could hope for. I have no tale of woe, sir.
Rochester
Where are your parents?
Jane
Dead, sir.
Rochester
Do you remember them?
Jane
No.
Rochester
And why are you not with Mrs. Reed at Gateshead now?
Jane
She cast me off, sir.
Rochester
Why?
Jane
Because I was burdensome and she disliked me.
Rochester
No tale of woe?
[Incredulous]
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Concerns Over Jane's Character and Upbringing
Mrs. Reed
Her mother was my husband's sister. On his deathbed he exhorted me to care for her. I've always treated her as one of my own. If you accept her at Lowood school, Mr. Brocklehurst, keep a strict eye on her. She has a heart of spite. I'm sorry to say that her worst fault is that of deceit.
Mr. Brocklehurst
You can rest assured that we shall root out the wickedness in this small, ungrateful plant.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.