“In the deep shade, at the farther end of the room, a figure ran backwards and forwards. What it was, whether beast or human being, one could not, at first sight tell: it grovelled, seemingly on all fours; it snatched and growled like some wild animal: but it was covered with clothing, and a quantity of dark, grizzled hair, wild as a mane, hid it’s head and face.”
(Brontë, 316)
This above quote is how the reader is first introduced to Mr. Rochester’s wife, Bertha Mason. When introducing a character to the reader for the first time, the descriptions of the character are one of the most important things. It stays with the reader for the rest of the book, how this character looks in their head. Like in Frankenstein, for example, that first description of the monster stays in the readers head for the rest of the story. This first paragraph showing descriptions of Bertha, fills the reader’s head with more images relating to an animal than a human. The author even states that at first glance, one could not tell if this is a “beast or human being.” She even lists a beast before suggesting a human being. Another aspect of this description that shows Bertha’s dehumanization is that she is called an “it.” “It was covered with clothing,” and “hid it’s head and face” This further shows that the reader is meant to see Bertha as this wild thing rather than a human being.
“The maniac bellowed: she parted her shaggy locks from her visage, and gazed wildly at her visitors.”
(Brontë, 316)
Although now being referred to as “she,” these descriptions of “maniac” and “shaggy” and “wildly” still fill the reader’s mind of images of something that is more beastly than human. All of these descriptions together give the reader an image in their mind of Bertha from Jane or Rochester’s point of view. I think it will be interesting and helpful to compare this to Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys to hear about Bertha’s life from her own point of view, and to see what different kind of perception the reader will have from getting a different point of view.
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Going off of this, I find it interesting how Jane mistakes Bertha for a vampire when she is in her room at night. Definitely still the sense of dehumanization here, but as opposed to an animal/beast a vampire seems more cunning? I’m not really sure why Bertha was described as a vampire, but I do agree with you that we as readers would benefit from be able to see Bertha’s point of view. Her destroying Jane’s wedding veil may be a glimpse into this, possibly she had destroyed it to warn Jane about Rochester.
“I think it will be interesting and helpful to compare this to Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys to hear about Bertha’s life from her own point of view, and to see what different kind of perception the reader will have from getting a different point of view.” YEP.
I enjoyed the quotes that you grabbed from the book. Nice job. The last sentence is definitely a great point.
Bertha’s dehumanisation seems to draw contrast between her and Jane, almost as to garner sympathy for Rochester. How can you blame the man for wanting a sane wife when the woman he married is little better then a beast? Poor man having to bear this burden.
Between “Frankenstein” and “Jane Eyre,” there is a common trend of depicting disabled people in an animalistic way. The creature in “Frankenstein” was treated as an animal and forced to live like one. Bertha is described as an animal, and likewise treated like an animal. This shows how disabled people were seen as less than human, something to be ostracized, mistreated, and kept away from, which is obviously a very problematic mindset.
The quotes you provided describing Bertha are very interesting! Having now finished Wide Sargasso Sea, it is a new perspective. We see how Antionette describes being locked in the room, with few memories and little freedom, trying to remember what she wanted to do. In that moment, it’s likely Bertha was just confused, wanting to know what was going on.