Quotes

Dialogue

Rochester: From whence do you hail? What is your tale of woe? Jane: [confused] Pardon? 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: [Incredulous] No tale of woe?

Dialogue

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.

Dialogue

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.

Dialogue

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.

Dialogue

Mr. Brocklehurst: [Helen is about to be beaten by Miss Scatcherd] I see you are mortifying this girl's flesh. 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.

Dialogue

Rochester: [after Jane and Mr. Rochester have put out a fire that was set to his bed] Say nothing about this. You are no talking fool. 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.

Dialogue

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.

Dialogue

[deeply] I would do anything for you, sir. Anything that was right.

Dialogue

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

Dialogue

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.