Written by Erin Stanley
The Byronic hero was founded by Lord Byron, and appear many times in classic literature. Such characters possess dark, passionate, mysterious, and intense characteristics, and are burdened with the mistakes they made in the past. Of course, these Byronic heroes are used by the author in literature to convey a deeper meaning and contribute to the story, as Charlotte Brontё uses Rochester in her novel, Jane Eyre. Rochester is identified as the Byronic hero in Jane Eyre, and acts accordingly, what with his mysterious, passionate, and intense personality; Brontё uses him to as Brontё uses his character to convey a central theme in her novel. The Byronic hero in Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester, rejects social norms to convey the central theme ‘Often times, when one makes a mistake, it resurfaces to cause them grievances in the future’.
Rochester makes the mistake of marrying Bertha, and she resurfaces throughout the novel to cause Rochester distress. For example, when Mason visits Thornfield, he is savagely bitten and stabbed by Bertha Mason. Mason describes, “‘She bit me,’ he murmured.’She worried me like a tigress, when Rochester got the knife from her’” (Brontё 359). Instead of sending Bertha to an insane asylum, Rochester rejects social norms by keeping Bertha hidden away his attic, under the careful eye of Grace Poole. Rochester conveys the theme, ‘Often times, when one makes a mistake, it resurfaces to cause them grievances in the future’ in this frightful episode, as Bertha makes an appearance and harms Mason.
Additionally, Rochester’s mistake of marrying Bertha and rejection of social norms (keeping her in his attic) ultimately puts Jane in danger as Bertha makes yet another appearance. When Jane describes the odd dream she had of a demonic-like figure creeping into her room and ruining her wedding apparel, Rochester assured Jane that it was probably all just a dream. However, Jane insists, “‘But, sir, when I said to myself on rising this morning, and when I looked round the room to gather courage and comfort from the cheerful aspect of each familiar object in full daylight, there - on the carpet - I was what gave the distinct lie to my hypothesis - the veil, torn from top to bottom in two halves!’” (Brontё 410). Jane is very dear to Rochester, and if she was to be harmed, Rochester would be greatly troubled; his mistake of marrying Bertha, and avoiding social norms by keeping her in Thornfield puts Jane in harm's way, which grieves Rochester greatly.
The role of the Byronic hero in Jane Eyre is to convey the central theme, ‘Often times, when one makes a mistake, it resurfaces to cause them grievances in the future’ through the rejection of social norms. Mason’s near death and Jane’s close encounter with Bertha’s wrath trouble Rochester. His mistake of marrying Bertha will haunt him forever, and keeping her locked in his attick does not do much to appease him. Of course, it is usually impossible to run away from one’s mistakes, and at the very least, Rochester attempts to deal with his mistake.
Erin Stanley is a 19 year old writer and lover of English Literature. She's from Virginia, though she's spent most of her life in Wisconsin. Her favorite book is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontё and her favorite past-time is watching motivational YouTube videos.
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