Wuthering Heights & Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Brontë & Emily Brontë
Contents
Jane Eyre — CHAPTER XXIII
Overview
On a moonlit Midsummer Eve, Mr. Rochester tells Jane she must leave because he will marry Blanche, pushing Jane to confess her love and agony. He reveals the Blanche courtship was a ruse, proposes to Jane, and she accepts. A sudden storm ends the night, splitting the great chestnut and hinting at ominous consequences.
Summary
On a radiant Midsummer Eve, Jane wanders into Thornfield’s orchard to avoid Mr. Rochester. He joins her, and under the rising moon leads her to the chestnut tree. He says she must soon leave Thornfield because he will marry Blanche Ingram and has found Jane a position in Ireland.
The prospect of distance and separation forces Jane to admit her attachment. She weeps and insists she must go rather than remain “nothing” to him. Rochester presses her to stay; Jane asserts her equality of soul and independent will, yet believes his marriage to Blanche makes departure necessary.
Rochester then shatters the assumption: he declares he has no love for Blanche, that he tested her with a rumor of reduced fortune, and that it is Jane he loves. He offers his hand and heart. After scrutinizing his face for sincerity, Jane believes him. She accepts his proposal, and they exchange vows of affection.
Exultant, Rochester speaks defiantly of the world’s judgment, while Jane, relieved from the fear of parting, answers his repeated questions about her happiness. As midnight nears, a sudden storm erupts; lightning and thunder drive them indoors. Mrs. Fairfax witnesses Rochester kissing Jane and looks shocked, while Jane retreats upstairs.
By morning, Adèle reports that lightning has split the great horse-chestnut at the orchard’s end, a striking aftermath to the night of their engagement.
Who Appears
- Jane EyreGoverness who confesses love, asserts her equality and will, and accepts Rochester’s proposal.
- Edward RochesterMaster of Thornfield; feigns plans to wed Blanche, then declares love and proposes to Jane.
- Mrs. FairfaxHousekeeper who unexpectedly witnesses Rochester kissing Jane and reacts with grave surprise.
- Adèle VarensChild ward who sleeps early and reports the lightning-split chestnut tree the next morning.