Wuthering Heights & Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Brontë & Emily Brontë
Contents
CHAPTER XXXV
Overview
St. John punishes Jane’s refusal with icy reserve, rebuffs her offer to assist him unmarried, and renews pressure to wed for the India mission. Diana urges Jane to refuse. After a powerful scripture reading and ultimatum, Jane nearly yields—until Rochester’s distant cry compels her to resolve to seek him.
Summary
St. John delays his departure and, without open reproach, freezes Jane out, making her feel banished. Jane appeals for reconciliation; St. John remains cool and tests whether she will still go to India. When Jane reaffirms she will not marry him, he accuses her of impropriety for proposing to accompany him unmarried.
Jane offers again to assist as a sister; St. John refuses and suggests placing her with a married missionary. She asserts no promise binds her and admits she must learn what has become of Mr. Rochester before leaving England. St. John condemns her attachment as unconsecrated and withdraws to pray.
Diana confronts Jane with her suspicions, rejoices at the proposal, then denounces the India plan as fatal for Jane’s health. Jane explains St. John seeks a co-labourer, not a wife he loves, and that marriage to him would be crushing; Diana agrees it would be insupportable.
That evening St. John reads Revelation 21 with solemn fervor, implicitly warning Jane of perdition. Before leaving, he grants her a fortnight to repent and decide. His mild, pastoral appeal nearly overmasters Jane’s resistance; duty and his gentleness sway her toward consenting.
As Jane prays for guidance, a mysterious, beloved voice cries, “Jane! Jane! Jane!”—Rochester’s voice in distress. Certain it is no superstition, Jane breaks from St. John, demands solitude, prays in her own way, and resolves to act at daylight, determined to discover Rochester’s fate.
Who Appears
- Jane EyreNarrator; resists St. John’s renewed pressure to marry, confides in Diana, hears Rochester’s cry, and resolves to find him.
- St. John RiversColdly punitive yet devout; rejects Jane’s offer to assist unmarried, reads Revelation, issues a fortnight ultimatum, nearly wins her consent.
- Diana RiversPerceptive sister; questions Jane, decries the India scheme as dangerous, and supports Jane’s refusal to marry St. John.
- Edward Fairfax RochesterAbsent beloved; his desperate, disembodied call to Jane spurs her decision to seek him.
- Mary RiversSister who quietly appears at leave-taking; offers no counsel but witnesses St. John’s departure.