In the book
In the book, Foster notes that eating a meal with another person is a form of communion and peace offerings. However, being eaten is vampirism. In chapter three, Foster talks about vampires. On the other hand, in Jane Eyre, there is a scene in which Bertha bites Mason. Bertha is ill mentally and locked upstairs, but still married to Mr Rochester (Bronté 557). Although he is presented to have a good character, in literal sense, he can be a vampire. He is more than twice as Jane’s age, lusts for her, and tries to marry her while still married to Bertha. He has placed his needs above those of others. These frustrations without care pushed Bertha to commit suicide through burning. Mr. Rochester burned in the same fire and became blind. His blindness can be alluded to Tiresias, the blind prophet in Greek. Foster, in chapter nine, he cited “It’s Greek to Me” and from the novel, the blind prophet was wise (Foster 43). Thus, it could be that Mr. Rochester’s blindness could have been what made him learn from his mistakes, become wiser, and marrying Jane.
While reading the third chapter
While reading the third chapter on vampirism, Foster describes vampires as physical and mystical creatures. The author also describes them as less literal things like selfishness, refusing to respect the autonomy of others and exploitation. In chapter nine, snow and rain are symbolic. In Foster’s book, the rain represents washing away old lives. Jane Eyre, as a young orphan, she raised by a cruel and widowed aunt who abuses her. According to her, a boarding school is the rain to wash her pain (Bronté 126). While on her way to Moor house, Jane is rained on which symbolized getting rid of Mr. Rochester and the memories they shared. The snows symbolized suffocation for Jane as Rochester returns. As she is stuck in Thornfield Hall, she is isolated and frustrated.
Works Cited
Brontë, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Penguin, 2006.
Foster, Thomas C. How to read literature like a professor: A lively and entertaining guide to reading between the lines. Harper, 2014.
