Chapter XVIII explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Love and Morality

  Jane's internal conflict between her love for Mr. Rochester and the moral implications of his marriage to Blanche Ingram for social advantage.

• Social Class and Inequality

  Jane's awareness of her inferior social position relative to Blanche Ingram, and her critique of class-based marriage motives.

• Gender and Independence

  Jane's powerless position as a governess observing the courtship, and her independent judgment of Blanche's character despite societal constraints.

Characters to notice

• Jane Eyre

  Narrates her observations of Blanche Ingram's courtship of Mr. Rochester, her own growing love for him, and her critical assessment of Blanche's character.

• Mr. Rochester

  Subject of Jane's scrutiny; he engages in a courtship with Blanche Ingram that Jane perceives as lacking genuine passion.

• Blanche Ingram

  Attempts to fascinate Mr. Rochester with elaborate arts but fails; Jane considers her showy but not genuine.

• Adèle Varens

  Mentioned as a target of Blanche Ingram's spiteful antipathy.

• Lady Ingram

  Objects to the gipsy's presence but is overruled by her daughter Blanche.

• Colonel Dent

  Proposes to let the gipsy tell fortunes and orchestrates the visit.

Key passages

• “Arrows that continually glanced off from Mr. Rochester’s breast and fell harmless at his feet, might, I knew, if shot by a surer hand, have quivered keen in his proud heart—have called love into his stern eye, and softness into his sardonic face; or, better still, without weapons a silent conquest might have been won.”

  Jane believes that if a more genuine woman than Blanche Ingram tried to win Mr. Rochester, she could succeed through quiet sincerity rather than flashy tactics.

  Jane's reflection on how true affection could captivate Mr. Rochester.

• “She was very showy, but she was not genuine: she had a fine person, many brilliant attainments; but her mind was poor, her heart barren by nature: nothing bloomed spontaneously on that soil; no unforced natural fruit delighted by its freshness.”

  Jane judges Blanche Ingram as superficially attractive but lacking genuine depth, intelligence, or warmth.

  Jane's critical assessment of Blanche Ingram's character.

• “I saw he was going to marry her, for family, perhaps political reasons, because her rank and connections suited him; I felt he had not given her his love, and that her qualifications were ill adapted to win from him that treasure.”

  Jane understands that Mr. Rochester's marriage to Blanche is based on social advantage, not love, and that Blanche cannot truly win his heart.

  Jane's insight into Mr. Rochester's motives for marriage.