Jane Eyre 2011 quotes

Mr. Brocklehurst

I see you are mortifying this girl's flesh.

Sir, she was not...

Mr. Brocklehurst

It is your mission to render her contrite and self-denying. Continue.

Mr. Brocklehurst

And you, girl.

Mr. Brocklehurst

This is the pedestal of infamy, and you will remain on it all day long. You will have neither food nor drink for you must know how barren is the life of a sinner. Children, I exhort you to shun her, exclude her, shut her out from this day forth. Withhold the hand of friendship and deny your love to Jane Eyre, the liar.

Mr. Brocklehurst

Do you know, Jane Eyre, where the wicked go after death?

Young Jane

They go to hell.

Mr. Brocklehurst

And what is hell?

Young Jane

A pit full of fire.

Mr. Brocklehurst

Should you like to fall into this pit and be burned there forever?

Young Jane

No, sir.

Mr. Brocklehurst

How might you avoid it?

Young Jane

I must keep in good health and not die.

Her mother was my husband's sister. On his deathbed he exhorted me to care for her. I've always treated her as one of my own. If you accept her at Lowood school, Mr. Brocklehurst, keep a strict eye on her. She has a heart of spite. I'm sorry to say that her worst fault is that of deceit.

Mr. Brocklehurst

You can rest assured that we shall root out the wickedness in this small, ungrateful plant.

Rochester

Say nothing about this. You are no talking fool.

Jane

But...

Rochester

I'll account for the state of affairs. Say nothing.

Jane

Yes, sir.

Rochester

Is that how you would leave me? Jane, fire is a horrible death. You've saved my life. Don't walk past me as if we were strangers.

Jane

What am I to do, then?

Rochester

I have a pleasure in owing you my life.

Jane

There is no debt.

Rochester

I knew you would do me good in some way. I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you. Their expression did not strike my very inmost being so for nothing. People talk of natural sympathies. You...

Jane

Good night then, sir.

Rochester

You will leave me, then.

Jane

I am cold.

Rochester

Go.

Rochester

From whence do you hail? What is your tale of woe?

Jane

Pardon?

Rochester

All governesses have a tale of woe. What is yours?

Jane

I was brought up by my aunt, Mrs. Reed of Gateshead, in a house even finer than this. I then attended Lowood school where I received an education as good as I could hope for. I have no tale of woe, sir.

Rochester

Where are your parents?

Jane

Dead, sir.

Rochester

Do you remember them?

Jane

No.

Rochester

And why are you not with Mrs. Reed at Gateshead now?

Jane

She cast me off, sir.

Rochester

Why?

Jane

Because I was burdensome and she disliked me.

Rochester

No tale of woe?

Rochester

I know you; you're thinking. Talking is of no use, you're thinking how to act.

Jane

All has changed sir. I must leave you.

Rochester

No. No. Jane do you love me.

Rochester

Then the essential things are the same. Be my wife.

Jane

You have a wife.

Rochester

I pledge you my honor, my fidelity...

Jane

You cannot.

Rochester

...my love until death do us part.

Jane

What of truth?

Rochester

I would have told you the truth.

Jane

You are deceitful sir.

Rochester

I was wrong to deceive you. I see that now, it was cowardly. I should have appealed to your spirit as I do now. Bertha Antoinette Mason, she was wanted by my father for her fortune. I hardly spoke with her before the wedding. I lived with her for 4 years. Her temper ripened, her vices sprang up, violent and unchaste. Only cruelty would check her and I'd not use cruelty. I was chained to her for life Jane. Not even the law could free me. Have you ever set foot in a mad house Jane?

Jane

No sir.

Rochester

The inmates are caged and baited like beasts. I spared her that at least. Jane?

Jane

Yes I pity you sir.

Rochester

Who would you offend by living with me? Who would care?

Jane

I would.

Rochester

You would rather drive me to madness than break some mere human law.

Jane

I must respect myself.

Rochester

Listen to me. Listen. I could bend you with my finger and my thumb. A mere reed you feel in my hands. But whatever I do with this cage, I cannot get at you, and it is your soul that I want. Why can't you come of your own free will?

Jane

God help me.

Rochester

I offer you my hand, my heart. Jane, I ask you to pass through life at my side. You are my equal and my likeness. Will you marry me?

Jane

Are you mocking me?

Rochester

You doubt me.

Jane

Entirely.

Rochester

Who's there? This hand. Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre.

Jane

Edward, I'm come back to you. Fairfax Rochester with nothing to say.

Rochester

You're altogether a human being Jane.

Jane

I conscientiously believe so.

Rochester

I dream.

Jane

Awaken then.

Young Jane

You said I was a liar. I'm not. If I were I'd have said I loved you, and I don't. I dislike you less than anybody in the world. People think you are good, but you are bad, and hard-hearted. I will let everyone know what you have done.

Children must be corrected for their faults.

Young Jane

Deceit is not my fault.

You are passionate.

Young Jane

Uncle Reed is in heaven. So are my mother and father. They know how you hate me and wish me dead. They can see, they see everything you do, and they will judge you Mrs. Reed!

Get out.

Rochester I am asking what Jane Eyre would do to secure my happiness.

Jane

I would do anything for you, sir. Anything that was right.