BDSM : Exploring Rochester Through Jane's Eyes in Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre evolves into an emotional master-slave relationship due to Jane's submissive nature. The narrator, because of her abusive past, will except nothing less from Rochester than an off-putting master. This persona is created by the narrator through her analysis of his every move. When Rochester endeavors to treat Jane with love, she pulls away, mistrusting his intentions both vocally and through her narrative. As a narrator, Jane is prone to shoving Rochester in the box marked "Cad" to appease her moral values, clinging to an abusive relationship regardless of her lovers actions.

Jane's narrative accounts are judgmental, this leads the reader to feel pity for Rochester who is mercilessly persecuted. Jane proves herself to be naive and blind. This is shown through the narrator's views on herself: "...I must smother hope; I must remember that he cannot care much for me,"(183 Bronte). The narrator's self doubt corrodes her perception and her relationship with Rochester to the point where it can no longer be loving.

Even as Jane falls in love with Rochester she regresses into a sense of bitterness, not allowing herself to fully acknowledge his character:"Yet I had not forgotten his faults; indeed, I could not, for he brought them frequently before me. I thought there were excellent materials in him; though for the present they hung together somewhat spoiled and tangled,"(153-154 Bronte). When he does begin to "untangle" himself, showering Jane with affection, she rebukes him for giving her more than she deserves. She emotionally pushes him away days from their wedding night, still unsure of his love. Jane manipulates him to remain gruff towards her, pinching her ear instead of kissing her, and she is comfortable. As a narrator, she puts Rochester in the position of Master with defined lines and walls so she won't get hurt, even inside her own head.

She finally embraces her submissive nature as she waits for Rochester in the rain, conquered, bitter, and waiting to serve him his tea. She turns malleable towards him. This revelation of her need leads to Rochester punishment as she is cold and unforgiving afterwards throughout their interactions.

It is no surprise that the Jane's negativity comes to fruition; Jane is denied her marriage, proving all the narrator's doubts and fears towards her bridegroom's character correct. She acknowledges this: "And now I thought; till now I had only heard, seen, moved, followed up and down where I was led or dragged-- watched event rushed on event, disclosure open beyond disclosure: but now, I thought,'(313 Bronte) The narrator regards her submissive, trusting actions as wrong, but comes away from her revelation only to sit awkwardly before her "wrong doer", unable to pronounce him a scoundrel despite her own judgmental thoughts which readers are privy to.

As a narrator, Jane has spent the majority of the book renouncing Rochester for his faults, even at the height of her passion for him she denies herself any true happiness. She cannot accept him until he is physically punished and under her will as a blind man. Once he is punished and abused, as she has been in life, only then can she allow herself to connect with him, breaking the master servant boundary and becoming equals.

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Tom Doherty Associates: New York, NY 1994.