Quotation: “‘The glamour of inexperience is over your eyes,’ he answered; ‘and you see it through a charmed medium: you cannot discern that the gilding is slime and the silk draperies cobwebs; that the marble is sordid slate, and the polished wood mere refuse chips and scaly bark. Now here (he pointed to the leafy enclosure we had entered) all is real, sweet, and pure'” (pg 297).

Comment: Mr. Rochester is discussing his view of Thornfield with Jane and trying to explain to her that all is not what it seems in the manor. They had just put Mr. Mason into a carriage with the surgeon after he had been attacked by a creature that we assume to be Grace Poole. Instead of letting Jane go back to bed Mr. Rochester requests her company outside of the manor because he finds the building to be stuffy. Jane complies because he is her master and they go to a “leafy enclosure” that Mr. Rochester deems a pure and open area.

During their time outside, Jane tries to question Mr. Rochester about what had happened that night and why he was protecting Grace Poole. Mr. Rochester alludes to the fact that he is in danger from her, but still won’t make her leave Thornfield. Earlier in the book Jane had overheard part of a conversation alluding to some deal between Grace Poole and Mr. Rochester due to something that had happened between the two of them, but once Jane was noticed the conversation had stopped immediately. I find it very interesting that there was some circumstance that led to Grace Poole’s permanent residence at Thornfield no matter what she does, but it almost seems like a secret that only a trusted few people know and despite Mr. Rochester’s view of Jane as a friend and someone to talk to, he hasn’t shared it with her. Does he not want to taint her view of Thornfield by sharing some past horrific event that has shaped his view? Or perhaps he doesn’t want Jane to view him differently and is concerned she will if she finds out this secret about him and Grace Poole.

Question: What was Mr. Mason’s purpose at Thornfield? Does Mr. Rochester’s view of Thornfield have anything to do with his previous trauma that Mrs. Fairfax eluded to when Jane first arrived? Is Grace Poole the cause of the incident that made Mr. Rochester detest Thornfield and if so, why is he protecting her so much?