Original Text(~250 words)
The month of courtship had wasted: its very last hours were being numbered. There was no putting off the day that advanced—the bridal day; and all preparations for its arrival were complete. _I_, at least, had nothing more to do: there were my trunks, packed, locked, corded, ranged in a row along the wall of my little chamber; to-morrow, at this time, they would be far on their road to London: and so should I (D.V.),—or rather, not I, but one Jane Rochester, a person whom as yet I knew not. On the eve of her wedding to Mr. Rochester, Jane experiences profound anxiety about her impending transformation from Jane Eyre to Mrs. Rochester. She cannot bring herself to attach the address labels bearing her new married name, feeling that this new identity doesn't yet exist. The wedding dress hanging in her closet seems ghostly and foreign, belonging to someone she doesn't recognize. A mysterious event from the previous night weighs heavily on her mind—something only she witnessed while Rochester was away on business. The Gothic atmosphere intensifies as Jane ventures into the stormy night, seeking solace in the orchard where she encounters the lightning-split chestnut tree from earlier in the novel. The tree, though damaged and dying, still clings together at its roots, which Jane interprets as a symbol of enduring connection despite destruction. Her restless energy drives her to prepare the house for Rochester's return, but when he doesn't arrive as expected, her anxiety transforms into foreboding. Finally,...
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Summary
On the eve of her wedding to Mr. Rochester, Jane experiences profound anxiety about her impending transformation from Jane Eyre to Mrs. Rochester. She cannot bring herself to attach the address labels bearing her new married name, feeling that this new identity doesn't yet exist. The wedding dress hanging in her closet seems ghostly and foreign, belonging to someone she doesn't recognize. A mysterious event from the previous night weighs heavily on her mind—something only she witnessed while Rochester was away on business. The Gothic atmosphere intensifies as Jane ventures into the stormy night, seeking solace in the orchard where she encounters the lightning-split chestnut tree from earlier in the novel. The tree, though damaged and dying, still clings together at its roots, which Jane interprets as a symbol of enduring connection despite destruction. Her restless energy drives her to prepare the house for Rochester's return, but when he doesn't arrive as expected, her anxiety transforms into foreboding. Finally, she ventures out to meet him on the road, where they reunite with passionate affection, though Jane's mysterious secret remains undisclosed.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
D.V.
Deo volente - Latin phrase meaning 'God willing,' reflecting Victorian religious sensibilities
Portmanteau
A large traveling bag or suitcase, typically made of leather
Wraith-like
Ghost-like or spectral in appearance
Hypochondriac foreboding
Excessive anxiety about potential misfortune or illness
Characters in This Chapter
Jane Eyre
Protagonist/Bride-to-be
Experiencing intense anxiety about her identity transformation and haunted by a mysterious event
Mr. Rochester
Jane's fiancé
Away on business, returning late to heighten Jane's anxiety and anticipation
Mrs. Rochester
Jane's future identity
A person Jane feels she doesn't yet know or recognize as herself
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
Literary Insight
Brontë masterfully captures the psychological complexity of major life transitions and the fear of losing one's authentic self in the process of change
Today's Relevance
Modern readers facing major life changes—marriage, career shifts, relocations—can relate to Jane's anxiety about identity transformation and the fear that happiness might be too good to last
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Mrs. Rochester! She did not exist: she would not be born till to-morrow, some time after eight o'clock A.M."
Context: Jane's resistance to accepting her new married identity
"You did right to hold fast to each other"
Context: Speaking to the split chestnut tree, foreshadowing the test of her own relationship
"I feared my hopes were too bright to be realised; and I had enjoyed so much bliss lately that I imagined my fortune had passed its meridian, and must now decline."
Context: Jane's premonition that her happiness cannot last
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
Thematic Threads
Identity and Self-Knowledge
In This Chapter
Development
In Your Life:
When have you had to choose between staying true to who you are and conforming to what others expect of you?
Independence vs. Love
In This Chapter
Development
In Your Life:
Have you ever walked away from a relationship that felt right emotionally but wrong for your independence or values?
Foreboding and Fate
In This Chapter
Development
In Your Life:
What gut feeling have you ignored that you later wished you'd trusted?
Modern Adaptation
The Night Before Everything Changes
Following Jane's story...
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Jane resist accepting the identity of 'Mrs. Rochester' even though she loves Rochester?
- 2
How does the split chestnut tree function as a symbol for Jane and Rochester's relationship?
- 3
What does Jane's mysterious secret suggest about the Gothic tradition's use of suspense?
Critical Thinking Exercise
Analyze how Brontë uses pathetic fallacy (the attribution of human emotions to nature) in this chapter. Examine the storm, the moon, and the damaged tree as reflections of Jane's internal state.
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 26: The Interrupted Wedding
As the story unfolds, you'll explore builds dramatic tension through pacing and foreshadowing, while uncovering the legal and social implications of bigamy in victorian society. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.