Original Text(~250 words)
When Mr. St. John went, it was beginning to snow; the whirling storm continued all night. The next day a keen wind brought fresh and blinding falls; by twilight the valley was drifted up and almost impassable. I had closed my shutter, laid a mat to the door to prevent the snow from blowing in under it, trimmed my fire, and after sitting nearly an hour on the hearth listening to the muffled fury of the tempest, I lit a candle, took down "Marmion," and beginning— "Day set on Norham's castled steep" Chapter 33 opens with Jane alone during a fierce snowstorm, reading poetry by candlelight when St. John Rivers unexpectedly arrives. His mysterious behavior and gaunt appearance concern Jane, who notices he seems troubled and physically worn. After some awkward conversation about local matters, St. John announces he wants to tell her a story, positioning himself as narrator and Jane as listener. He begins recounting what Jane gradually realizes is her own life story - the tale of an orphaned girl whose parents died young, who was raised by Mrs. Reed at Gateshead, attended Lowood School, and became a governess to Mr. Rochester's ward. The dramatic tension builds as St. John describes how this governess discovered Rochester had a living wife at their wedding altar and subsequently disappeared from Thornfield Hall. Jane listens in growing amazement as her own history unfolds, told by someone who clearly knows her true identity. The chapter masterfully employs dramatic irony, as readers understand...
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Summary
Chapter 33 opens with Jane alone during a fierce snowstorm, reading poetry by candlelight when St. John Rivers unexpectedly arrives. His mysterious behavior and gaunt appearance concern Jane, who notices he seems troubled and physically worn. After some awkward conversation about local matters, St. John announces he wants to tell her a story, positioning himself as narrator and Jane as listener. He begins recounting what Jane gradually realizes is her own life story - the tale of an orphaned girl whose parents died young, who was raised by Mrs. Reed at Gateshead, attended Lowood School, and became a governess to Mr. Rochester's ward. The dramatic tension builds as St. John describes how this governess discovered Rochester had a living wife at their wedding altar and subsequently disappeared from Thornfield Hall. Jane listens in growing amazement as her own history unfolds, told by someone who clearly knows her true identity. The chapter masterfully employs dramatic irony, as readers understand what's happening before Jane fully grasps that St. John has discovered who she really is. The storm outside mirrors the emotional tempest building within the cottage as long-buried secrets come to light.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Dramatic irony
When readers know something a character doesn't, creating tension and engagement
Pathetic fallacy
Attributing human emotions to nature or inanimate objects, like the storm reflecting inner turmoil
Frame narrative
A story within a story, where one character tells another character's tale
Gothic atmosphere
Dark, mysterious mood created through setting and weather
Characters in This Chapter
Jane Eyre
Protagonist/Listener
Sits unknowingly hearing her own life story, growing increasingly amazed
St. John Rivers
Narrator/Revealer
Mysterious clergyman who has discovered Jane's identity and dramatically reveals it
Mr. Rochester
Absent figure
Referenced in the tale as the employer who attempted bigamous marriage
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
Literary Insight
This chapter demonstrates how storytelling can be a powerful tool for revelation and connection, showing how our own stories can seem strange and dramatic when told by others.
Today's Relevance
In our digital age, where personal information can be discovered and shared in unexpected ways, this scene resonates with modern anxieties about privacy and the power of knowledge about our past.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I shall sully the purity of your floor, but you must excuse me for once."
Context: His arrival from the storm, suggesting disruption of Jane's peaceful solitude
"I have experienced the excitement of a person to whom a tale has been half-told, and who is impatient to hear the sequel."
Context: Hinting at his knowledge of Jane's identity and story
"the story will sound somewhat hackneyed in your ears; but stale details often regain a degree of freshness when they pass through new lips"
Context: Dramatic irony as he prepares to tell Jane her own story
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
Thematic Threads
Identity and belonging
In This Chapter
Development
In Your Life:
When have you discovered something about your family or background that completely changed how you see yourself and where you belong?
Fate versus free will
In This Chapter
Development
In Your Life:
Have you ever felt like you were meant to be with someone despite major obstacles, or do you believe love requires practical compatibility above all else?
Isolation and connection
In This Chapter
Development
In Your Life:
What relationships in your life have survived major secrets or betrayals, and what made the difference between those that lasted and those that didn't?
Truth and revelation
In This Chapter
Development
In Your Life:
When has learning the full truth about someone close to you been both devastating and liberating at the same time?
Modern Adaptation
The DNA Test Results
Following Jane's story...
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does St. John choose to reveal Jane's identity through storytelling rather than direct statement?
- 2
How does the storm outside mirror the emotional climate inside the cottage?
- 3
What does Jane's reaction to hearing her own story reveal about self-perception versus external perspective?
- 4
How does this scene demonstrate the power dynamics between knowledge and ignorance?
Critical Thinking Exercise
Analyze how Brontë uses dramatic irony in this chapter. Consider: What do readers know that Jane doesn't? How does this create tension? What is the effect of having Jane hear her own story as if it were about a stranger? How does this technique illuminate themes about identity and self-knowledge?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 34: New Beginnings and Conflicting Paths
Moving forward, we'll examine jane's newfound independence allows her to choose her own path and priorities, and understand the philosophical conflict between worldly happiness and spiritual duty as presented by st. john. These insights bridge the gap between classic literature and modern experience.