rontë describes Jane's thoughts in terms of nature imagery the night Rochester's bed was set on fire. After he thanks Jane for saving his life and she is about to leave, she notes a "strange energy in his voice" and a "strange fire in his look" (133) and still holds her hand. Mr. Rochester finally relaxes his fingers, lets her go, and leaves not only Jane but the reader thinking that perhaps he has fallen in love with her. The diction and picturesque images in this passage paints a picture of Jane's inner struggle between passion and judgment. Brontë uses "billows", "unquiet", and "counteracting" to emphasize the struggle within Jane. On the other hand, words like 'surges", "wild", and "freshening" create a feeling of freedom and joy which seems to be repressed by this other "counteracting" force. Jane's "freshening gale" created by delirium and passion blows in the opposite direction of the "counteracting breeze" of judgment and sense. Thus, these images along with the diction, paint a picture of an inner battle between judgment and passion.
Last modified: May 1994