Jane Eyre: Chapter 22

The color-coded bars in this section make it easy to track the themes throughout the work. Each color corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart. For instance, indicates that all six themes apply to that part of the summary.

Summary Analysis Themes

Jane stays at Gateshead for a month to settle the affairs of the Mrs. Reed’s estate. Georgiana soon goes to London and eventually marries a rich gentleman. Eliza decides to enter a French convent where she eventually becomes Mother Superior.

Brontë criticizes Georgiana as just another rich aristocrat and portrays Eliza as a strict unfeeling nun in order to criticize Roman Catholicism.

While at Gateshead, Jane gets a letter from Mrs. Fairfax that says Rochester has gone to London to buy a carriage, presumably in preparation for his marriage to Blanche. Jane fears that her days at Thornfield are numbered.

Everyone assumes Rochester will marry Blanche because she is a member of his class. Blanche, living at Thornfield, would surely send Jane away.

On the road, Jane unexpectedly meets Rochester, who’s out driving his new carriage. Rochester begs her to look at the carriage and to tell him “if you don’t think it will suit Mrs. Rochester exactly.” Jane is so excited to see Rochester that she exclaims how glad she is to return to him, and adds that “wherever you are is my home—my only home.”

Jane’s feelings for Rochester are now on full display. Yet her passionate declaration seems excessive and inappropriate since Rochester will most likely marry another woman...