Characterizaton: Mr. Rochester

"Dread remorse when you are tempted to err, Miss Eyre: remorse is the poison of life ... Reformations may be its cure; and I could reform - I have strength yet for that -if- but where is the use of thinking of it, hampered, burdened, cursed as I am? Besides, since happiness is irrevocably denied me, I have a right to get pleasure out of life; and I WILL get it, cost what it may." (138-139).

Mr. Rochester admits that he has done some awful things; things he feels remorse for, but he refuses to reform his ways. He is too prideful to repent to a gad he feels has done him wrong in life. And why should he? He has founds means of happiness he can achieve on his own, perhaps despite the wishes of his god. But more than that, he is too prideful to admit to any weakness, whether it be physical, or in his character and actions. Mr. Rochester is strong enough to be a pridefully independent as he wishes.

"You know I was proud of my strength; but what is it now, when I must give it over to foreign guidance, as a child does its weakness? Of late, Jane -only- only of late- I began to see and acknowledge the hand of God in my doom. I Began to experience remorse, repentance; the wish for reconcilement to my Maker. I began sometimes to pray: very brief prayers they were, but very sincere" (454).

After his injury, Mr. Rochester loses his physical strength and independence, which allows him to reflect upon his true weakness: pride. Although he says he acknowledged the hand of God, he also truly realizes the role he played in his own demise, and begins to regret his actions.

In Mr. Rochester, Charlotte Bronte starts with a man so strong yet empty inside, unknowningly searching for spirituality, and knowingly searing for love. Bronte turns him into a man so incredibly broken, that he finally finds the spirituality and love which had been evading him when he was strong and prideful.