Adele Essay, Research Paper

In Charlotte Bronte’s novel “Jane Eyre”, there is a slightly inconspicuous character that many readers may choose to ignore. The character that I speak of is Adele, the adorable French girl that Edward Rochester has taken as his own. While many people may undermine the importance of this character in the novel, it is easy to see that she plays a vital role in the coming together of Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre. Unlike many novels or stories, Bronte chooses to use Adele as more of a symbol, than someone who directly helps in the marriage of two people, meaning that Adele is unaware of her bringing her master and Jane Eyre together. The role of Adele can be described as small, and at times undefined, however, before all is said and done her role, or symbolism, as I see it is clearly defined.

The first role that Adele plays in the story is that of a bridge between Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre. Had it not been for Adele needing a governess they would have never met. Jane had sent out her application to a nearby paper to be published for people needing a governess to see. The only reply she received was from a Mrs. Fairfax, a servant at the Rochester mansion. It was for Adele that Jane was needed. Adele was rough around the edges, and needed some work on the finer things of being an American. She spoke mostly in French, and therefore, needed a governess to teach her better English. Her master, Mr. Rochester required her to know how to read, and write in English. He also would like for Jane to teach Adele what she could about music and the art of drawing. Adele became quite close to Jane and enjoyed her company. Jane also became quite fond of Adele, a good example of this takes place when Edward wants to bring only Jane into Millcote and Jane desperately begs for Adele to accompany them. “Do let her go Mr. Rochester, if you please: it would be better”(Bronte 654). The affections between Adele and Jane become stronger to the point where Jane becomes worried of what will happen to Adele once Mr. Rochester is married to her or anyone else.

Adele was as charming and innocent as they come, yet she still played other vital roles in the novel. For Mr. Rochester Adele was a symbol of the last 15 years of pain and torment he had been feeling. Once a fool in love with a beautiful woman, the less than attractive Edward Rochester found his soon to be wife a mistress to other men. Mr. Rochester was deeply in love with the woman and believed that she could do no wrong. As if finding out she was seeing other men was not crushing enough, he comes to find out that the mother one Celine Varens, leaves a daughter behind that he believes does not even belong to him. Reluctantly, he took Adele in hopes that he would not have to be in her presence often. It was most likely unfair that…

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