Literature can be used as a case in point for examining the different behaviors of people and learning about the potential dangers of some psychological disorders. In Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre,” Mr. Rochester shows clinical signs of narcissism. He appears to care little for the feelings of others, manipulates people, and even ruins lives. This paper will explore the notion of narcissism and use examples from Bronte’s s novel to prove that Mr. Rochester is a narcissist.
Narcissism is a personality disorder, which has to be treated by a professional since this condition predisposes individuals to affect the lives of others negatively. According to Campbell and Crist, narcissism “is about self-importance, antagonism, and a sense of entitlement” (10). Hence, narcissistic person is consistently focused on themselves, and they feel that others’ actions harm them. Moreover, narcissists usually use manipulation and deceit to receive what they want (Cambell and Crist 10). The lack of regard for others, entitlement, and a desire for special treatment are what result in narcissists harming others.
The common idea of a narcissist is that it is an individual who loves only themselves and who focuses on their appearance rather than good character traits. Although in some cases, this is true, clinical narcissism manifests in an individual’s lack of affection and compassion towards others. Campbell and Crist argue that there is a spectrum of narcissistic behaviors, ranging from harmful everyday actions to horrific events such as mass shootings (15). Moreover, Campbell and Crist note two types of narcissistic behavior, grandiose and vulnerable (16). Example of the first one is high self-esteem, arrogance, and grandiose behavior. The latter, however, are shy and depressed, which makes it difficult to recognize these individuals as narcissists (Campbell and Crist 16). Regardless of how narcissism manifests, the common feature that describes this condition is careless behavior towards others.
Although this condition is serious, it is neither admirable nor deplorable. Cambell and Crist argue that narcissists are a result of improper parenting and traumatic experiences during childhood (25). Moreover, as a condition, narcissism cannot be cured, and instead, through psychotherapy, they can learn to control some of their behaviors that cause harm to others. Hence, narcissism can be viewed as a neutral condition, but one should be cautious about the impact that narcissistic behavior has on others.
Throughout Bronte’s novel, Mr. Rochester shows many signs of vulnerable narcissism. During Jane’s first years at Thornfield, she saves Mr. Rochester from a fire. The latter says that this fire was a result of a servant’s recklessness, whose name is Grace Pool, but Pool continues to work at this mansion (Bronte 30). This points to the fact that Mr. Rochester did not disclose all the details regarding the estate and the inhabitants there. As Jane later finds out, the fire, and the second one that resulted in Thronfied being burned down and Mr. Rochester being injured, is a consequence of the latter’s wife’s unstable mental health. Considering that Jane came to work and live at Thornfield, not disclosing this detail about one of the mansion’s inhabitants was a selfish act that put Ms. Eyre in danger.
Bronte’s descriptions of Mr. Rochester’s character and behavior also hint at some narcissistic traits. For example, when Jane asserts her feelings for this man, she says that he “was proud, sardonic, harsh to inferiority of every description…He was moody, too…” (Bronte 67). Although Jane sees the excellent character traits of Mr. Rochester, she admits that he has many flaws, especially when considering his moral integrity. Throughout the novel, Mr. Rochester consistently behaves in a way that forces the reader to question the moral integrity of this character.
Mr. Rochester uses deceit to achieve his goals instead of being honest, which shows his entitlement and self-centeredness. During one of the interactions between Jane and Mr. Rochester, he makes Jane believe that he is engaged with another woman, Blanche Ingram (Bronte 90). In reality, he uses this information to provoke Jane and make her confess her feelings. When compared to psychologically healthy behavior, a man interested in a woman would confess his feelings directly to know if they are mutual. The use of manipulation instead of honesty is another characteristic of narcissism that Mr. Rochester shows.
His relationship with Janer is built on manipulation and counseling his true feelings. Although, in the end, the two get married, Mr. Rochester’s behavior towards Jane is questionable. Ultimately, in the novel, Mr. Rochester falls in love with Jane but cannot be honest with her. He tries to achieve his goal despite the impact that it might have on Jane’s life. Although he is married and his first wife is a captive at his mansion, Rochester asks Jane to marry him (Bronte 70). Considering the circumstances, their marriage would not be legal, and Jane would become Mr. Rochester’s mistress. The society during the Victorian era differed from today’s, and like a mistress, she would be excluded from social life. The sad circumstances of Mr. Rochester’s decisions can be seen when Jane decides to leave Thornfield and live and a street with no food (Bronte 70). Here, her superior moral qualities contrast greatly with those of Mr. Rochester, who remains at Thronfied with his first wife.
Mr. Rochester feels no compassion or empathy towards Bertha, his first wife. He describes her as a “filthy burden” since because they are married, he has to take care of her (Bronte 81). However, he keeps her locked in the mansion and hides her existence from everyone, including Jane. A more compassionate step would be to send Bertha to an asylum, where she would be cared for by professionals. However, Rochester chooses to avoid this step, perhaps because sending Bertha to asylum would mean that the general public becomes aware of her mental condition. Regardless of the reason, Mr. Rochester treats his first wife terribly and shows no remorse for his decisions regarding Bertha.
Mr. Rochester avoids direct discussions about his first wife and her mental health. While on the one hand, this subject is sensitive to him, and he does not want to address it even with people close to him, there are parts of the story that appear strange. For example, Mr. Rochester locked his first wife in his mansion, not allowing her to go out (Bronte 67). There is no definite explanation for this behavior and his unwillingness to discuss this situation. Mr. Rochester’s attitude towards Bertha is the best example of his narcissistic behavior since he cares more about concealing the truth about her illness than helping her live a quality life.
Overall, this paper explores the narcissistic traits of Mr. Rochester using examples from the novel. The relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester appears to be built on lies and the latter not telling the truth about his past. He does not care for his first wife, Bertha well-being, and chooses to hide her inside a mansion. Moreover, he uses deceit and manipulation to convince Jane to marry him, despite the impact that it would have on her social life.
Works Cited
Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2020.
Campbell, Keith and Carolyn Crist. The New Science of Narcissism. Sounds True, 2020.