Jane Eyre

[Shipstabber]

A question for those that have read the book.

Did Mr Rochester ever really intend marrying Blanche Ingram? If not - why did he pretend to Jane and Blanche, and just about everyone else, that he did?

[dot.hawkes]

Rochester craved to be accepted back into polite genteel society after returning in secret with his ill wife, this seemed one way to return to some form of normality. the conflict between lying about his marriage and marrying Blanche was not as strong as that between marrying jane and lying about his marriage, and so decieving jane being the pure heart she was and bringing out the honesty in him, was more of a strain than it was lying to Blanche or hurting Blanche.

[jump79]

Also, he wanted to make Jane a little jealous by puttingon this show in the hope of getting her to reveal her true feelings (attraction) for him.