You can tell she and I share a common spirit, even just in our use of semicolons. She narrates my life, with a slight accent and a better vocabulary than my own. ;-)
But seriously, this part of Jane Eyre really caught my attention - is this Jane's fortune being told, or my own? I find myself in a sort of paradox; I think it'd be great to emulate Mr. Rochester (in personality, if not in circumstances), but I find myself instead sharing traits with Jane, which, while not a bad thing at all, may wind up being barriers to my happiness...
Read on! This is the fortune-teller talking to Jane:
"Your fortune is yet doubtful; when I examined your face, one trait contradicted another. Chance has meted you a measure of happiness; that I know. I knew it before you came here this evening. She has laid it carefully on one side for you; I saw her do it; it depends on yourself to stretch out your hand, and take it up; but whether you will do so, is the problem I study...
"The flame flickers in the eye - the eye shines like dew; it looks soft and full of feeling - it smiles at my jargon - it is susceptible; impression follows impression through its clear sphere; when it ceases to smile it is sad - an unconscious lassitude weighs on the lid, that signifies melancholy resulting from loneliness; it turns from me; it will not suffer further scrutiny; it seems to deny, by a mocking glance, the truth of the discoveries I have already made - to disown the charge both of sensibility and chagrin; its pride and reserve only confirm me in my opinion. The eye is favorable.
"As to the mouth, it delights at times in laughter; it is disposed to impart all that the brain conceives, though, I dare say, it would be silent on much the heart experiences. Mobile and flexible, it was never intended to be compressed in the eternal silence of solitude; it is a mouth which should speak much and smile often, and have human affection for its interlocutor. This feature also is propitious.
"I see no enemy to a fortunate issue but in the brow; and that brow professes to say - 'I can live alone, if self-respect and circumstances require me so to do. I need not sell my soul to buy bliss. I have an inward treasure, born with me, which can keep me alive if all extraneous delights should be withheld, or offered only at a price I cannot afford to give.' The forehead declares, 'Reason sits firm and holds the reigns, and she will not let the feelings burst away and hurry her to wild chasms. The passions may rage furiously, like true heathens, as they are; and the desires may imagine all sorts of vain things: but judgment shall still have the last word in every argument, and the casting vote in every decision. Strong wind, earthquake-shock, and fire may pass by: but I shall follow the guiding of that still small voice which interprets the dictates of conscience.'
"Well said, forehead; your declaration shall be respected."
- the fortune-teller, in Jane Eyre
1 comment:
Thank you for the card jordy-wordy. It was a delight.
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