Adele Varens in Jane Eyre

Adele Varens is a character in Charlotte Brontë’s classic 19th-century novel Jane Eyre, set in England. Despite being a secondary character, she plays a pivotal role in the development of the protagonist, Jane Eyre. As a French-speaking ward to the brooding and enigmatic Edward Rochester, Adele’s presence in the novel raises questions about Victorian notions of family, education, and class. Brontë’s nuanced depiction of Adele Varens offers insights into the complexities of social expectations and personal responsibilities during the era.

Throughout Jane Eyre, Adele is portrayed as a lively and somewhat spoiled child, who, lacking guidance, has been thrust upon Mr. Rochester under circumstances that are hinted to be the result of a past relationship. As Jane, the titular character, assumes the role of Adele’s governess at Thornfield Hall, her influence over the child reflects the societal expectations placed on women to mold the young in their charge. This dynamic also showcases Brontë’s exploration of the mentor-protégé relationship, a significant aspect of Victorian culture.

Brontë utilizes Adele’s character to highlight the novel’s themes of innocence and compassion. While Adele is neither a central plot driver nor a catalyst for major events, her interactions with Jane Eyre bring to light Jane’s struggles with abandonment and belonging. By juxtaposing Adele’s situation with Jane’s experiences, Brontë effectively contrasts the different paths that life can take, even under similarly disadvantaged beginnings. Adele Varens thus serves as a lens through which the novel interrogates the societal constructs of 19th-century England.

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1. Adele Varens Character Analysis

The section delves into Adele Varens, a French child in Jane Eyre, exploring her connections with the protagonist, Jane Eyre, her benefactor, Edward Rochester, and other characters in the story while reflecting on her background as an orphan and her evolution under Jane’s tutelage.

Adele’s Relationship with Jane Eyre

• Pupil and Governess Relationship: Adele is first introduced as Edward Rochester’s ward and soon becomes Jane Eyre’s pupil. Jane approaches her role as Adele’s governess with a blend of compassion and firmness, committed to providing the young girl with a solid English education. This relationship grows into one marked by mutual affection and respect.
• Character Development: Under Jane’s guidance, Adele’s character matures. Their interaction is pivotal to Adele’s development from a superficial, performance-orientated child to a more studious and disciplined young person.

Adele and Edward Rochester’s Bond

• Ward and Guardian: Though Adele is not Edward Rochester’s biological daughter, she is his ward. The exact nature of their relationship is ambiguous, but it is clear that Rochester feels a sense of responsibility for her. Adele is affectionate towards him and seeks his attention and love.
• Origins of Relationship: Adele is the daughter of Celine Varens, a French opera dancer with whom Rochester had a romantic relationship. When it becomes apparent Celine was unfaithful, Rochester took responsibility for Adele, suspecting he might be her father.

Interactions with Other Characters

• Sophie: As Adele’s French nurse and servant, Sophie’s relationship with her is functional, primarily concerned with attending to Adele’s daily needs and speaking in their native French tongue.
• Other Inhabitants of Thornfield: With characters like Grace Poole, Adele has limited interaction. Due to her foreign origins and privileged position as Rochester’s ward, the other servants view her as an outlier.
• Impact on Others: Adele’s presence in the household brings a youthful exuberance that affects all its members. Her interactions with them underline her need for stability and affection, which becomes gradually fulfilled through her evolving relations with Jane and Rochester.

2. Cultural Impact and Literary Analysis

Adele Varens symbolizes cultural and educational dynamics within Jane Eyre, reflecting 19th-century attitudes towards education, social positioning, and the arts.

Adele’s Role in the Story’s Dynamics

Adele Varens, the French girl under Mr. Rochester’s guardianship, steps into the narrative as a symbol of innocence and the social complexities of the era. As a former opera dancer brought from Paris, she signifies a contrast to the English mores dominating Thornfield. Her past, connected with the glamorous life of a French singer, juxtaposes the Victorian propriety that the protagonist, Jane Eyre, embodies.

Adele’s influence on the story is multi-layered. On one hand, she brings to the forefront the roles of foreignness and entertainment—both considered somewhat exotic in staid, mid-19th-century England. Through her character, the novel explores themes of love, duty, and compassion, as she acts as a catalyst for Jane and Rochester’s interactions. Rochester’s paternity towards Adele demonstrates his capacity for care and responsibility, albeit woven with complexity.

Educational and Social Contexts

Adele’s presence at Thornfield invites a discussion on the educational norms of the time. She is placed in a school, not only to learn English customs but also to potentially repress her Parisian influences and acquire the domestic skills expected of women in Britain. Her study under Jane’s tutelage epitomizes the novel’s views on education’s role in an individual’s transformation and acceptance within society.

Her dancing skills and the need to apply herself in her studies highlight the values placed on discipline and the reformation of character. Much of Adele’s development throughout the novel shadows the journey of a foreigner attempting to find her place within the rigid confines of a new culture, using education as a transformative tool to become considered an equal within her adoptive society.