Jane Eyre Audio Theatre
Vesperia for Jane Eyre
Jane is shy, quiet, and respectful, but she is not meek. She is strong and knows who she is and what she is worth. She carries herself with dignity and strength, making her Rochester's equal in intelligence and conversation. She values her integrity and freedom deeply, and her sense of self and value come not only from her self worth but from her deep faith in God. Jane is strong-willed and passionate by nature, yet quiet and respectful, forgiving and gentle, witty and intelligent, and deeply principled. Her voice must be able to reflect her quiet, kind, respectful behavior, her humor when she interacts with Rochester, and also her deep emotional experiences. Strongest examples for portrayals are Ruth Wilson (2006) and Samantha Morton (1997). I picture Jane with a bit of a younger-sounding, softer voice as she is 18, but that voice must carry her dignity and strength as well as her shyness and innocence.
LINE CONTEXTS:
Line 1: Though Jane is practiced with keeping her composure, she is by nature passionate and emotive. She is deeply in love with Rochester and believes he will be marrying someone else. Though she has kept it held within for a long time, at this point she snaps and, heartbroken, speaks her mind to him, through hurt and anger.
Line 2: Jane is teasing (read: Victorian flirting) at this time. They have a running joke about his appearance (one of their first conversations she automatically replies to his question about if he is handsome with a no). He asks her here if he is hideous and she replies with a tease.
Line 3: Jane is a respectful, kind and gentle employee. While she is friends with her employer at this point, several lines like this one illustrate her dedication both to her moral principles and her respect.
- british
- female young adult
(emotional, impassioned, not quite crying but nearly there) Do you think I am a machine without feelings? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through mortal flesh: it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal — as we are!
(dryly teasing) Very, sir. You always were, you know.
(kind) I like to serve you, sir, and to obey you in all that is right.
