This novel gives us a perspective of Bertha, better known as Antoinette, that we did not see in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. She is not the same crazy women that is locked up in Mr. Rochester's attic. Compared to her mother, Annette, and brother, Pierce, she appeared to be the sane one in the family. Now isn't that crazy??
I believe I found a few connections between this novel and Jane Eyre. The most obvious one was the presence of fire. It was one of the most important symbols in Jane Eyre and houses were set on fire there too. To have the same event happen so early in the text, I think it may be important to this novel as well. Of course there was also the introduction of Mr. Mason and his family to that of Antoinette's. On a deeper level of interpretation Antoinette, like Jane Eyre, was in a sense rejected by her family and grew up as an outsider to the society around her. There is also a garden in this novel similar to the one in Jane Eyre. Hey, you never know if it may be relevant or not!! Anyways, she has a nightmare I believe twice so far in part one of the novel. Its pretty weird and strangely eerie as well. Maybe this will be important in the latter part of the novel? Who knows. But her mother really lost her mind when the fire killed her beloved son. Now I wonder what may Antoinette lose her mind. Oh and about the whole money thing when Tia stole her dress/pennies, it goes to show you how evil money can be. Both Tia and Mrs. Reed were greedy, money-hungry people who used Antoinette and Jane for their money. I think social status/class plays a bit part in both of the novels too. In Jane Eyre it was more of the rich versus the poor while it is more of the blacks versus the whites in this novel.
Yeah, I think that's about it so far. Its been awhile .. I'm a bit rusty, but hey! Here's my blog for you :)
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