Teethless Rochester

Jill Parkin in The Daily Mail writes an otherwise non-Brontë related article except for the few allusions to Jane Eyre and the age gap between her and Rochester:

Now that we're all waiting, breathless, for Jane Eyre to say 'Reader, I married him' (I'm not spoiling any surprises here, I hope), how do you think she'll cope with being married to a man twice her age? Jane's about 18; Rochester is pushing 40.

Luckily, 19th century dress rules mean she won't have the embarrassment of that male fashion foible known only to age-gap wives - the rule that says the older the man, the shorter the shorts.

Even as Rochester ages and those breeches, now tightly strained across thigh and saddle, get a bit baggy, at least things will be covered up. (...)

Older men are much more interesting than young ones. Like Mr Rochester, they have learned how to talk to women and - assuming they've kept their hearing - how to listen to us as well. "We talk, I believe, all day long," says Jane of her Rochester. Sounds like a female paradise.

And such men know, because they have lots of years behind them, that life isn't a rehearsal, so they are good at enjoying the moment, living for now. "We must become one flesh without any delay, Jane," says Rochester thrillingly when she returns to him.

Best of all, Rochesters are always terribly pleased with their Janes - who, of course, always seem young to them. In fact, Jane could even put on a few pounds and loosen the laces on her corset. He wouldn't mind at all.

In fact, he'd probably tear them with his teeth. Assuming he's still got some.

Categories: In_the_News, Jane_Eyre