Can Mr. Mason's character sketch be told?
Richard Mason, Mr. Rochester's brother-in-law, is presented in Jane Eyre as both villain and foil. When he's first introduced to Jane he comes across as polite, charming and well-presented. However, Jane soon senses there's something not quite right about him, something dark beneath the smooth exterior:
On closer examination, you detected something in his face that displeased, or rather that failed to please. His features were regular, but too relaxed: his eye was large and well cut, but the life looking out of it was a tame, vacant life—at least so I thought.
Jane's initial impressions are well-founded; Mason shows himself to be a deceitful, untrustworthy individual. The guests at Thornfield Hall are deeply enamoured of Mason, especially the ladies who flock round him, drawn to his superficial charm. But not Jane. She's convinced herself that Mason is a true villain, a "falcon" to Rochester's "lamb."
Rochester confirms Jane in her suspicions concerning Mason's character. He knows that the man is trouble:
"Jane, I’ve got a blow; I’ve got a blow, Jane!” He staggered. “Oh, lean on me, sir.”
Mason knew full well that Bertha was mad when she married Rochester. In fact, he was one of the men who conspired to trick Rochester into marrying her, even though he, like everyone else, knew she was completely unsuitable for him. This proves just how deceitful he really is. Yet even though he's been brutally attacked and stabbed by Bertha, even though he knows how serious her mental health issues are, Mason's still absolutely determined to thwart Rochester's chance of happiness with Jane, disrupting their wedding along with his lawyer.
As well as being thoroughly dishonest, there's also something more than a little cruel about Mason. He's seen at first hand just how dangerous Bertha can be to herself and others and yet he still insists on forcing Rochester to remain with her, however much unhappiness it causes him.
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