Lord Rochester?

Question

Last night i watched The Libertine, staring Jonny Depp as Lord Rochester the 2nd in the 1660's ,based on a true story,but,is the Lord Rochester in the Novel Jane Eire,in the 1800's ficticious or somehow related? (What a question eh?!)

Actually, i think its spelt Jane Eyre,sorry,forgot to spell check.

Answer 1

There is a reference in the book to Mr Edward Rochester being the younger son of an illustrious family, hence his being packed off to the West Indies to seek a wealthy heiress. However, it seems unlikely that Charlotte Bronte would have been acquainted with many members of the nobility, including John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester.

Briefly, there is much to be discussed regarding to what extent Lord Rochester provided material for the character of Edward Rochester. Clearly, the relationship isn't as profound as that of a model per se, at the very least he is his namesake. There are several important similarities, however, which do indicate a conscious decision to utilise certain aspects of Wilmot's life. Many of these are symbolic resonances: names, and places in Jane Eyre such as St.John (the name of one of the Earl's relatives), Elizabeth- the ancestress of Mr Rochester- is also idenitifed with one of the Lord's relatives, and the battle in which Mr. Rochester's fictional ancestor Damer de Rochester was slain is the same in which the first Earl of Rochester was created. During this battle (of Marston Moor), one of the generals in the conflict was named Fairfax. Other key elements, a little more profound, are the Lord's penchant for 'drawing out' ladies while in disguise, his poetry (he is best known for being a poet, and a rakehell) is often bittingly cynical about the human race- in his Satyr on Reason and Mankind, he refers to Reason as being an ignis fatuus leading into error- a motif appropriate for Jane Eyre in which he is lead into error (and much is made, of course, of the similarity between 'eyre' and 'err').

Not much work has been done on this subject so far, but it will certainly be rewarding. I've already written on it, and there really is more to it I'm sure (If I had but time!). We must alo keep in mind what Charlotte had to say in Mr Rochester's defence:

"Mr. Rochester has a thoughtful nature and a very feeling heart; he is neither selfish nor self-indulgent; he is ill-educated, misguided; errs, when he does err, through rashness and inexperience: he lives for a time as too many other men live, but being radically better than most men, he does not like that degraded life, and is never happy in it. He is taught the severe lessons of experience and has sense to learn wisdom from them. Years improve him; the effervescence of youth foamed away, what is really good in him still remains. His nature is like wine of a good vintage, time cannot sour, but only mellows him."

Answer 2

No, they are not related because the Lord Rochester of the 1660s was a real person but the Mr Rochester of Jane Eyre was a fictitious character.

Answer 3

I cannot believe that a nice girl living in a secluded environment would be that aware of the naughty earl of rochester as his writings were largely suppressed long after his death. i don't the character is related, at least i have never heard any scholar argue that and it would be rather scandalous and highly publicised if anyone even suspected that. There are a couple of vague similarities, e.g. jane eyre's rochester repents his sins, as did (supposedly) lord rochester in a famous deathbed repentance. and mr rochester's character seems so different from lord rochester's poetry. In my opinion nothing to suggest a deliberate link.

Answer 4

The Earl got himself banned from court because having written a very rude poem about the king, he accidentally sent it to the king while meaning to send it elsewhere.
I have his collected poems in paperback and while they were shocking at the time, they're nothing on Catullus the Roman poet.

Answer 5

In the novel it was Mr. Rochester. And he was fictional.