Insanity | Teen Ink

Insanity

May 12, 2017
By kirsten.jackson BRONZE, Olathe, Kansas
kirsten.jackson BRONZE, Olathe, Kansas
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
NA


Bertha Mason by name,

quivering limbs and white cheeks,
is mad.
What sort of being
I was cheated into espousing,
seek sympathy.
I passed on,
ascended the stairs,
proceeded to the third story,
opened by my master key.
In the deep shade
a figure ran backwards and forwards,
whether a BEAST or a human,
it grovelled, seemingly, on all fours.
A quantity of dark,
grizzled hair,
wild as a mane, hid its face.
And with a fierce cry
the clothed hyena rose up.
The lunatic SPRANG
and grappled my throat viciously,
laid her teeth to my cheek,
but I would not strike,
I would only wrestle.
I bound her to a chair.
The operation was performed
amidst the fiercest yells.
That is my wife.
(Chapter 26, pg. 214-215)
*Found poem about Jane Eyre


The author's comments:

 With this passage, there are many key diction words Bronte uses to point out the distinct characteristics of Bertha Mason and her insanity. For example, words like “beast” and “hyena” show that Rochester felt as if Bertha resembled a savage animal that couldn’t be tamed. I italicized the word “quivering” to emphasize the condition at which Bertha appeared and how she is uncontrollable of her behaviors and body. I decided to make the phrase “ascended the stairs” look as if it was a staircase to make the passage more suspenseful and make the reader curious of what is to come with Bertha.  I made the word “beast” appear in all capital letters as well as a bigger font to show that Bertha is a big woman and towers almost as big as Rochester. Finally, I chose to indent, capitalize, and bold the word “sprang” to show at what power Bertha attacks Rochester with. I ended the poem with the phrase “That is my wife” because a major part of this passage is Rochester reflecting on Bertha Mason and the long term affects it will have on his life. I wanted to leave the poem ending with such a statement of realization and confirmation.


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