While reading the Love and Passion section in the Wikipedia article on Jane Eyre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre#Love_and_passion), I began thinking about Victorian England and the love triangle presented in the novel. In analyzing the theme, I realized that it reminded me of one of my favorite musicals, the Phantom of the Opera. Yes, everything reminds me of plays, but this comparison stood out to me. Just read the plot of the popular musical: http://www.broadway.com/shows/the-phantom-of-the-opera/story/ .
In Jane Eyre, the biggest plot point so far is finding out that Rochester already has a wife. This creates a huge conflict for Jane because she loves him but she can't be with him. Similarly, in Phantom of the Opera, the main character, Christine, is in love with the Phantom but can't be with him because he is a psychopath. Mr. Rochester asks Jane to run away with him in the same manner that the Phantom asks Christine to stay with him. In the Wikipedia article it says, "Jane had been riding on a wave of emotion, forgetting all thoughts of reason and logic, replacing God with Mr. Rochester in her eyes, and allowing herself to be swept away in the moment." The same can be said of Christine. Christine, like Jane, is an orphan. When her father died, he promised that an "angel of music" would visit her. Because of this she believes that the Phantom is the ghost of her father and she loses all sense of reason and trusts him completely. The Phantom becomes God in Christine's eyes too. When Christine realizes what he has done to her she says, "I gave you my mind blindly," a quote that can also describe Jane Eyre's relationship with Rochester.
Both Phantom of the Opera and Jane Eyre are set in the late 1800's, but the Phantom of the Opera takes place in France rather than England. Despite the difference, there are similar themes of morals and religion. Mr. Rochester and the Phantom are both haunted by their turbulent pasts. The Phantom has been an outcast all of his life because of his face and the rejection has turned him into a murderer and a manipulative psychopath. Mr. Rochester's past has made him deceitful and defensive. Both seek for forgiveness and love despite their pasts. In the Phantom of the Opera, Christine never forgives the Phantom but says, "Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God give me courage to show you you are not alone." She then kisses him and leaves him forever. This is different from the end of Jane Eyre, when Jane goes back to Rochester, but it has the same themes of forgiveness and moving on. Also, the Phantom's mask can be related to Jane Eyre. Rochester wears a metaphorical mask by hiding the fact of his marriage until it is "ripped off" when the truth is revealed.
In conclusion, listen to this song from Phantom of the Opera. It is a love song between Christine and her other love, Raul. This is after the Phantom has killed a man on stage and threatened the audience and cast. In the song, Raul assures Christine that he will protect her. However, if you think of it as a conversation between Jane and Rochester, the lyrics take on a different meaning entirely.
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