I felt no fear of him, but a little shyness- (Bronte 129-130).
Since there first meeting and then throughout the novel, Rochester always enjoyed the romantic, female, and even awkward side of Jane. He repeatedly described Jane as her "elfin,"" a "nonnette,"" "a fairy,"" "his good genii,"" "a dream or shade,"" a "strange almost unearthly thing- (Moglen 118). Rochester also lives as an "outsider- (118). He did not live the normal or average life during the Victorian period. He comes from surviving his father and older brother, but still suffers the effects of their cruel and selfish treatment (118). Rochester's economic position, class, and sexual status allow him to act as if her were not responsible to society. .
Most of Jane's interaction with Rochester is very "liberated- as her pride will not allow her to be humbled by her economic and social situation (120). Jane sees little of Rochester during his first days at Thornfield. One night, however, in his "after-dinner mood," Rochester sends for Jane and her Adele (Rigby 1). He gives Adele, who is an 8-year-old French girl that Jane tutors, the present she has been anxiously awaiting. During this period of Rochester's abrupt kindness, he is also uncharacteristically chatty with Jane. Rochester then proposed a question to Jane: "You examine me, Miss Eyre, do you .
think me handsome?- (Bronte 149). After Jane replied "No, Sir- to his awkward question, the nervous and self-conscious Rochester replied (149):.
"Ah! By my word! There is something singular about you. You have the air of a little nonnette; quaint, quiet, grave, and simple, as you sit with your hands before you, and your eyes generally bent on the carpet; and when one asks you a question, or makes a remark to which you are obliged to reply, you rap out a round rejoinder, which, if not blunt, is at least brusque. What do mean by it?- (150).
After Rochester's determined look to find out why he was not considered handsome, Jane felt very awkward.