In JANE EYRE, why did Mr. Rochester cozy up to Blanche Ingram?

[raccoon]

Was he really thinking of marrying her, or was he just trying to make Jane Eyre jealous? If the second, I think that's a low motive.

I saw it on Masterpiece Theater last night, and having read the book I wondered about this.

[Bunny]

1. I can't remember. I read that so long ago. So I wikipedia'ed it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre

<snip>
Mr. Rochester creates an elaborate set-up by seemingly courting a proud local beauty named Miss Blanche Ingram until Jane cannot bear it any longer. Mr. Rochester then admits that his courtship of Miss Ingram was a ruse to arouse Jane's jealousy and that it is she whom he truly loves.
<snip>

A low motive, indeed.

[Sal Minella]

2. No paragon of manly virtues, he. He also was not legally free to marry, but led Jane to believe

he was. He's a bad-tempered and vile sort, generally, in the book (as shown by the first encounter with Jane, when he is unhorsed).

He also pretends to be a little old lady and manages to fool his entire household, the main object of his deceit being Jane.

Jane deserved better. But she loves him, rat though he is. *sigh*

[raccoon]

3. I thought he was bad-tempered too.

And I kept thinking last night, All these weird things are going on at Thornfield Hall...doesn't she wonder?

Thank goodness women have more opportunities now!

[momster]

4. Rochester's Problem,

As demonstrated by the whole 'opera dancer in Paris' story, is that he is unable to trust a woman or indeed anybody. Again and again, he's been made up to only for his money. His father and brother played him false by hitching him up to Bertha, whose family was no more honest about her mental state that dear old Dad. So his 'testing' of Jane was to see if she was going to throw him over because of his dalliance with Blanche. Also, he was testing Blanche to see if she was really as heartless as he suspected. He was right there, all right. But Jane, even when she's leaving him, still loves him for himself alone and not his yellow gold.