1) one interpretation of Bertha is that she is a double for Jane herself, the embodiment of Jane’'s repressed fear and anger, both in regard to her specific situation and in regard to oppression. For although Jane declares her love for Rochester, her dreams and appre-hensions suggest that she also secretly fears being married to him, perhaps even that she secretly wants to rage against the imprisonment that marriage could become for her. Although Jane does not manifest this fear or rage, Bertha does. Thus, Bertha tears the bridal veil, and it is Bertha’'s existence that stops the wedding from going forth.

2) The incident of the “"madwoman in the attic”" is probably the most famous in Jane Eyre, and it has given rise to innumerable interpretations and symbolic readings. For example, Bertha Mason could represent the horror of Victorian marriage. Rochester claims to have imprisoned her because she is mad, but it is easy to imagine an opposite relation of cause and effect, in which years of enforced imprisonment and isolation have made her violently insane or, at least, increased her insanity. Thus, the madwoman in the attic could represent the confining and repressive aspects of Victorian wifehood, suggesting that the lack of autonomy and freedom in

marriage suffocates women, threatening their mental and emotional health. Bertha’'s tearing of Jane’'s wedding veil could be seen as symbolizing her revolt against the institution of marriage.

3) Another interpretation is that Rochester’'s marriage to Bertha represents the British Empire’'s cultural and economic exploitation of its colonial subjects. Bertha might have evoked British anxieties about having to deal with the other cultures under Britain’'s dominion, and Bertha’'s imprisonment might signify Britain’'s attempt to control and contain the influence of these subject cultures by metaphorically “"locking them in the attic.”"

4) Each of these arguments provides an interesting way of thinking about the text, but it is also important to recognize that Bertha does not function merely as a symbol. Her presence is also a gripping story element and a source of external psychological distress for Jane, from which Jane develops and grows.