Rochester is comparing Bertha to Messalina, a Roman empress. Goldsmith also wrote about Messalina, since she had family relations with Nero and Caligula. Goldsmith describes Messalina as a horrible woman and extremely ruthless. Rochester also explains that Bertha’s genetics included anger problems, and that her mother had similar problems that no one had told him about. Goldsmith also described Messalina to be infamous for adultery, and very cruel, which made her despised by most. This allusion indicates a numerous amount of things about Bertha and her past that cause Rochester’s disgust.
Allusions - Messalina
"That was my Indian Messalina's attribute: rooted disgust at it and her restrained me much, even in pleasure." (316)
Rochester is comparing Bertha to Messalina, a Roman empress. Goldsmith also wrote about Messalina, since she had family relations with Nero and Caligula. Goldsmith describes Messalina as a horrible woman and extremely ruthless. Rochester also explains that Bertha’s genetics included anger problems, and that her mother had similar problems that no one had told him about. Goldsmith also described Messalina to be infamous for adultery, and very cruel, which made her despised by most. This allusion indicates a numerous amount of things about Bertha and her past that cause Rochester’s disgust.
Rochester is comparing Bertha to Messalina, a Roman empress. Goldsmith also wrote about Messalina, since she had family relations with Nero and Caligula. Goldsmith describes Messalina as a horrible woman and extremely ruthless. Rochester also explains that Bertha’s genetics included anger problems, and that her mother had similar problems that no one had told him about. Goldsmith also described Messalina to be infamous for adultery, and very cruel, which made her despised by most. This allusion indicates a numerous amount of things about Bertha and her past that cause Rochester’s disgust.
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I didn't know what or who Messalina was until I read this.. Rochester must really find Bertha to be insane if he compares her to such a "ruthless" woman who had anger problems, very cruel and horrible.
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