skygiants

Yes! I love that bit where she says to him, if she wants to, she'll build her own house next to his -- it's not just that she can afford to, but she's not dependent on him anymore. (And after his quasi-Biblical punishment, he's now dependent on her, even though he gets his sight back, eventually.) Their positions are completely reversed, which is another great way Bronte plays with romantic tropes. (Altho my favourite is still St John being not the handsome Victorian hero of the novel, which he would be otherwise, but very nearly the villain.) It's very Beauty and the Beast, but with a definite twist.