Originally Posted by Karen 11th November 2005


What did Lizzie see in Rochester? What do you think were the reasons she aligned herself with him? What did he need from her?

Mairimaih


He said his drug was the theatre, initially he needed her to supply that fix, to the highest quality, after that, I think he felt she was a kindred in how uncompromising she was, how driven, she was driven in the theatre, an obvious appeal to him, and he was driven in living life to the excess and truth, she was able to meet him and challenge him in all of these. I think where he found life boring to the extreme she was truly lively and made him meet her as an equal, something I think he felt was sorely lacking,his friends the Wits, encourages his excesses, and followed him, not challenging him, his wife truly loved him but was only able to accept his ways, not meet him head on, as he left her behind to go to London, and the King disappointed him.. Barry was the only one who challenged and met him with an equal driven fire as he possessed, and reminded him, of another aspect of himself, he had ignored for too long.
In his real life, I feel his wife probably did this too... especially early in their relationship , defiantly tellign her guardians she would marry who she chose, unheard off, and eloping with Rochester, and in reality, its suggested in the Profane Wit, they had a loving relationship, which had its tempetuous moments, but was always loving too., especially as he was dying.