And what good can you do her? Nonsense, Jane! I would never think of running a hundred miles to see an old lady who will, perhaps, be dead before you reach her: besides, you say she cast you off.
Chapter 21 · Edward Rochester
Context
When Jane asks Rochester for leave to visit her dying aunt at Gateshead, he questions whether the trip is worthwhile, given that Mrs. Reed rejected Jane years ago and may already be dead by the time she arrives.
Analysis
Rochester's rhetorical question—'And what good can you do her?'—is followed by a blunt dismissal: 'Nonsense, Jane!' His tone is impatient and utilitarian, measuring the trip in terms of practical benefit rather than moral duty. This exposes a worldview where past injury cancels future obligation, which contrasts sharply with Jane's Christian ethic of forgiveness. His attempt to dissuade her also hints at his desire to keep her near him, cloaked as rational advice.
Essay Tip
Support a thesis that Rochester's 'realism' often serves his own emotional interests—this quote shows him dismissing Jane's sense of duty as 'nonsense,' revealing how his pragmatism can be self-serving and blind to her moral independence.