Vienna has been the modern-day capitol of Austria since the end of world war I. Many famous historical figures have lived in Vienna, such as Motzart, Beethoven, and Frued (visitingvienna.com). But the history of Vienna probably dates all the way back to the rule of the Roman empire, where the Roman military established a camp in what is now the city center (Wikipedia). During the 19th century, Vienna was under the rule of the Austrian Empire and between the years of 1867 and 1918 was ruled by the Austrio-Hungarian Empire, also called the Dual Monarchy (Wikipedia). At the time, Vienna was one of Europe's biggest cities. In Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester lists Vienna to Jane as one of the many places he has traveled in his lifetime and pitches it to Jane as one of the many locations she will travel with him. "You shall sojourn at Paris, Rome, and Naples: at Florence, Venice, and Vienna: all the ground I have wandered over shall be retrodden by you: wherever I stamped my hoof, your sylph's foot shall step also (Bronte, 233). This was likely a grand pronouncement and a grand gesture that Mr. Rochester pitched to Jane as a way to inspire confidence and wonder in Jane's heart. At this point of the story, Mr. Rochester has recently proposed to Jane, however she is not sure she believes him, as he has made a frequent pattern of lies, tricks, and small deceits in order to get inside Jane's head and play with her emotions so he can manipulate her into loving him. Bronte likely included Vienna, not only for its popularity and large influence in Europe at that time, but for the significance of class and wealth necessary for one to be able to travel to such a place during that time-period. In the year 1837, Vienna became the center of a large railway system following a period of industrialization in the early 19th century (Wikipedia). It is likely Vienna would have been quite a popular place to visit during this period and seeing as Jane had seen next to none of the world outside of Lowood, Thornfield, Milcote, and Gateshead, this would have been a lofty promise for a potential lover to make, although probably not a difficult one to keep for a man as wealthy as Mr. Rochester. Mr. Rochester makes himself out to be a well-traveled and worldly man through recounting his travels. However, later in the novel we find out that Rochester's need to travel was likely less intellectual and exploratory, and more based on running from his problems, and commitments, i.e., his wife. Rochester likens himself to a Will-o'-the-wisp. "I sought the Continent and went devious through all its lands. My fixed desire was to seek and find a good and intelligent woman whom I could love: a contrast to the fury I left at Thornfield" (Bronte, 278). Rochester seeks to take Jane with him as a companion to see and revisit the places he sought love but found none. Vienna was likely among these places and is likely where he met the "German, Clara" (279). Jane fears she will end up cast aside and forgotten by Mr. Rochester, much like the many women he entertained in foreign lands. By this point in the novel, Jane does not travel to Vienna as promised, but instead sets out the following morning, to leave Mr. Rochester.

Works Cited

“History of Vienna.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Vienna

“On the trail of famous Viennese.” https://www.visitingvienna.com/famous-people