In episode 54 of the Vlog, Adele challenges Rochester’s knowledge and asks him if he knows the story in Icelandic folklore of the 13 centaurs and two trolls who went around at Christmastime and devoured bad or misbehaving children. I was amazed to find this this folk tale does exist although Adele got some of the facts confused.
In the Vlog, The Autobiography of Jane Eyre, Rochester attributes Bertha's mental illness to post-partum depression when he is speaking to Jane after she finds out about the existence of Bertha. This is a believable diagnosis and represents an accurate modernization of the story in this area. Postpartum depression is very different than what's called "baby blues". The signs and symptoms are more intense and last longer, and may eventually interfere with the woman's ability to care for your baby and handle other daily tasks.
Throughout her life, The Regent's Park was a central location of Christina Rossetti's surroundings. The Rossetti family lived just off The Regent's Park on Upper Albany Street and Christina often walked past the park to her church, Christ Church, Albany Street. She also frequented one of the park's major attractions, the "zoological forest," later known as the London Zoo, and had access to the park's Royal Botanical Society gardens (until 1932, now Queen Mary's Gardens).
This is where Charlotte Bronte went to school. Cowan Bridge inspired her vision of Lowood school. My guess is that Bronte wore something very similar to what Jane Eyre had to.
Holland Cloth is what Jane Eyre's pinafore is made of. Holland is a cheap material and another signifier of class. Lowerclass youth wear pinafores made out of fabric like holland, higherclass children wear pinafores made out of nicer fabrics. Here is a short article on Holland fabric.
