In the film adaptation of Jane Eyre, Rochester describes his marriage to Bertha in a flashback. Director Susanna White chose to film this scene at Kedleston Hall. In the scene, Bertha is described by Rochester as a “dark, handsome woman…as beautiful as the glittering stars” (Jane Eyre, Episode 2). She appears in scene with a red flower in her hair, matching the scene itself, which contains tables filled with red flowers. The background of the scene in which Rochester and Bertha kisses is filled with overgrown greenery, reflecting the wild, untamed nature of Bertha. As a direct contrast, Thornfield Hall is plain and more modern.
The scene shifts to their marriage, where the colors are simple whites and grays. The light behind them shines almost too bright, creating a feeling of obscurity. In this case, Bertha’s brother and father hid information about her mother’s descent into madness. The brother’s face is the only clear one in the scene, and the camera zooms in on his face, which has a look of contempt. In this case, he knows he has tricked Rochester, and is satisfied in knowing he did so.
It all becomes clear, however, when Rochester catches her having sex with another man. The greenery behind her and her lover in the scene includes exotic palms, plants, and flowers. The flowers are red and yellow, again matching her dress. Susanna White chose the colors to hint at Bertha’s uncontrollable nature—she is wild, unnatural, and unable to be tamed, much like the plants surrounding her in the scene. The red will appear multiple times throughout the film, with the red scarf in the window, signifying Bertha’s presence at Thornfield Hall. Rochester, who wears simple black and white, appears stoic and innocent—he was tricked into this marriage, after all, he says.
Today, Kedleston Hall contains beautiful gardens and walkways. Susanna White chose this location for its exotic beauty and plant life. The hall itself was originally built “as 'a temple of the arts' and as the location for grand entertainments” (Explore Kedleston Hall). The party where Rochester meets Bertha is an example of how the hall might be used for entertainment. Within the Hall stands a museum curated by “Lord Curzon, [who] was fascinated by the art and architecture of Asia” (Explore Kedleston Hall). His collection contained artifacts from “Asia and the Middle East” and was split upon his death—half to “the Victoria & Albert Museum and a museum to be created at Kedleston”(Explore Kedleston Hall).
The lighting, colors, setting, and costumes create a flashback which brings the scene to life. Susanna White’s choice to include a scene where Bertha is cheating on Rochester creates sympathy for him. Viewers are touched by his reaction to her infidelity. She becomes the wild, mad woman he describes her as in the novel. In this way, the film is more effective in creating sympathy for characters who might otherwise not have been regarded in this way.

Explore Kedleston Hall—from Rome to India. National Trust. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kedleston-hall/features/the-history-of-.... Accessed 20 March 2022.
Kedleston Hall. undefined. Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 3 Mar. 2022. academic-eb-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/levels/collegiate/assembly/view/144393. Accessed 20 Mar. 2022.
Jane Eyre. Episode 2. BBC Worldwide Ltd,, 2017.