"'Now, King Ahasuerus! What do I want with half your estate? Do you think I am a Jew-userer, seeking good investment in land? I would much rather have all your confidence. You will not exclude me from your confidence, if you admit me to your heart?'"(266).This quote alludes to the biblical story of King Ahasuerus, or King Xerxes, in the book of Esther. He was the king of Persia, who lives in relative splendor compared to the lives of the suffering Jews. In the bible, King Ahasuerus decides to marry another woman because his wife was disobedient, and corals all of the beautiful women of the area to his palace. Among them is Esther, a poor Jewish girl, who he picks as his wife ("Men of the Purim Story"). This allusion is relevant to the story of Jane and Mr. Rochester because they both the social differences between the two of them, however it is evident that Mr. Rochester doesn't care. Much like King Ahasuerus, Mr. Rochester is too deeply in love for social caste to matter.
Works Cited:
"Men of the Purim Story." About.com Judaism. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2013.
It might also be significant that Esther becomes Ahasuerus's queen after his original wife, Vashti, is dismissed when she disrespectfully refuses to come when she is summoned. Jane in this chapter has extensively questioned whether Rochester's affection for her will last long after they are married, or whether his love will "effervesce after six months" and he could potentially dismiss or lose interest in her, so the allusion to Ahasuerus is even more appropriate.
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