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Amber Griffioen's avatar

This post made me immediately think about Charlotte Brontë's use of 'countenance' in "Jane Eyre", and the idea that the countenance is something "legible" that can be "read". Just a few of the many examples:

1. Where Rochester is interviewing Jane about her background:

"Arithmetic, you see, is useful; without its aid, I should hardly have been able to guess your age. It is a point difficult to fix where the features and countenance are so much at variance as in your case."

2. The much beloved scene in the garden, where Rochester proposes, and Jane questions his sincerity:

“Mr. Rochester, let me look at your face: turn to the moonlight.” “Why?” “Because I want to read your countenance—turn!” “There! you will find it scarcely more legible than a crumpled, scratched page. Read on: only make haste, for I suffer.”

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Stanisław's avatar

Found this interesting analysis by an ex-Latter-Day Saint. It seems that the notion of countenance is quite prominent in the LDS theological culture. youtube.com/watch?v=awVrBi4LiAQ

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