In Charlotte Bronte’s gothic fiction Jane Eyre, a young woman challenges authority, faces adversity which she overcomes, and is determined to marry not for others, but for love.
Growing up with her Aunt and cousins, Jane learned quickly to gain a voice with which she could defend herself. Jane and Mrs. Reed’s relationship are described discourteously. Jane is aware of her Aunt’s feelings towards her, as she admits to knowing, “‘My uncle Reed is in heaven, and can see all you do and think; and so can papa and mama: they know how you shut me up all day long, and how you wish me dead’” (Bronte 18). Jane recognizes early in life that there will be people who despise her even when she has done nothing to deserve it. Throughout her childhood, Jane …show more content…
Following her retreat from Thornfield, Saint John and his sister find Jane and take her in. Drained from her long journey, Jane lacks the energy to continue on her journey and is left in a field. The siblings find Jane and nurse her back to health. He and his sister are kind to Jane, and the three become close. When John professes his wish of Jane becoming his wife, she could not accept. Jane knew she could never marry John, even though it is the right thing to do. Peterson comments that Saint John’s proposal to be a missionary in India is asking her to “...model her life on a new kind of women's autobiography...the life story of the heroic female missionary,” (Peterson). This coincides societally with what Jane should do, however, she knows she can only marry for love. When approached with this opportunity, Jane tells Saint John, “‘My heart is mute,-my heart is mute.’” (Bronte, 252). Chitham proposes another view as to why Jane could not marry Saint John. He says, “A psychoanalytic view of the book might see the...split between the immoral but good-hearted Rochester and the rule-bound pair Mr. Brocklehurst and Saint John Rivers. [Saint John] presents himself to Jane's sense of duty, and she is seriously inclined to marry him, until an incorporeal voice [of Rochester]...recalls her to her deeper emotional commitment.” (Chitham). When Jane returns to Mr. Rochester, she faces the challenge of his various infirmities and decides to stay with him. When Mr. Rochester questions Jane’s return and wanting to continue her life with him, she replies, “He is not my husband, nor ever will be.” (Bronte, 279). Jane goes on to explain the cold and harsh nature surrounding Saint John and how she could never be happy with him. Jane insists she must remain with Rochester to be truly happy. Many readers will see this act as weak, but Jane is
Growing up with her Aunt and cousins, Jane learned quickly to gain a voice with which she could defend herself. Jane and Mrs. Reed’s relationship are described discourteously. Jane is aware of her Aunt’s feelings towards her, as she admits to knowing, “‘My uncle Reed is in heaven, and can see all you do and think; and so can papa and mama: they know how you shut me up all day long, and how you wish me dead’” (Bronte 18). Jane recognizes early in life that there will be people who despise her even when she has done nothing to deserve it. Throughout her childhood, Jane …show more content…
Following her retreat from Thornfield, Saint John and his sister find Jane and take her in. Drained from her long journey, Jane lacks the energy to continue on her journey and is left in a field. The siblings find Jane and nurse her back to health. He and his sister are kind to Jane, and the three become close. When John professes his wish of Jane becoming his wife, she could not accept. Jane knew she could never marry John, even though it is the right thing to do. Peterson comments that Saint John’s proposal to be a missionary in India is asking her to “...model her life on a new kind of women's autobiography...the life story of the heroic female missionary,” (Peterson). This coincides societally with what Jane should do, however, she knows she can only marry for love. When approached with this opportunity, Jane tells Saint John, “‘My heart is mute,-my heart is mute.’” (Bronte, 252). Chitham proposes another view as to why Jane could not marry Saint John. He says, “A psychoanalytic view of the book might see the...split between the immoral but good-hearted Rochester and the rule-bound pair Mr. Brocklehurst and Saint John Rivers. [Saint John] presents himself to Jane's sense of duty, and she is seriously inclined to marry him, until an incorporeal voice [of Rochester]...recalls her to her deeper emotional commitment.” (Chitham). When Jane returns to Mr. Rochester, she faces the challenge of his various infirmities and decides to stay with him. When Mr. Rochester questions Jane’s return and wanting to continue her life with him, she replies, “He is not my husband, nor ever will be.” (Bronte, 279). Jane goes on to explain the cold and harsh nature surrounding Saint John and how she could never be happy with him. Jane insists she must remain with Rochester to be truly happy. Many readers will see this act as weak, but Jane is