Jane represents a contrast between many characters, including Mr. Rochester, St. John, Blanche Ingram, and Bertha Mason. In Mr. Rochester and Bertha’s case, Jane provides a contrast of light versus dark. Blanche Ingram represents wealth, beauty, and the cusp of the ideal female in the 18th century, while Jane is a lowly, unattractive governess at the time. St. John provides a religious and moralistic value unlike Jane, who represents a pragmatic realism. Even though Rochester is not described as a handsome man (134) numerous times, yet Jane seems intrigued by him enough to slowly fall in love for him, hard. Women were not expected to show much emotion like passion and intense love, but gentleness and the joy of being wed or becoming a mother.
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Jane now represents the male with Rochester being weak in his disfigured state. She must assist Rochester with every task and provide for him, while he relegates himself stationary in fear of becoming lost due to his blindness. Rochester, before the fire at Thornfield, represented the young, wealthy bachelor of Victorian society, traveling the world, having many lovers around the world, living for the moment and in the material world, basically living vicariously. St. John is a male contrast to Rochester’s dark nature, both in looks and character. Rochester asks Jane to marry him out of love, but St. John asks her out of a missionary duty. He is the religious aspect of Jane Eyre, but he is still a man, telling Jane, “Your words are such as ought to be not used: violent, unfeminine, and untrue” (475). After her initial denial of his proposal, he embarks a silence that Jane finds unnerving. Jane thinks “in short, as a man, he would have wished to coerce me into obedience; it was only as a sincere Christian he bore so patiently with my perversity, and allowed so long a space for reflection and repentance” (472). St. John symbolizes agape, while Rochester symbolizes …show more content…
The Victorian standard of the groom being five years or older than the bride is the only typical part of Victorian marriage. Jane, who finds herself not wife material, is proposed to not once but twice. There is also a significant difference between the proposals. Rochester’s is doting and romantic, “‘My bride is here’, he said, again drawing me to him, ‘because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?’” (294). Mr. Rochester’s proposal is one made out of love. He just does not want Jane, but needs her. St. John’s terse request is made out of wanting of companionship, “‘Jane, come with me to India: come as my helpmeet and fellow-labourer’” (464). St. John even goes on to say “‘It is not personal, but mental endowments that have given you: you are formed for labour, not for love. A missionary’s wife you must - shall be. You shall be mine: I claim you - not for my pleasure, but for my Sovereign’s service’” (464). Jane does not want to be with St. John because being his wife would make her be “always restrained, and always checked-forced to keep the fire of my nature continually low, to compel it to burn inwardly and never utter a cry…” (470). With Rochester, Jane can be her full and true self. There is also a difference in how Rochester views his relationship with different women. Rochester seems to deeply care for Céline and Jane, but on different
Jane now represents the male with Rochester being weak in his disfigured state. She must assist Rochester with every task and provide for him, while he relegates himself stationary in fear of becoming lost due to his blindness. Rochester, before the fire at Thornfield, represented the young, wealthy bachelor of Victorian society, traveling the world, having many lovers around the world, living for the moment and in the material world, basically living vicariously. St. John is a male contrast to Rochester’s dark nature, both in looks and character. Rochester asks Jane to marry him out of love, but St. John asks her out of a missionary duty. He is the religious aspect of Jane Eyre, but he is still a man, telling Jane, “Your words are such as ought to be not used: violent, unfeminine, and untrue” (475). After her initial denial of his proposal, he embarks a silence that Jane finds unnerving. Jane thinks “in short, as a man, he would have wished to coerce me into obedience; it was only as a sincere Christian he bore so patiently with my perversity, and allowed so long a space for reflection and repentance” (472). St. John symbolizes agape, while Rochester symbolizes …show more content…
The Victorian standard of the groom being five years or older than the bride is the only typical part of Victorian marriage. Jane, who finds herself not wife material, is proposed to not once but twice. There is also a significant difference between the proposals. Rochester’s is doting and romantic, “‘My bride is here’, he said, again drawing me to him, ‘because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?’” (294). Mr. Rochester’s proposal is one made out of love. He just does not want Jane, but needs her. St. John’s terse request is made out of wanting of companionship, “‘Jane, come with me to India: come as my helpmeet and fellow-labourer’” (464). St. John even goes on to say “‘It is not personal, but mental endowments that have given you: you are formed for labour, not for love. A missionary’s wife you must - shall be. You shall be mine: I claim you - not for my pleasure, but for my Sovereign’s service’” (464). Jane does not want to be with St. John because being his wife would make her be “always restrained, and always checked-forced to keep the fire of my nature continually low, to compel it to burn inwardly and never utter a cry…” (470). With Rochester, Jane can be her full and true self. There is also a difference in how Rochester views his relationship with different women. Rochester seems to deeply care for Céline and Jane, but on different