The Struggle Between Passion and Reason in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.
Passion and practicality are strong sentiments that often control the way people think, feel, and even act. The three main characters of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre are faced with many struggles when it comes to dealing with matters of the heart. Each has their own unique way of approaching situations, though they do not always provide the equilibrium between these powerful feelings, needed to reach the desired outcome. Although Mr. Rochester's fiery emotions and St. John's pious senses influence Jane at times throughout the novel, her well-balanced conscience ultimately prevails.
Jane Eyre is faced with two potential loves, lives and marriages; one based upon passion, the other, practicality. Whereas Rochester is passionate, St John is austere and ambitious. Jane's relationship with the two men are similar, her burning passion for Rochester vs. her brotherly love for St John. Her life story shows the difficulties and rewards of balancing passion and reason. Edward Rochester is her employer, and the first real man in her life. She falls madly in love with him, but for a governess to even consider romantic involvement with her rich employer was considered ridiculous. Marriage to Rochester offers her a chance to liberate her passions, live a more fulfilling life as a housewife rather then a lonesome governess. Jane then comes to the realization that the marriage could also mean enslavement. After discovering Bertha Mason, Jane would be living as Rochester's mistress, and therefore be sacrificing her dignity and integrity for the sake of her feelings. Jane feels that staying with Rochester would mean giving up her dignity. "I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man. I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad "as I am now.
