Comparing Jane And Miss Rochester And Jane's Jane Eyre

Jane has always been unalike. She speaks her mind without being dishonest but also remaining true to herself. Unsimilar to the women who visit Mr. Rochester, Jane does not have the experiences and fine education as do the other women. She has no family and is somewhat peasantry. However, her individuality offers her an advantage. While these women sit sipping tea in luxurious silk they lack a personality and excitement which draws Rochester to Jane.

Nevertheless, compared to the women, she has an genuine character and a mystery about her. She is rare from the usual submissive women of this time period. Her straightforward attitude and passion is what draws Rochester to her. “Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! - I have as much soul as you, - and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you!” Jane is direct with her feelings. She was Rochester to know that she is know less than him because of her social class and lack of wealth. She is a human being just as he is and shares the same despair, emotion and compassion as anyone else.

Jane and Miss Ingram both exemplify two contrasting lives. Miss Ingram would be the classic choice for a wife to Mr. Rochester. She is wealthy, elegant, and upper class. His marriage to her would provide him the traditional marriage and grant him approval from his peers and family. In contrast, marriage to Jane differs greatly. Being of a lower class and poor, a marriage to Rochester would be frowned upon. Jane speaks passionately about her love for Rochester and declares as his equal. Yet, their marr...

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... personality pressures her to go against her own inner feelings. Jane is reluctant to marry St. John because love would not be apart of it, but St. John pressures Jane to ignore her feelings and submit to his belief of necessary moral duty. In declining St. John’s proposal Jane escapes a threat to her freedom and her sense of self.

The missionary, St. John, takes Jane in at Moor House. His strict devotion to Christianity is excessive. He refuses to give in to his love for Rosamond Oliver due to his warped sense of duty to God. He loves her dearly yet he believes she would make a poor missionary's wife and giving up his project in India is ludicrous. Therefore, he doesn't give in to his feelings. In the end, he has traveled to India to fulfill his Christian duty, the impression is left that his life could have been more worthwhile if he accepted true love.