Religion In Jane Eyre

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Many claim that love is one of the most, if not the most, potent emotion. Yet anything with such power can sometimes engender uncontrollable irrationalities. To balance our overpowering emotions, we use logic, analyses, and ethics to quell our inner flame. Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, touches on these ideas frequently over the course of its plot. Throughout the novel, the story’s central themes, social class, gender relations, religion, and love versus freedom, all connect to the development of the protagonist, Jane.
The themes social class and gender relations both stem from the mid­1800’s setting. A society where the Victorian England era’s strict social hierarchy and male dominance prevailed, Jane’s world not only denied her equality …show more content…

As she experiences and observes these rather unique forms of Christianity, she formulates her own ideas and beliefs about religion and God’s principles based on an enhanced understanding of self and the consequences of various aspects of Christianity. Helen Burns’ Christianity allowed Jane to realize that she can not tolerate such a restrained and passive faith. Mr. Brocklehurst’s Christianity elucidated the purpose of proper faith. Finally, St. John Rivers’ Christianity, which urged Jane to prioritize her moral duties over all else, allowed her to realize that her true aspiration was finding a middle ground between the gratification of emotional needs and the fulfillment of moral obligations. While Christianity allowed Jane to achieve a strong and ethical character, recognizing her spirit as well can be seen as her greatest …show more content…

This paramount theme can also be analyzed to follow Jane’s development. From a Jane who believed that to gain love, herself must be sacrificed, to a Jane who has found an answer that bridges love, respect, freedom, and belonging, this theme of love versus freedom is a continuous contrasting element in the story. By learning that love with neither a value of self nor freedom is not her answer, and that a life allowing moral values and physical autonomy without the freedom of spirit nor emotion will be a loveless one, Jane reaches the conclusion that as

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