One of the main features of Jane Eyre as a novel is its
attempt to postulate the kind of Christianity the author, Charlotte Bronte,
believed in. And for this reason we see certain Christian ideals being
illustrated and certain vices being condemned throughout the story. I will
focus on just two such instances in which the devilish nature of vices such as Violence and Passion is illustrated. The first incident occurs at Lowood during
Mr.Brocklehurst’s visit and the second at Thornfield when an attempt is made on
Mr.Rochester’s life. I say devilish because
these incidents are filled with reference to all that is associated with the
devil.
““Miss Temple, Miss Temple, what- what is that girl with curled
hair? Red hair, ma’am, curled-
curled all over?” And extending his cane he pointed to the awful object, his
hand shaking as he did so.”
Mr .Brocklehurst trembles on seeing the girl with the red,
curled hair, as if she was the devil itself. Even though he is told by Miss
Temple that the girl’s hair curls naturally he orders the hair of all the girls
who have styled theirs in plaits to be cut off.
For these girls are Mr.Brocklehurst’s ticket to Heaven (“He scrutinized the
reverse of these living medals, then
pronounced the sentence.”) and must therefore be representative of that status.
This incident taken in its entirety can be said to represent Violence as one of the vices condemned
by Charlotte Bronte’s/ Jane Eyre’s Christianity.
“Tongues of flame darted round the bed: the curtains were on
fire. In the midst of blaze and vapour, Mr.Rochester lay stretched motionless,
in deep sleep.”
Even though this second incident does not contain any
references to the devil other than fire and flame, I still think that it is
representative of the condemnation by Charlotte Bronte’s/Jane Eyre’s
Christianity, of the vice of Passion.
Passion is a vice, and a devilish vice at that, firstly because it was
Mr.Rochester, the object of Jane’s passion, that is surrounded by flames, and
secondly, devilish because the author could have chosen to show this murderous
attempt in any other way but chose burning Mr.Rochester alive as the method of
murder.
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