In Charlotte Bront?’s Jane Eyre, the occurences between Jane, Rochester, and St. John brings the most out of their characters. Throughout the novel, Rochester associates with fire due to his desperate desires. On the other hand, St. John associates with cold because he is a shallow and hollow person.
Jane chooses Rochester over St. John because St. John does not love her and she does not love him. Rochester brings out the best of Jane. The owner of Thornfield, Rochester, is a strong man who possesses much wealth. The sensual man, who has many mood swings, falls in love with Jane for her simple, yet bright and intelligent personality. To Rochester, she stands out of a very dull group of women he is usually around.
Soon after falling for Jane, Rochester proposes having already in mind that he will marry Jane. Jane agrees to his proposal. A weakness that begins to arise is Rochester’s wife who is mentally ill. When Jane learns of Bertha, Jane decides to leave Rochester. Rochester’s weakness ruins his chance at a new life with Jane. No matter what conflict arises, Rochester always will love Jane.
Because of the fire, Rochester in now blind. This shows that as he gets weak, Jane prevails, which also shows that they are equal.St. John, the clergyman, contains a different mindset. A weakness of his is that he does not love Jane. St.
John refuses to marry the woman he loves, Rosamond Oliver, because he feels as though she is not a good candidate. Carrying around a negative attitude and being controlling makes him the opposite of Rochester. Because St. John is incapable of being kind and he does not show any heat or give as much passion Rochester shows Jane, she turns down his proposal. Planning to become a missionary and being overly religious does not assist in Jane making a decision. Rochester and Jane enjoy speaking to each other near lit fires.
Because of this, she feels warm and complete. St. John does not make Jane feel complete. They enjoy speaking in cold weather.
St. John is a foil of Mr. Rochester. Marrying him means sacrificing true love, passion, and ultimately her needs. Jane spends all the time she can with St. John until she hears Rochester’s voice.
This ignites a flame in her and encourages her to leave and look for him. Jane has a hard time finding symmetry between freedom and love, but she is scorching around Rochester and feels frozen and dull around St. John. The two have their weaknesses, but with both men adoring her originality, only one prevails. She knows staying with St. John would bring imprisonment and Jane undeniably loves Rochester and he loves her back.
The two keep their flame and show that through raising a child together.
