Mariage, Jane Eyre

In the 19th C, marriage was predicated in property relations. Rochester married Bertha Mason for plutocrat. Indeed,

Rochester married a outsider he hardly knew because he was offered a large sum of plutocrat to do so a dowry of£,000. This

marriage was an arranged marriage and also reverberates the social station of the puritanical period. By marrying the ‘

ethnical other ’, the ‘ creole ’C. Brontë hints at the domination of the British Empire. The fact that Bertha ends up locked up

in the garret, leads us to suppose of a possible parallel between slavery and gender oppression, or manly dominance. Hence,

the locking up of Bertha, Rochester’s former woman

can be seen as form of ruse; and marriage as a connubiality.

This idea of ruse and domination is also felt by Jane. Indeed, Jane feels uncomfortable with Rochester’s attempts to lavish

her with precious gifts. As it's stated in chapter 24 Rochester wishes to ‘ put the diamond chain around your neck stamped

the patent of nobility on this brow. clasped the irons on these fine wrists ’P. 458 In this quote, Jane is depicted as an beast that

needs to be regulated, and the verb ‘ stamp ’ easily suggests the branding of an beast by its proprietor. Marriage to Rochester

at Thornfield would mean being fully reliant on him, his plutocrat, and his sanctum. Since Thornfield is a place where

Rochester is in control and dominating, her resoluteness to leave Thornfield is a vital moment for Jane.

Marriage passion vs reason

She decides to leave Thornfield and Mr Rochester in order to recapture some tone- control. She doesn't succumb to passion

but rather struggles to find her own path. Chapter 27 which opens with an illustration of instantiation in which Jane looks to

her Lowood training and follows ‘ heart ’ not ‘ Passion ’. also, the motif of fire and ice is repeated in this chapter Jane’s

cheeks are ‘ white ’ at some point she come ‘ icy cold ’; signs that she's controlling her heartstrings. She realizes she must be

‘ ice and gemstone to him. ’ The veritably pictorial imagery which draws on classic delineations of hell as the fiery

consequence of immorality give us an sapience into Jane’s dilemma. She's overwhelmed and torn between passion and

reason, between feelings and duty. Jane acts entirely according to conventions, as learned at Lowood, her education has

shown her that passion isn't a fit motive for action. She chooses a life of freedom indeed in the face of poverty over a life as

Rochester's doxy . Leaving Thornfield, she remains true to herself. By refusing to live her love intimately,

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