Compare Katherina and Jane Eyre's attitude towards marriage, commenting on the historical context of each character and the language they use. What are your views on marriage and its future in the twenty-first century?

…Katherina uses lots of imagery  “our lances are but straws” meaning that there arguments and actions seemed strong and appeared to be the right thing to do but really they were not. Her use of words makes the husband sound like royalty “thy husband is thy head, thy sovereign”.

…Jane Eyre could choose whom she wanted to marry and the husband didn’t get any  money out of it. Women at this time still had few rights, they could have a carer and Jane was a governess, but there were very few jobs that women were allowed to do. A woman had little status if she was not married or if she was a mistress to a married man. A man could divorce a woman if he thought she was unfaithful or even if she wasn’t, a man’s word meant more than a woman’s did. If they were divorced a man would get the children and the woman could not come near them.

…Jane believes that in marriage you should be “with an equal”. She thinks that on occasions she “might argue”. Jane also thinks that St john would force her to “keep the fire of her nature continually low”.

…Also Jane believes that it is morally and spiritually wrong to stay with a man that is already married, under any circumstances. Jane will not marry St John because it would be a marriage of sin. Jane says “my heart and my mind would be free” but this wouldn’t happen if they married. Jane also believes that God would play a big part, it would be wrong in Gods eyes to marry St John when he’s got a wife even in these circumstances.

…Jane’s language is direct she makes her point and says what she means. Jane always seems to be challenging St John “shall I”, very direct, she is trying to argue with him that is her “fire of nature” and she will not marry. There are only small amounts of imagery used “I would cross oceans” and “toil under eastern suns”.

…Today marriage is not necessary and it should be your own decision to do it no one else’s. Today marriage is not about gaining status or getting money its about love. People know that every person is equal and as long as its love it doesn’t matter whether you get married or not. Its up to each and every individual person whether they get married or not.

…I wouldn’t get married in a church because I don’t think that you have to show a room full of people or God how much you care. It should be between the two people getting married. If two people get married in a registry office or don’t get married and just live together it doesn’t matter because it’s there own choice and they both know how they feel. The act of being together even if it is just them living together should be enough as it proves how they feel about each other.