Jane Eyre - Too Passionate?

Authors Avatar

Jane is accused by many of being too passionate. It is not however that she is too passionate, but that she behaves according to her nature that makes her strong. The one time that she ignores her instincts, she almost destroys herself. 'Conscience, turned tyrant, held Passion by the throat.' Discuss.

The topic regarding whether Jane is too passionate or whether she merely follows her nature is quite controversial. From my point of view she is not almost destroyed by ignoring her instincts, but rather strengthened internally. If I may, I would bring faith into it, by commenting that the mature Jane is only willing to behave according to her nature, if her nature is aligned with her religion.

Join now!

By leaving the man she loves, Jane acts in accordance with her faith, ultimately leaving her conscience free of the torment she would have faced should she have obeyed Mr Rochester. In obeying her conscience, she allows what one could call the will of God to guide her to a place where she is independent of others and their emotions, rather perhaps on her new life as a teacher.

Some may criticise Ms Brontë for being unrealistic, fanciful in supposing it possible that Jane should arrive at the very house her cousins were living in, and for St ...

This is a preview of the whole essay