In what ways is the theme of passion versus reason explored in the third section?

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In What Ways Is The Theme Of Passion Versus Reason Explored In The Third Section?

        Passion versus reason can be seen throughout the whole novel but Charlotte Brontë has mainly highlighted it in section three.  The main characters who undergo passion and reason are Jane, Rochester and St. John Rivers. Passion mainly reflects on Jane and Rochester because it’s their passion that brings them back together. Reason or duty mostly reflects on St. John Rivers, he is the man who proposes to Jane to join him to do missionary work in India because he believes that it is Gods will that sent Jane to him neither as a cousin, nor a friend but as a wife to a missionary. The contrasts between these two are that Jane decides her fate due to passion while St. John decides his fate mostly on reason and duty. Passion versus reason is explored in this novel in many ways. The two main relationships between passion and reason is the relationship between Jane and Mr Rochester and St. John and Jane.

        Jane is very much the main character of the novel. She searches, not just for romantic love, but also for a sense of being appreciated. Jane’s battle between passion and reason can be seen when she thinks about what to do after finding out about Rochester’s wife, Bertha Mason. Her passion tells her she loves Rochester, so she should stay with him and they could live eternally together till the end of time, however the reason side of her shows how disgraceful and unacceptable it would be to live as Rochester’s mistress because he already is married to Bertha, resulting her to leave him. Jane’s has an extremely strong sense of discipline and morality, so in this situation reason takes over her passion and she leaves him.

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“I forgave him at the moment and on the spot… I forgave him all: yet not in words, not outwardly; only at my hearts core.” Pg 314

Jane’s passion and love for Mr Rochester is shown here. Even though he has hurt her greatly, she still finds it in her heart to forgive him. She does tell not tell him this, because she knows she will have to leave him, and acknowledging the fact that she still loves him would make it harder. Even though the reason takes over her passion she still has emotions towards Rochester, but ...

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