Jane Eyre: Character Development and Influences

"In order to form correct habits, we should seek the company of persons of sound moral and religious influence...," said Ellen G. White.

A moral and religious company would have a positive influence upon a person, helping that person develop good habits. Yet there are many different influences that can be both beneficial and detrimental. For example, outside influences, such as other characters, can greatly affect a character's actions, character and thoughts in a positive or negative way.

Quite similarly, numerous characters in the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte influenced Jane, but Edward Fairfax and St. John Rivers had the utmost impact on her personality. Though they differed in their creeds and represented the extremes of morality, both men contributed to Jane's final arrival as a strong, independent, and matured woman at Ferndean through their actions, love, and influence.

Rochester, the master of Thornfield Hall, contrasted greatly with St. John, Jane's cousin; they held different religious beliefs and moral standards. "I advise you to live sinless; and I wish you to die tranquil" (398). Rochester is portrayed as a sinner because he failed to inform Jane of his previous marriage to Bertha Mason. His passionate desire to keep Jane at Thornfield Hall as a mistress further marred his morality. While Rochester is passionate, desperate, and fiery in spirit, St. John is austere, ambitious, and cold. His callous personality is evident when he said, "I want a wife: the sole helpmeet I can influence efficiently in life, and retain absolutely till death" (506). In addition, his character was the antithesis of Rochester's, because he adhered ascetically to moral values and religious principles. Both men were the undeniably the two most influential male figures in her life, yet they contrasted considerably.

Though the two male characters contrasted in their beliefs, they brought about significant changes in Jane's character. Her search for freedom was quite a struggle because she was unsure of which type she craved deep down. By accepting Rochester's initial proposal of marriage, she would sacrifice her dignity for love. "I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am the more I will respect myself" (398). She opts to not accept his proposal of his love and marriage because she wanted to preserve her self-esteem. By staying with him, she would become his mistress. She also did not enter the relationship because she would not be protected by marriage bonds. As a result, her initial struggle with Rochester developed her morality and self-worth. By refusing his proposal for marriage because he has a wife, she became morally superior to him. She was able to uphold the strict moral values that he could not. Furthermore, Jane was able to retain her self-worth and dignity despite sacrificing her passionate feelings.

Whereas Rochester created a more dependent yet loving environment, St. John provided an independent yet self-sacrificing one. He desired to marry Jane and invited her to join him on his missionary to India. In addition, he said, "God and nature intended you for a missionary's wife. It is not personal, but mental endowments they have given you: you are formed for labor, not for love" (502). He believed she would make more profound contributions to society as a missionary's wife because she possessed the mental aptitude. Yet she replied, "Oh! I will give my heart to God, you do not want it" (507). As the quote depicted, by accepting St. John's proposal, she would sacrifice love for principle. She was quite aware he lacked the passionate love Rochester had for her, yet she would not have moral qualms marrying St. John. Through him, she realized that personal freedom could only be found in a mutually emotional and physical dependent relationship. Therefore, Jane denied his love for her and ultimately, his proposal for marriage.

Although both men professed their love to her and asked for her hand in marriage, she denied both. Neither was appealing nor satisfying for Jane. Furthermore, her embedded desire to be loved, appreciated, and cherished was not fulfilled by either situation. "Reader, I married him" (560). When she found her beloved Rochester, she only married him because she had overcome her weaknesses: poverty, loneliness, and passion. With the inheritance from her uncle, she became his social and economic equal as opposed to only his intelligence equal before. "All my confidence is bestowed on him, all his confidence is devoted to me; we are precisely suited in character-perfect concord is the result" (562). As the quote suggested, a relationship between them now would be mutually dependent, if not tilted in her favor, because of his injuries from the fire. Also, she only accepted his marriage proposal after she completely deprived herself of passion. Rochester confirmed Jane's belief that a relationship would thrive if there was mutual dependence. He also indirectly helped control her passionate disposition because she was able to reject his love the first time. Yet she returned to her fervent desires when there were no moral restrictions.

Through her trials and tribulations throughout her journey from Gateshead Hall to Ferndean, Jane overcame her physical and mental weaknesses. The influences of both men shaped her character, strengthened her moral values, and helped her find a balance between love and independence. Though her integrity and moral principles were constantly put to the test, she was able to make the most appropriate decisions. With each new obstacle and adverse situation, she was able mature rather quickly. The two contrasting characters, Rochester and St. John, both played a vital role in Jane's development as a character and the antagonist through their beliefs.