In Jane Eyre, the themes of love and marriage are presented in contrasting ways. In the Lowood education system, Brocklehurst preaches the evangelically tainted message of 'mortifica[ing]... the desires of the flesh' in preparation for most girls taking up professions as governesses, where they are expected to restrain their passions . However, as the narrative develops and Jane meets Rochester, many of the ideals of the usual Victorian mantras are called into question. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Early in Jane's time at Thornfield, she berates herself for her infatuation with Rochester and compares herself to Blanche Ingram. In the context of the time, Jane, as a governess, would have been placed in an awkward social position, as governesses were not considered members of either the upper or lower serving classes. Therefore, their role was poorly defined as members of the female working class, placing them on the margins of society. This view is reflected in Jane's depiction of her own appearance as "dependent and novice", showing her to be unfree and unworldly compared to Rochester, who is a "man of the world". This juxtaposition of descriptions distinguishes Jane from Rochester due to her inexperience and lack of financial wealth. Furthermore, this excerpt supports Vaughon's point of view, who states that "Jane Eyre embodies the spirit of a passionate heroine, desperately trying to reconcile her desire for love and acceptance with the religious and social doctrines of the Victorian era ". Jane states that "it is a folly in all women to let a secret love flare up", which in relation to the narrative style becomes a universal social commentary that women should suppress their passionate emotions. The verb "kindle" also has connotations of destruction in relation to fire, which indicates that passion and love are inherently destructive to women. This metaphor is extended to mean that passion will "devour the life that nourishes it", drawing on the semantic field of appetite to imply that love as a force is mortal, which relates to the teachings of Brocklehurst found at Lowood. In fact, around the time the novel was written, Sarah Stricken Ellis stated that it was "a woman's high and sacred duty to take care of the lesser morals of life", thus expressing the concept that it is a woman's duty to curb passion and baseness. desires, since men do not have the ability to do so. This vision is reflected in the artistic and metaphorical image of Jane's portraiture: "Portrait of a governess, disjointed, poor and simple." – which becomes emblematic of the contrast between Jane and Blanche, who is described as "an accomplished lady of rank". Here, Jane degrades her status through the use of harsh adjectives as a method of repressing her feelings and using common sense to dictate her emotions. In this regard, the presentation of marriage in the novel is conventional, as it implies that Blanche is better suited to Rochester due to the financial and physical differences between Blanche and Jane. On the other hand, as the relationship between Jane and Rochester begins to progress, Jane Eyre begins to challenge some conventions (particularly those of religious origin) that present a boundary between Jane and Rochester. During the conversation preceding Rochester's first marriage proposal, Woolf's opinion that "we are aware of the presence of a woman - of someone who resents the treatment of her sex and calls for her rights" is expressed through the Jane's language.Bronte continues his motif of bird imagery in Jane's metaphor “I am not a bird; no net catches me; I am a free human being with an independent will.' This assertion of his independence from his "master" would have been considered highly unorthodox in the context of Victorian society. Rochester, as the 'giver and protector,' has social power and authority over his dependents; however, Jane chooses to put her integrity before temptation in pursuit of her "freedom." He continues to challenge these perceptions by questioning both Rochester's, and by extension society's, perceptions of the lower classes: "Do you think I'm an automation?" - a machine without feelings?'. Here it is suggested that the upper classes perceive the lower classes as mechanical and emotionless beings, however Jane indicates the need for equality of understanding, the absence of which represents a barrier in their relationship. From a religious perspective, Bronte also challenges the Victorian norm of accepting that God dictates social standing, a view expressed in hymns of the era such as Alexander's "All Things Bright and Beautiful" – "God made them high and low, and ordered their estate." Jane claims, however, that if she and Rochester "were at the feet of God, equal - as we are!", then their "spirits" would recognize each other. Contrary to Alexander's view, Jane does not only suggests that it is possible for a man and a woman to be equal, but also that people of different social position can achieve equality. Therefore, the extract itself can be seen to support Woolf's point of view because of the "answer". of Jane against the Victorian mantra. In another section of the novel, however, during Jane and Rochester's engagement, Jane is taken dress shopping in Milcote by Rochester so that she will have clothes appropriate to her status as a wife. But Jane expresses discomfort with Rochester's desire to conform to social conventions of appearance due to his financial inequality and social position. This view can be expounded through the use of syntax in Jane's depiction of Rochester: "the eye of my master and lover." The insertion of 'master' before 'lover' here may be an indication of Jane's mentality: that is, Rochester is Jane's master before anything else. It can also be argued that the term "master" is ambiguous, connoting both employer and controlling partner, doubling down on Jane's degrading status. Jane expresses emotions of "annoyance and degradation" regarding her financial dependence, illustrating her internal conflict in conforming to a woman's role within Victorian society as a housewife figure, while longing for her own "freedom." This may be due to the context of the time, as under the pre-"Married Women's Property Act" of 1870, a woman's property could only remain hers for as long as she remained unmarried. This meant that all of her property, wages, inheritance, and money belonged to her husband, which may offer a reason for Jane's lack of independence. Worrall's statement 'Jane “refused to subscribe to the Victorian mantra”' supports this concept, as does Jane's use of simile in this extract. She claims to be "sitting like a second Danae", making a classical allusion in reference to a maiden who was seduced by the king of the gods in Greek mythology. In this story, Jupiter appears to Danae as a shower of gold while she is imprisoned, which could become a metaphor for the materialistic struggle between Jane and Rochester. However, despite Jane's comparison to an imprisoned woman, her own emotions contradict this image as she is actually rebelling against her.