Jane Eyre-Religion

Throughout the book, Jane encounters three people who represent different variations of religion:  Helen Burns, St. John Rivers, and Mr. Brocklehurst.

Helen Burns, Jane's childhood friend at Lowood, believes in tolerance and forgiveness for other peoples' wrongdoings above all other things.  For example, when Miss Scatcherd orders Helen to stand in the middle of the classroom as a punishment Jane describes Helen's reaction as "composed, though grave, she stood, the central mark of all eyes." (Bronte 94)  Although Jane admires Helen for her courage and tolerance, she rejects the idea of letting people treat her with inferiority and says to herself when she witnesses Miss Scatcherd punishing her, "'How can she bear it so quietly-so firmly?... Were I in her place, it seems to me I should wish the earth to open and swallow me up.'" (Bronte 94)

Mr. Brocklehurst is the cruel man who runs the Lowood school and keeps the students there under horrible conditions.  The students are served small portions of unsavory food, and they are all forced to wear their hair straight.  He even ordered a girl with naturally curly hair to have her hair cut so it was made straight, which is not Christian-like at all.  (Bronte 108)  Meanwhile, his family lives a luxurious life and benefits from the funds meant for the school.  Mr. Brocklehurst represents the hypocrisies observed by Bronte in Christianity of this time.

St. John Rivers is a self-sacrificing Christian who works for the good of others less fortunate so he will be rewarded in his afterlife.  However, he can also be described as conceited because he believes that he is so important in God's plan that he sacrifices his family and love life by constantly travelling to other countries to serve in his mission.  Jane admires him for his goodness and willingness to sacrifice so much for less fortunate people, but she cannot give up the love she has for Mr. Rochester to join him as his wife on his journey to serve God.  (Bronte 492)

Ultimately, Jane does not conform to any of the particular beliefs of these three figures, but she does not give up religion and morality either.  She still prays to God on several occasions, including when her wedding is called off because Mr. Rochester is married to another woman. (Bronte 359)

Brontë, Charlotte, Susan Ostrov. Weisser, and George Stade. Jane Eyre. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2003. Electronic.