Essay Database

Jane Eyre’s relationship with her employer, Fairfax Rochester, is characterized by the conflict between Jane’s desire for autonomy and Rochester’s conviction that she possesses some kind of mystical cure for his emotional woes. Jane is also constricted by the age and class difference between her and Rochester, and struggles to rid herself of any affection for him. Rochester, however, is sure of his love for Jane, but is held back from declaring …

…Jane finds herself unable to escape her desire for Rochester, even though she recognizes that remaining at Thornfield would eventually bring more anguish than a hasty departure. It is Rochester’s demand for subservience in proposing to her again which ultimately brings her to leave him. She comes to realize that it was her desire which allowed her to ignore her own principles up to this point, and resolves to regain them by eliminating temptation.