Morality In Jane Eyre

Religion: Our Moral Foundation Religion plays a prominent role in today’s society and shapes the way people act and think. Furthermore, it provides guidance in times of distress and serves as a moral foundation that keeps excessive desires under control. In the novel Jane Eyre, author Charlotte Brontë portrays religion as a dependable guide that provides stability in the struggle for morality and survival. Although Jane’s moral duties and worldly desires conflict, her religion is always brought back to morally judge her actions. She neglects God while falling in love with her decades-older employer, however maintains her morality by refusing to succumb to his lustful immorality. The starving and penniless Jane is left to wander the heath,

The Reed family relentlessly “bullied and punished [Jane]; not two or three times in the week, nor once or twice in a day, but continually” (5). After continual mistreatment, her aversion builds up, leading to her notion that when “struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard—so hard to teach the person who struck us never to do it again” (56). Initially, Jane’s rage creates the urge of utilizing violence to retaliate against her oppressors. Her deep hatred and abhorrence cause her to disregard Christ’s doctrine of loving enemies, for she resorts to fighting wrong with wrong in attempts to satisfy her urge to exact vengeance. Jane, however, changes to sympathize and shows love for the near-death Mrs. Reed. Her abiding by Christ’s example of blessing those who curse you, allows her to “[come] back to [Mrs. Reed] not with no other emotion than a sort of ruth for her great sufferings, and a strong yearning to forget and forgive all injuries” (243). God influence on Jane’s actions push her to do the right thing, rather than to satisfy her longings to retaliate. Her religious values keep her morality in check, for she forgives Mrs. Reed, rather than holding a grudge. She changes to love her enemies, as shown by her willingness to traverse a long way to tend to Mrs. Reed, for time had quelled her longings for vengeance and rage. Jane’s religious values impact her decisions,

In attempts to tend to the problem herself, Jane “rambles around the hamlet” (347). Jane’s suffering is prolonged when she asks for hospitality but “the servant clapped the door to and bolted it within” (357). Despite the endurance of trials and pain she had been faced with, Jane resorts to “believing in God” and was sure of “his efficiency to save what He had made” (357, 345). Although in despair, Jane’s persistent faith in God alleviates her prolonged suffering as a temporary refuge is placed upon her. She relies heavily on God in times of despair and places her survival in His hands. Despite being completely hopeless and faced with punishing situations, Jane’s trusting in God leads her to solace and comfort. The importance and the need of God in portrayed through Jane’s struggles, as she is dependent on God’s guidance and aid. The novel underscores the need for God on several occasions, for He takes care of Jane in the toughest and most demanding situations. The novel centers religion around its plot, for it is heavily incorporated throughout the course of Jane’s life; she is mostly dependent on