RoseIsBadWolf t1_ja8ysl9 wrote on February 27, 2023 at 6:52 PM

I found St. John absolutely terrifying, like cult leader sort of energy. Yet the writer seems to leave him on a good note? It was crazy for me.

However, I think the contrast is clear, Rochester is someone who actually loves Jane, but as questionable morals, and St. John loves no one as far as I can tell but has "perfect" morals (though according to the actual Bible that dude is not going to heaven because works without love is meaningless, but anywho). Jane rejects a life of duty without love and returns to Rochester because she cannot live without love.

Better ending: St. John peaces out to India and Jane and her two awesome female cousins live together in tranquility.

[deleted] OP t1_jaa9p24 wrote on February 27, 2023 at 11:56 PM

Yeah I figured that Brontë had become more devout during writing volume 3 and that is reflected in the novel. But perhaps she didn’t think it realistic to have Jane become a missionary or didn’t think it fit with the plot or simply she wanted to contrast Jane with what she believed to be St. John’s heroic character like her father who was renowned preacher himself