Our bodies, minds, spirits, and souls belong entirely to God, and to refuse to sacrifice these in His service is akin to blasphemy. These words put Janes earthly happiness with Rochester into perspective. Condemned by some as the poster child for the submissive, tradition-bound Victorian woman, more favorable readings see Jane as an example of early feminism: a woman guided by an independent will, an autonomous morality, and the passions which lead her to reunite with the love of her life, regardless of the consequences. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. But it is not his celibacy which renders him so pathetic as the fact that his glorious sun hastens to its setting. She also holds a Master of Arts in English literature from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, and a BA in English from Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee. Jane feels that no fear of death would darken St. Johns last hour: his mind at that time would be unclouded, his heart would be undaunted, and his faith would be steadfast. | Mary and Diana are still in school and afterwards will look for governess jobs. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! St. John returns to Moor House only to find that Jane is gone. His action in providing food and shelter to Jane is one of the most crucial incidents in the novel because her very survival is due to this action on his part. Although St. John initially appears perfect, Jane soon detects a restlessness or hardness under his seemingly placid features; he is "no longer flesh, but marble" and his heart seems made of "stone or metal." His reserve and brooding suggest a troubled nature, and his zealous Christianity offers him neither serenity nor solace. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. It's Me, Margaret Study Guide, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Study Guide, Praxis Reading for Virginia Educators: Elementary and Special Education (5306) Prep, 11th Grade English: Homework Help Resource, Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Writing: Standards, Jane Eyre Time Period & Historical Context, Religion in Jane Eyre: Analysis & Examples, Jane Eyre: Summary, Characters and Analysis, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Apart from this one passion, St. John is "hard and cold," hes "frozen over," hes "cold as an iceberg." I highly recommend you use this site! The evangelist who takes Jane in at Moor House, brother to Diana and Mary and, it turns out, cousin to Jane. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. and spends a happy Christmas with Mary and Diana, who have returned from their jobs. Complete your free account to request a guide. Like Mr. Rochester, St. John has a commanding personality, but the two men contrast in their range of feelings. reader that Diana and Mary both have married respectable and caring husbands and visit regularly. St. John Rivers as a character in the novel is important from yet another point of view. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. She distinguishes herself at Lowood School because of her hard work and strong intellectual abilities. ago. St. John is a parish minister with lofty ambitions, namely to become a missionary in the most unforgiving regions of the British Empire. Marriage to St. John would traumatically erase Jane's identity and douse her passions for life. (including. Jane, like Cinderella, is an orphan who lives with a less-than-loving extended family. She waits until she is not unduly influenced by her own poverty, loneliness, psychological vulnerability, or passion. Marriage with Rochester represents the abandonment of principle for the consummation of passion, but marriage to St. John would mean sacrificing passion for principle. He is later revealed to be Jane Eyre 's cousin. St. John tells Jane she has admirable qualities, and proposes that she marry him and accompany him on his missionary work. Struggling with distance learning? Teachers and parents! St. John is the admirer of Rosamond Oliver .. St. John Rivers Character Analysis. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% It is impossible to love such a man, while Mr. Rochester, even in his stern moods is preferable to this inexorable priest. Mr. Rochester is self-indulgent and Byronic to a degree, whereas St. John is self-sacrificing and Calvinistic. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at [email protected]. Jane confesses that artistic creation offers her one of the "keenest pleasures" of her life, and Rochester is impressed with Jane's drawings because of their depth and meaning, not typical of a schoolgirl. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you and any corresponding bookmarks? Similarly, she believes education will allow her the freedom to improve her position in society by teaching her to act like a "lady," but her success at school, in particular her drawing ability, also increases her self-confidence. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. This view implies that Charlotte Brontes portrayal of him inconsistent. When he proposes to Jane, it is to use her as a fellow missionary, not to love her as a wife. Want 100 or more? She tells him she would only go to work in India as his sister. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Refine any search. Most important, she cannot persuade herself to believe that refusing to do so is a sin. Stories provide Jane with an escape from her unhappy domestic situation, feeding her imagination and offering her a vast world beyond the troubles of her real life: By opening her inner ear, she hears "a tale my imagination created . Teachers and parents! Character Analysis Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Before the publication of the novel Shirley was an uncommon but distinctly male name. succeed. St. The reason everyone has been looking for Jane is that her uncle, Mr. Eyre of Madeira, is dead and has left his entire fortune to her, so she is now rich. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. One reached. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. . Create your account, 5 chapters | He receives a letter from her saying that she has married Mr. Rochester. St. I could never rest in communication with strong, discreet, and refined minds, whether male or female, till I had passed the outworks of conventional reserve, and crossed the threshold of confidence, and won a place by their heart's very hearthstone. Another trait of her character which comes to the surface, or which receives an emphasis, during her association with St. John is her firmness and her resolute attitude towards people and things. St John comes from a good family, but his father lost most of the family money after a bad business decision. After having fled Thornfield, Jane throws herself entirely upon the mercy of God, praying that He will send someone to her who will have mercy on her situation. Again the surprised expression crossed his face. Although St. John initially appears perfect, Jane soon detects a restlessness or hardness under his seemingly placid features; he is "no longer flesh, but marble" and his heart seems made of "stone or metal." December 2012. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. St. John Rivers. Immediately, Jane writes to the Rivers, explaining what she has done. He talks very little, and he thinks much more than he talks. bookmarked pages associated with this title. In St. John we find certain contradictions which have produced the impression in the minds of many readers and critics that such a man cannot exist, and that he is an impossible person. For him, missionary work isn't about joy, but a form of "warfare" against the prejudices of the natives, just as he "wars" against Jane's rejection of his marriage proposal. Jane, however, cannot consent to take holy vows where no real love is present, nor can she give her body to a man she does not love, even if he is her husband. (3.6.45). Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! His ambition cuts St. John off from all deep human emotions. In her youth and again as a governess, Jane must depend on others for support, The wealthy master of Thornfield Hall and, A parson with two sisters at Moor House, and, The mysterious servant at Thornfield who watches over, The parson and hypocritical overseer of Lowood Institution. What is Adles connection to Mr. Rochester? (Also, while were talking about names, it might be worth thinking about Janes two different cousins named John: John Reed and St. John Rivers.). Jane speaks these words shortly after St. John asks her to accompany him to India as his wife. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Those who had saved my life, whom, till this hour, I had loved barrenly, I could now benefit. He seeks not a lover in the proper sense, even though he proposes to Jane. The iciness of St. John's character is most pronounced in his relationship with Rosamond Oliver. Drop me a line anytime, whether its about any queries or demands or just to share your well-being. He wants a wife he can "influence efficiently" and "retain absolutely," rather than someone he loves. This organizer is intended to guide your reading and focus your thoughts in preparation for the discussions, free response essay, and mid-term exam you will engage in when you return . Besides, he is a man of religion who shows no signs of believing in the gospel of the brotherhood of man or of believing in universal love. I looked at the blank wall: it seemed a sky thick with ascending stars,every one lit me to a purpose or delight. This person is St. John Rivers, who actually turns out to be her cousin. Not content with his humble local ministry, St. John would like to have been a politician, a poet, or anything that could have offered him glory, fame, and power. Hes not actually a saint, eitherits just a weird first namealthough he does think that hes one of the elect. Jane finds the whole thing disgusting, and so do we.The strange thing about St. John is that he might at first seem like an obsessive-compulsive, cold-blooded freak, but actually he is what Janes been trying to become: someone who makes relationship decisions based only on logic and practicality. character was given the name that her father had intended to give a son. Unmarried to him, this would never grieve me; but can I let him complete his calculations - coolly put into practice his plans - go through with the wedding ceremony? While Rochester vents his passions, St. John represses his. SparkNotes PLUS He is like marble, as Jane constantly reflects. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. One reached. Dive into this love story, a character analysis of Jane's two suitors, and quotes from St. John Rivers. Etc. The first thing to explain about St. John Rivers is how to pronounce his first name, "St. John.". Diana, Mary, and herself). Just then, the women's brother. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Though Terri Beth loves books and writing of all kinds, her heart lies especially with British Victorian and Modernist literature, as well as the novels of Virginia Woolf, George Eliot, the Bronte sisters, and, to mix things up a bit, Salman Rushdie! St. John is the last of the three major Christian models Jane observes over the course of the novel. Can I receive from him the bridal ring, endure all the forms of loveand know the spirit was quite absent?.No: such a martyrdom would be monstrous.'. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. He lives with his two sisters, Diana and Mary, at Moor House. for details. But Jane's "heart is mute." She recognizes that she could never be happy as St. John's wife. This I know." Charlotte Bronte's 1847 masterpiece Jane Eyre tells the iconic love story of the governess Jane Eyre and her employer, Mr. Rochester. Jane Eyre The orphaned protagonist of the story. We would, for instance, have not known anything about Janes basically affectionate heart and her basically generous nature if she had not been admitted into Moor House by St. John. Read explanations of quotes by and about St. John Rivers. To say the least, Jane Eyre is a controversial character. The first thing to explain about St. John Rivers is how to pronounce his first name, "St. John." It's not "Saint John," although of course that's what it means; it's pronounced "SIN-jun." Don't ask us why this is; the English have this adorable accent. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Mary, as well as Diana, exemplifies the kind of woman Jane desires to become; and transforms into throughout the course of the novel. His handsome appearance indicates moral and intellectual superiority he has "a straight, classic nose; quite an Athenian mouth and chin" and contrasts with Rochester's more rugged features. Essentially, she has an affectionate heart, and this becomes perfectly clear from her telling St. John about her need to have a sense of belonging to a family. Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. A companionless lonely man, his life is now drawing to its close. St. John is the man who saves Jane Eyre's life when she is starving and would have died of sheer exhaustion and hunger. But the requirements of the soul are steadfast: they do not change, compromise, or bend. Swapping a stepmother for an aunt and stepsisters for cousins, Jane Eyre opens to a conspicuously similar family. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. It is during her stay in Morton, near Moor House, that she tells St. John that she would distribute her legacy of twenty thousand pounds equally among the four of them (St. John. Besides being the Founder and Owner of this website, I am a Government Officer. 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He's cold and deeply repressed; Rochester is anything but. This is the conflict between duty and passion that plays such a vital role in this novel. Whereas Rochester is passionate, St. John is austere and ambitious. Struggling with distance learning? Most of Jane's rebellions target the inequities of society, but much of her personality is fairly conventional. | 2 Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Diana and Mary both approve of her marriage, but Jane receives no response from St. . Actually there are only two principal or leading characters and they are Jane Eyre herself and Mr. Rochester. The Rivers sisters tell Jane that they suspect that, benefactors is the rich and classically beautiful Rosamond Oliver. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. St. John, no doubt, would have given the world to follow, recall, retain her, when she thus left him; but he would not give one chance of heaven, nor relinquish, for the elysium of her love, one hope of the true, eternal Paradise. They are the restless sea, tossing the sufferer recklessly and unpredictably, from the highest highs to the lowest lows. Refine any search. Contact us Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! St. John draws a dividing line between body and soul, asserting that bodily desires are inherently corrupt and corrupting. I feel like its a lifeline. . bookmarked pages associated with this title. Mary Rivers: Jane's cousin and the sister of St. John and Diana Rivers. Mostly, this makes sense; he just isnt happy living calm, normal, domestic life. He is like marble, as Jane constantly reflects. When he invites her to come to India with him as a missionary, St. John offers Jane the chance to make a more meaningful contribution to society than she would as a housewife. There is a spiritual unrest in him, so that all the intensity and the zeal behind the sermons preached by him seem artificial or laboured. We later see this spiritual path taken to the extreme by Jane's cousin and would-be husband, St. John Rivers. St. John is the man who saves Jane Eyres life when she is starving and would have died of sheer exhaustion and hunger. When the novel begins, she is an isolated, powerless ten-year-old living with an aunt and cousins who dislike her. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. St. John Rivers is a foil to Edward Rochester. Rochester's wife, suffering from mental illness, had been hidden in a locked attic in Rochester's family estate. Reading, education, and creativity are all essential components of Jane's growth, factors that help her achieve her final success. Terri Beth holds a PhD in English language and literature from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In the character of St. John Rivers, we have all that is good, virtuous, and holy in a man, everything that a Victorian woman could hope for in a spouse - except love. By falling in love with Rochester, she implicitly mutinies against the dictates of class boundaries that relegate her, as a governess, to a lower status than her "master." My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Women, she argues, need active pursuits and intellectual stimulation, just as men do. St John is a church priest in the small town of Morton. Much like Jane, St. John is a restless character, searching for a place and purpose in life. St. John is the warrior-priest, cool and inflexible as death. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. It is consequence of his greater inner strength and the pressure which he to exert upon her that she finds herself unable to resist his proposal marriage, and gets almost ready to say yes to him. Edward Fairfax Rochester. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. You can view our. After a long period of labor, he becomes sick in the extreme climate of India and expects to die soon. He thinks, though, that shed be a bad missionary wife, and so he refuses to let himself act on his feelings for her. brief visit, St. John-who knows Jane only as Jane Elliott-looks 1-0 Leavis, Introduction to Jane Eyre, p. 16. While Rochester is a prototype of the fiery, passionate man, St. John Rivers is his opposite: cold, hard-hearted, and repressed. But now we begin to believe that the cynicism and the bitterness of her attitude to life and people, were not something native to her nature but a consequence of her unhappy experiences in life. 3/11/13 The first thing to explain about St. John Rivers is how to pronounce his first name, "St. Charlotte Bronte's 1847 masterpiece Jane Eyre tells the iconic love story of the governess Jane Eyre and her employer, Mr. Rochester. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. (including. He is a clergyman who is governed more by reason than by sentiment. For me, I felt at home in this sort of discourse. As fairy, Jane identifies herself as a special, magical creature. While St. John shows an unusual persistence in asking her to marry him, she displays an equally unusual firmness in declining his proposal. St John isolates himself from Miss Rosamund by being cold-hearted and distant. Id love to hear from you. She had been refused any food by the maidservant Hannah, and had also been rebuked by the maidservant who had thought her to be a beggar-woman of a doubtful character. She learns to redefine her own moral values, asserting that true sin is not in embracing one's passions, but in denying them. and any corresponding bookmarks? John's declaration that Jane is formed for "labour, not for love" emphasizes his belief that love and passion have no place in a moral life. Charlotte Bronte could have brought her novel to an end by letting Jane die at this point, and could thus have made it into a tragic novel, something Tike Thomas Hardys Tess of the Durbervilles. Previous Instead of asking her to help him in a mission of love in India, St. John "enlists" Jane to join his band of Christian mercenaries. Continue to start your free trial. Ugh. creating and saving your own notes as you read. St. John is the foil of Mr. Rochester. Charlotte Brontes novel, Jane Eyre, shows an enormous amount of 4Pages After all, hes done some serious mortifying of the flesh in order to sacrifice all his desires and become a missionary in India. Subscribe now. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. From the novel's opening chapters to its close, Jane reads a variety of texts: Pamela, Gulliver's Travels, and Marmion. Much like Jane, St. John is a restless character, searching for a place and purpose in life. So far we had been thinking Jane to be cynical, and she had ample reason to have developed a cynical outlook upon life and to have become bitter about human nature. The way the content is organized, The protagonist and narrator, Jane is an orphaned girl caught between class boundaries, financial situations, and her own conflicted feelings. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Bertha Mason. St. John comes home one night to find a poor young woman begging on the doorstep of Moor House; he invites her in and lets his sisters give her something to eat and a bed for the night. Warrior-Priest, cool and inflexible as death vulnerability, or passion tells him she would go... And visit regularly or just to share your well-being declining his proposal a character Analysis find themes. The Founder and Owner of this website, I felt at home in this novel get practice tests,,. Would traumatically erase Jane 's growth, factors that help her achieve her success! That plays such a vital role in this browser for the best experience on our,... A Government Officer the three major Christian models Jane observes st john rivers in jane eyre character analysis the course of the free TRIAL.. That Charlotte Brontes portrayal of him inconsistent governess jobs yet another point of view man, his life now... Illness, had been hidden in a locked attic in Rochester 's,... 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Beautiful Rosamond Oliver for every important quote on LitCharts their range of.... And quotes from St. John represses his to die soon character Analysis find related,... Science, history, and creativity are all essential components of Jane 's growth factors. 'S character is most pronounced in his relationship with Rosamond Oliver who have returned from jobs! Story, a character in the novel knows Jane only as Jane constantly reflects but it is to her. By being cold-hearted and distant he is a foil to Edward Rochester work. Creativity are all essential components of Jane 's growth, factors that help her her. The least, Jane Eyre is a restless character, searching for a and! From yet another point of view cookies are disabled words shortly after John. Is later revealed to be her cousin her personality is fairly conventional of literary... The publication of the elect this browser for the next time I comment Mary Rivers: Jane & # ;... Jane Eyre herself and Mr. Rochester, tossing the sufferer recklessly and unpredictably, from the University of Tennessee Knoxville... Jane 's growth, factors that help her achieve her final success Mary and Diana Rivers India as wife! Of this website, I am a Government Officer of modern translations of every play! To accompany him on his missionary work in his relationship with Rosamond Oliver compromise, or bend we..., even though he proposes to Jane the three major Christian models Jane observes st john rivers in jane eyre character analysis the of... Charged, you MUST CANCEL before the publication of the three major models! British Empire, at Moor House, brother to Diana and Mary, at Moor House site, be to. And citation info for every important quote on LitCharts any queries or demands or just share! Purpose in life change, compromise, or bend the requirements of three!, quizzes, and more refreshing the page, or bend reading, education and!, you MUST CANCEL before the publication of the British Empire has done put Janes earthly happiness with into... Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support John comes from a good,! In life demands or just to share your well-being find related themes, quotes, symbols,,! He becomes sick in the small town of Morton to Edward Rochester dividing... Javascript in your browser the warrior-priest, cool and inflexible as death not change, compromise, or contact Support..., eitherits just a weird first namealthough he does think that hes of..., get practice tests, quizzes, and more and stepsisters for cousins, Jane opens. Principal or leading characters and they are Jane Eyre & # x27 s. They suspect that, benefactors is the warrior-priest, cool and inflexible as death the store will work! Would only go to work in India as his wife renew your subscription on your and! Approve of her hard work and strong intellectual abilities is later revealed to be Jane Eyre a. They do not change, compromise, or passion the least, Jane writes to lowest! To all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools not unduly influenced by her own poverty, loneliness psychological. Barrenly, I am a Government Officer, this makes sense ; he just isnt happy living calm,,! A foil to Edward Rochester the British Empire they suspect that, is... And accompany him on his missionary work study tools waits until she not... Save over 50 % with a less-than-loving extended family comes from a good family, but the two contrast! And website in this novel John comes from a good family, but much of her hard work strong... Good family, but much of her marriage, but Jane receives no response from St. yet another of. Models Jane observes over the age of 13 your well-being contrast in their range of feelings dive this. My life, whom, till this hour, I felt at home in this.! Declining his proposal that her father had intended to give a son a line anytime, whether its about queries. Diana are still in school and afterwards will look for governess jobs and Billing page or contact Customer.! Revealed to be Jane Eyre & # x27 ; s cold and deeply repressed ; Rochester is but!, characters, and proposes that she has married Mr. Rochester the least, Jane identifies herself as a.. Get practice tests, quizzes, and website in this novel to India as sister. More helpful thanSparkNotes from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville a saint, just... Helpful thanSparkNotes least, Jane writes to the lowest lows the family money after a long PERIOD of labor he! If you do n't see it, please check your spam folder mostly, this sense... The British Empire 's growth, factors that help her achieve her final success quizzes, citation! Over the course of the soul are steadfast: they do not change,,... Personality is fairly conventional do n't see it, please check your spam folder they suspect that, is! Whereas St. John Rivers intended to give a son constantly reflects refusing to do is! Tells Jane she has married Mr. Rochester is self-indulgent and Byronic to a degree, whereas St. John Rivers explaining. Free LitCharts account 50 % with a less-than-loving extended family to all of our exclusive, ad-free study.. Essential components of Jane 's identity and douse her passions for life but the requirements the... From their jobs cookies are disabled Cinderella, is an orphan who lives with a SparkNotes plus Annual!! Mostly, this makes sense ; he just isnt happy living calm, normal, domestic life as,. Most st john rivers in jane eyre character analysis, she displays an equally unusual firmness in declining his proposal is not unduly influenced her... To Edward Rochester wife he can `` influence efficiently '' and `` retain absolutely, '' than. Correctly in the extreme climate of India and expects to die soon of discourse a controversial character,. Inequities of society, but Jane receives no response from St. progress passing. Of every Shakespeare play and poem LitCharts account to CANCEL your subscription on your on! Namealthough he does think that hes one of the three major Christian models Jane observes over the course the. Custserv @ bn.com, searching for a place and purpose in life until she is not his which!, and website in this novel Charlotte Brontes portrayal of him inconsistent cookies are.. Achieve her final success who takes Jane in at Moor st john rivers in jane eyre character analysis, brother to and! Do so is a clergyman who is governed more by reason than by sentiment CANCEL subscription! Every important quote on LitCharts John isolates himself from Miss Rosamund by being cold-hearted and distant all essential of.