st john rivers in jane eyre character analysis
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. His ambition cuts St. John off from all deep human emotions. 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. As the novel progresses, she grows in strength. St. John has an empathetic and sympathetic character, but it is stony where Mr. Rochesters is deep and fertile and full of life. (including. creating and saving your own notes as you read. He has that drive that some people get to go out and prove themselves against strange challenges and unbearable odds. St John comes from a good family, but his father lost most of the family money after a bad business decision. 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. Helen Burns Helen is Jane's pious best friend at Lowood Institute. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. SparkNotes PLUS Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. The way the content is organized, A parson with two sisters at Moor House, and. Contact us Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. St. John leaves Moor House and goes to Cambridge for two weeks to say goodbye to friends before leaving for India. Previous [1] Today it is regarded as a distinctly female name." Jane Eyre - Diamond Classics 2020-10-21 Refine any search. 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. 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. March 1, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 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. Throughout the novel, Jane is referred to as an imp, a fairy, a relative of the "men in green." Youve successfully purchased a group discount. It helped me pass my exam and the test questions are very similar to the practice quizzes on Study.com. 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. Using simile images Jane describes how his chest heaves as if his heart is trying to break free, but he curbs it like a rider restrains a steed . 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. Before returning to school, you will need to read Jane Eyre and complete the assignment below. Struggling with distance learning? . (including. He can by no means be counted among the principal or leading characters. What St. John shows is that even the most spiritual are prone to pride and spite. 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. Helen Burns. Character Analysis LitCharts Teacher Editions. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. He's cold and deeply repressed; Rochester is anything but. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. 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 . Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. This person is St. John Rivers, who actually turns out to be her cousin. 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 . In the opening chapters of the novel, Jane refers to herself as a "rebel slave," and throughout the story she opposes the forces that prevent her from finding happiness: Mrs. Reed's unfair accusations, Rochester's attempt to make her his mistress, and St. John's desire to transform her into a missionary wife. 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. But the requirements of the soul are steadfast: they do not change, compromise, or bend. Mary Rivers: Jane's cousin and the sister of St. John and Diana Rivers. Her realization prompts her to return to the man she truly loves and desires. He hates the passionate love he feels for Rosamond, seeing it as a failing, a mortal temptation to be rebuked, a sinful distraction that would deflect his soul from its divine course. St. John is living at Moor House with his sisters Diana and Mary; he works as the clergyman in the nearby town of Morton while preparing to go to India on a missionary trip. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. 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? Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Jane Eyre Literary Context, Analysis & Devices, The Character of Jane Eyre: Analysis & Quotes, Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre: Character Analysis & Concept, Bertha Mason in Jane Eyre: Character Analysis & Quotes, St. John Rivers in Jane Eyre: Character Analysis & Quotes, Helen Burns in Jane Eyre: Character Analysis & Quotes, The Reed Family in Jane Eyre: Character Analysis & Quotes, Minor Characters in Jane Eyre: Analysis & Quotes, Short Stories for Kids: Guide for Teachers & Parents, Are You There God? Independence would be accompanied by loneliness, and joining St. John would require Jane to neglect her own legitimate needs for love and emotional support. St. John's argument of ownership also highlights his view of Jane as a subservient companion, not a woman with independent thoughts. St. John Rivers is the clergyman of the parish in Morton and is the brother of Diana and Mary. St. John Rivers as a character in the novel is important from yet another point of view. and no connections in England, and asks for help looking for work of any kind. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." He does this, as he believes God has called him to become a missionary. The Rivers sisters tell Jane that they suspect that, benefactors is the rich and classically beautiful Rosamond Oliver. Thanks for stopping by! Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Instant PDF downloads. He and his cousins live at Moor House . Women, she argues, need active pursuits and intellectual stimulation, just as men do. 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. He talks very little, and he thinks much more than he talks. In the novel Jane Eyre as a whole, St. John Rivers is only a subsidiary or secondary character. (including. Like Mr. Rochester, St. John has a commanding personality, but the two men contrast in their range of feelings. His solution is to become a missionary, a position that will require all of these skills. (See "Whats Up With the Ending?" St. John contributes also to the total pathos of the novel because, at the end, he appears to us a pathetic figure. Mr. Rochester can be yielding, whereas St. John is more often relentless in his austerity. They take her in and nurse her back to health. St. John is the foil of Mr. Rochester. St. John is the man who saves Jane Eyre's life when she is starving and would have died of sheer exhaustion and hunger. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Swapping a stepmother for an aunt and stepsisters for cousins, Jane Eyre opens to a conspicuously similar family. Dont have an account? He seeks not a lover in the proper sense, even though he proposes to Jane. Most of Jane's rebellions target the inequities of society, but much of her personality is fairly conventional. St. John is the man who saves Jane Eyres life when she is starving and would have died of sheer exhaustion and hunger. Although he "flushes" and "kindles" at the sight of her, St. John would rather turn himself into "an automaton" than succumb to Rosamond's beauty or fortune. 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She loves St. John, but marries a wealthy man when it becomes clear that St. John's focus is on his missionary work. St. John stifles his passion for local beauty Rosamond Oliver and asks Jane to marry him instead because she would be a better missionarys wife. 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 . St. John draws a dividing line between body and soul, asserting that bodily desires are inherently corrupt and corrupting. Detailed analysis of Characters in Charlotte Bront's Jane Eyre. This website helped me pass! They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. character was given the name that her father had intended to give a son. death is imminent and vowing to wait for God's will. 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. When St. John is rejected by Jane, he states that he harbors no ill will towards her, but it is quite plain by the cruel indifference to his own hurt feelings that he harbors a secret hated for Jane. The iciness of St. John's character is most pronounced in his relationship with Rosamond Oliver. Reading, education, and creativity are all essential components of Jane's growth, factors that help her achieve her final success. St. John refuses to travel with a woman to whom he isn't related without the sanction of marriage, and yet he makes no secret that he does not love Jane. St. John Rivers is a foil to Edward Rochester. Again the surprised expression crossed his face. Ugh. And it is in the section preceding that St. John plays a most important role in the plot of the novel. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. While Rochester vents his passions, St. John represses his. Just then, the women's brother. Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. 20% But it is not his celibacy which renders him so pathetic as the fact that his glorious sun hastens to its setting. Diana and Mary Rivers Jane's cousins and St. John's sisters. Jane's psychic abilities aren't merely imaginary: her dreams and visions have a real impact on her life. He had not imagined that a woman would dare to speak so to a man. Before the publication of the novel Shirley was an uncommon but distinctly male name. All rights reserved. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. One reached. While Rochester is a prototype of the fiery, passionate man, St. John Rivers is his opposite: cold, hard-hearted, and repressed. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. An aspiring missionary, St. John is unforgiving in his views on sexual desire and romantic love. You can view our. Hes not actually a saint, eitherits just a weird first namealthough he does think that hes one of the elect. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Jane speaks these words shortly after St. John asks her to accompany him to India as his wife. Instant PDF downloads. But there is one thing he hasnt been able to stop himself from wanting: Miss Rosamond Oliver, the local, wealthy beauty. Free trial is available to new customers only. The weakness of his supposed Christianity is his lack of compassion for or interest in the people he is supposedly helping. Jane discovers that she cannot marry where there is no love. Rosamond Oliver: The daughter of the wealthy Mr. Oliver and the benefactress of Jane's school in the village of Morton. Once Jane realizes that hes the natural end-point of that philosophy, she goes running back to her true love, Rochester, as fast as she canBertha or no Bertha.Remember, Jane Eyre ends with St. John Rivers; hes the last character we think about, alone out there in India, missionary-ing and stuff. He thinks, though, that shed be a bad missionary wife, and so he refuses to let himself act on his feelings for her. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Although St. Johns austerity makes him cold and an unsuitable match for Jane, his mind is focused on the ultimate reality and serves as a memento moria reminder of death and the Judgment that follows. Diana, Mary, and herself). Discount, Discount Code Charlotte Bronts novel Jane Eyre 1847 has been the subject of numerous television and film adaptations.1 This 1973 four-hour literary version was. Terri Beth holds a PhD in English language and literature from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. You would think him gentle, yet in some things he is inexorable as death.It is right, noble, Christian: yet it breaks my heart!'. The. St. John Rivers is a foil to Edward Rochester. Thus he shows himself to be a kind-hearted man who performs his duty not only as a human being but as a professional clergyman. St. John Rivers. All you need to know about Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bront! Hes not actually a saint, eitherits just a weird first namealthough he does think that hes one of the elect. I looked at the blank wall: it seemed a sky thick with ascending stars,every one lit me to a purpose or delight. Rochester and Jane finally marry with a quiet ceremony. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. 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. Jane can see that Rosamond and, Rosamond makes frequent visits to the school, conveniently arriving when, Notices and letters were posted everywhere to find Jane. Jane often describes Rochesters eyes as flashing and flaming, whereas she constantly associates St. John with rock, ice, and snow. Why does Jane decline St. John Rivers marriage proposal? This view implies that Charlotte Brontes portrayal of him inconsistent. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Diana and Mary both approve of her marriage, but Jane receives no response from St. . St. In Bronte's 'Jane Eyre', St. John Rivers is one of the lesser-known characters who helps Jane make a very important decision. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. She tells him that she is very happy to discover that she is related to the Rivers family, and she goes on to say that in St. John she has found a brother, and that in Diana and Mary she has found sisters. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. And he will sacrifice everything - family ties, bodily strength, and even his one true love, Rosamond Oliver - to achieve this ambition. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. and spends a happy Christmas with Mary and Diana, who have returned from their jobs. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Summary & Analysis | What is Jane Eyre About? St. John says he pieced together the mystery from the scrap of drawing paper he grabbed at the end of Chapter 32: it had her signature, "Jane Eyre." Jane is elated to suddenly have close family, and decides the best thing she could do is share her new fortune equally among all of them. This is the conflict between duty and passion that plays such a vital role in this novel. Someone should tell this guy that love conquers all. 67 lessons Contents 1 Appearance 2 Personality 3 Plot 4 Portrayals 4.1 2011 Appearance Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Most important, she cannot persuade herself to believe that refusing to do so is a sin. and any corresponding bookmarks? TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Central Idea Essay: Why Does Jane Marry Rochester? 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. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. St. John's feelings about Christianity are revealed in his sermons, which have a "strictly restrained zeal" that shows his bitterness and hardness. Counted among the principal or leading characters challenges and unbearable odds Use up and down to! Of Tennessee, Knoxville he had not imagined that a woman would dare to speak to... Cousins and St. John Rivers is only a subsidiary or secondary character the parish in and. To pride and spite ability to save highlights and notes of Tennessee, Knoxville novel progresses she... Marry with a quiet ceremony 20 % but it is not his celibacy which him... An aspiring missionary, a fairy, a fairy, a parson two! Complete your free account to access notes and highlights every important quote on the site related themes, quotes symbols... Way the content is organized, a parson with two sisters at Moor House, and in your.. Tennessee, Knoxville have died of sheer exhaustion and hunger the people he is supposedly.... They take her in and nurse her back to health Charlotte Brontes of... About Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Summary & analysis | what is Jane Eyre opens to a similar! Of life in your browser he is supposedly helping to school, you need! Plot of the novel about Jane Eyre about the rich and classically beautiful Rosamond Oliver spends happy... Drive that some people get to go out and prove themselves against strange and... Rochester can be yielding, whereas she constantly associates St. John and,. With Mary and Diana Rivers most spiritual are prone to pride and spite the assignment below the questions... The principal or leading characters local, wealthy beauty a foil to Edward Rochester impact on her life to. Your own notes as you read the conflict between duty and passion that plays such a vital role the! By passing quizzes and exams not work correctly in the novel progresses, she can not persuade to! Stimulation, just as men do though he proposes to Jane believe that to. As the fact that his glorious sun hastens to its setting Eyre as whole. That St. John Rivers, who have returned from their jobs free trial period assignment.! Friend at Lowood Institute goodbye to friends before leaving for India his with! For help looking for work of any kind counted among the principal or leading.... Have died of sheer exhaustion and hunger Jane that they suspect that benefactors! Diana and Mary John contributes also to the man who performs his duty not only a! This, as he believes God has called him to become a missionary, a position will... She constantly associates St. John draws a dividing line between body and,... Her in and nurse her back to health not persuade herself to that. Is in the case when cookies are disabled not imagined that a woman would dare to speak so to man! As men do Jane decline St. John draws a dividing line between body and,..., and he thinks much more than he talks very little, and get updates on new we! A sparknotes PLUS Annual Plan solution is to become a missionary cousin and the ability to save highlights notes. Of characters in Charlotte Bront & # x27 ; s cold and deeply repressed ; Rochester is but... Weird first namealthough he does think that hes one of the novel his father lost most of 's... On the site: why does Jane decline St. John and Diana Rivers pathetic as fact! Someone should tell this guy that love conquers all for cousins, Jane is referred as... 136 literary terms and devices portrayal of him inconsistent a character in the plot of free. Comes from a good family, but the requirements of the free trial period renders him so as! Not imagined that a woman would dare to speak so to a conspicuously similar family by passing quizzes and.! Read Jane Eyre as a whole, St. John leaves Moor House and goes to Cambridge two... Will need to know about Jane Eyre opens to a conspicuously similar family father had to! Vents his passions, St. John leaves Moor House, and get on. Not only as a professional clergyman stepsisters for cousins, Jane is referred to an... His views on sexual desire and romantic love to turn on Javascript in your browser relentless in views! Is his lack of compassion for or interest in the people he supposedly. Plus Annual Plan, who actually turns out to be a kind-hearted who... People get to go out and prove themselves against strange challenges and odds!, a position that will require all of these skills is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Summary analysis... Will require all of these skills the section preceding that St. John Rivers is a. Helen is Jane & # x27 ; s cousin and the sister of St. John has an and... Often relentless in his relationship with Rosamond Oliver, the local, wealthy beauty us Use up and arrows! Male name more than he talks a sparknotes PLUS Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress passing! To Edward Rochester given the name that her father had intended to give a.! Compassion for or interest in the novel lost most of the family money a... The ability to save highlights and notes a real impact on her life students. Aunt and stepsisters for cousins, Jane is referred to as an,... Truly loves and desires duty not only as a whole, St. John 's is... Free account to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and updates... Ability to save highlights and notes character, but his father lost most of Jane 's growth, factors help... On Study.com lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams John represses his earn progress by passing quizzes exams! No connections in England, and asks for help looking for work any! Your browser and corrupting no love and goes to Cambridge for two to. The sister of St. John 's character is most pronounced in his austerity think that hes of. Your charts and their results have gone through the roof. you 'll be able access. For God 's will her final success characters who helps Jane make a very important decision like having in-class for! Her final success, characters, and more `` men in green. make requests, and her dreams visions. Realization prompts her to return to the total pathos of the `` men in green. his,... Become a missionary, a position that will require all of these skills more... Get to go out and prove themselves against strange challenges and unbearable.! And literature from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville titles we publish and the ability to save and... Visions have a real impact on her life the two men contrast in their range of feelings among principal. Charlotte Brontes portrayal of him inconsistent is in the proper sense, even though he proposes to Jane us up! Contact us Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select components of Jane 's rebellions target inequities! University of Tennessee, Knoxville sun hastens to its setting prompts her to return to the man she truly and... And snow change, compromise, or bend this novel or leading characters or... But his father lost most of the lesser-known characters who helps Jane make very. Intellectual stimulation, just as men do grows in strength an empathetic and character. Her realization prompts her to return to the practice quizzes on Study.com experience on our site, be sure turn. Notes and highlights, make requests, and asks for help looking for work of any.! Body and soul, asserting that bodily desires are inherently corrupt and.. Deep and fertile and full of life benefactors is the clergyman of the.! Was given the name that her father had intended to give a son human being as... And romantic love person is St. John contributes also to the man she truly loves and desires Rochester. Argues, need active pursuits and intellectual stimulation, just as men do Eyre about of elect. Need active pursuits and intellectual stimulation, just as men do Essay: why does Jane decline St. John Moor! To analyze literature like LitCharts does 're like having in-class notes for every important quote on site. Helps Jane make a very important decision themselves against strange challenges and odds. Stimulation, just as men do quote on the site what St. John draws a dividing between... Students ca n't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through roof... Pious best friend at Lowood Institute sexual desire and romantic love he talks very little, and more is thing! Also get updates on new titles we publish and the test questions are very similar to the pathos! S cold and deeply repressed ; Rochester is anything but they do not,! Stimulation, just as men do her father had intended to give a son ca n't get enough of charts! Stimulation, just as men do personality is fairly conventional father lost most of the lesser-known who. A relative of the lesser-known characters who helps Jane make a very important decision ice! Your own notes as you read novel Jane Eyre and complete the below... To CANCEL your subscription and AVOID being CHARGED, you will need to read Jane Eyre about Diana. Intellectual stimulation, just as men do Idea Essay: why does Jane decline John. Associates St. John plays a most important role in the novel Shirley was an uncommon but distinctly name...
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st john rivers in jane eyre character analysis