The relationship between Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester in the novel Jane Eyre is like most romantic relationships of the 19th century where the the two participants are on unequal footing. Jane and Rochester’s relationship is characterized by idolatry throughout Charlotte Bronte’s novel, Jane Eyre. Whether Jane is idolizing Rochester, Rochester is idolizing Jane, or they are revering each other simultaneously their idolatrous tendencies are generally quite visible.The progression of their acts of idolatry dispute the assertion that this novel is inherently Christian. Although Jane’s childhood years are surrounded by Christianity she still develops the tendency to idolize objects of her affection. Jane can not tell the difference between loving …show more content…
After Rochester’s first marriage comes to light Vejvoda also suggests that Jane has to choose between her Protestant selfhood and her idol which forces her to “begin[s] to rely on God” (Vejvoda, 251). Finally, Jane turns to God in search of help. After exclaiming “God help me” (Bronte, 328), she proclaims “Not a human being that ever lived could wish to be loved better than I was loved; and him who thus loved me I absolutely worshipped: and I must renounce love and idol” (Bronte, 341). She has now turned back to God and continues to reject idolatry especially when she is in the company of St.John …show more content…
When Jane hears Rochester’s voice and decides to look for him despite the fact that she doesn’t know if Bertha Mason is dead her actions show that she is very willing to the mistress that Rochester wanted her to be in France. Her actions show the depth of their idolatrous relationship where for a brief moment Jane is willing to subject herself to immoral conduct just to be in Rochester’s presence. When Jane arrives at Ferndean, she finds her idol defaced and as a result, she doesn’t worship Rochester as much as she did before she left Thornfield. On the other hand, Rochester venerates Jane and worships her as a mythical creature who is gracious enough to take care of him. We learned that in his sorrow Rochester has prayed several times, but never really towards God. Kathleen Vejvoda asserts, “Even in his most heartfelt prayers, Rochester still turns ultimately not to God, but to Jane. His rhetoric is as violently possessive as before, further suggesting that he still clings to Jane as his idol: ‘My very soul demands you: it will be satisfied: or it will take deadly vengeance on its frame’ ”(Vejvoda, 255). Rochester cements Jane’s place as a God in his life and reveres her