Morals And Psychological Aspects In Jane Eyre

Essay, Research Paper

Morals And Psychological Aspects in Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre takes the idea of a fairy tale a step further by adding psychological

aspects to the story.

Jane did the right thing in regards to marrying Mr. Rochester because “what is

[considered] morally wrong cannot be psychologically right.” In other words, Jane’s

moral values told her what Mr. Rochester had done wrong. Because of this she cannot

“psychologically” go along with it as if nothing was wrong. Psyche and morals both are

products of the mind. The mind may consider both options, but it ultimately will choose

the option which adheres to its moral foundation.

Jane’s morals include honesty, justice, and friendship. Her past experiences

strongly support this moral foundation. As a child she was constantly accused of being

dishonest. Mrs. Reed even informed Mr. Brocklehurst that she was deceitful when she

met with him before sending her off to school. She tells him that he should “keep a strict

eye on her, and, above all, guard against her worst fault, a tendency to deceit.” This both

infuriated and crushed Jane. She through experiences such as these came to hate the idea

of deceit along with anyone who practiced it. In addition, Jane never saw justice. No

matter how obvious it was that John or one of his sisters were at fault Jane was always

blamed.

By looking at Jane’s moral values it becomes apparent what Rochester has, in

Jane’s eyes, done wrong. He was deceitful in many ways. For one, he didn’t tell Jane that

he was already married when he asked her to marry him. Big mistake! He also

pretended that he was in love with and going to marry Blanche Ingram so that he could

make Jane jealous.

Even though Jane loves Mr. Rochester she cannot go against her morals; her

beliefs. Moral and psyche are one in the conscience. Jane may have been mentally weak

in resisting the impulse to marry Mr. Rochester after she found out the truth, but she still

“[kept] the law given by God; sanctioned by man.” She realized that she must uphold

“the principles received by [her] when [she] was sane, and not mad.” From this

perspective Jane did the “right thing.”