Jane is accused by many of being too passionate. It is not however that she is too passionate, but that she behaves according to her nature that makes her strong. The one time that she ignores her instincts, she almost destroys herself.
'Conscience, turned tyrant, held Passion by the throat. ' Discuss. The topic regarding whether Jane is too passionate or whether she merely follows her nature is quite controversial. From my point of view she is not almost destroyed by ignoring her instincts, but rather strengthened internally.If I may, I would bring faith into it, by commenting that the mature Jane is only willing to behave according to her nature, if her nature is aligned with her religion.
By leaving the man she loves, Jane acts in accordance with her faith, ultimately leaving her conscience free of the torment she would have faced should she have obeyed Mr Rochester. In obeying her conscience, she allows what one could call the will of God to guide her to a place where she is independent of others and their emotions, rather perhaps on her new life as a teacher.Some may criticise Ms Bronte for being unrealistic, fanciful in supposing it possible that Jane should arrive at the very house her cousins were living in, and for St John to guess her real identity. Others such as myself would then point out that Ms Bronte was just as religious as she was imaginative, and wrote of Jane as though the hand of God was guiding her through her ventures.
If it is correct that she is guided by Providence then it should be quite clear that Providence would not wish to destroy her.Jane herself expresses this: 'Yes; I felt now that I was right when I adhered to principle and law, and scorned and crushed the insane promptings of a frenzied moment. God directed me to a correct choice: I thank His Providence for the guidance. ' So is she too passionate? No, I think not. Jane has the balance needed to ensure her success in life.
She balances her faith, passion, duty and love, and practises them, not particularly in that order.She was quick to visit her sick, dying aunt, in spite of the latter's almost exclusively cruel treatment towards Jane, rather than stay in an environment she thrived on, showing that Jane felt her duty was as important as anything else in her hemisphere. Ultimately Jane finds herself through denying herself, and proves that one can choose to follow or ignore passion, although it will never be fully stifled. By returning to Mr Rochester she shows her love for him was constant, not merely the result of a momentary infatuation or any other such arguments one could use.
