Explore How Bronte Presents the Relationship Between Rosamond Oliver and St John.

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The novel ‘Jane Eyre’ is a first person narration, written from the viewpoint of the eponymous heroine Jane, as she looks back on her life. In these two extracts (Chapter 31 and 32) Jane is recounting the exchanges between two other characters, St John and Rosamond Oliver, and describes how their feelings for one another develop. Before we are even introduced to Rosamond Oliver, we experience, in retrospect, the feelings St John has for her. Whilst discussing with Mr Oliver St John’s career choice we are given an insight into the ‘workings of inclination and turn the bent of nature.’ It is not obvious at this present moment that St John is speaking figuratively of Miss Oliver. Bronte uses multiple biblical references in order to portray St John’s strong faith whilst maintaining the topic of conversation which, unaware to Mr Oliver, concerns his daughter. ‘We neither starve from inanition nor stand still in despair: we have but to seek another nourishment for the mind, as strong as the forbidden food it longed to taste.’ The ‘forbidden food’ is in reference to the Apple tree in the Garden of Eden that was poisoned by Satan who was disguised as a serpent. This Biblical reference is effective in allowing the reader to understand, subconsciously, how this ‘inclination’ is so strong to St John, the power of this love St John feels towards the unbeknown Miss Oliver, has the same strength as the Forbidden fruits in the Garden of Eden. This also maintains St John’s character that is of course destined by his own accord to be a missionary, yet he is humanised as he is confessing to the reader that he himself, although a strong religious believer, has the same needs and lusts as everyone else and even he at times cannot repress his feelings. When the reader is first introduced to Miss Oliver it is clear that she carries an aura with her, Jane herself recognises her obvious

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