Jane Eyre Sanity/Insanity

347 Words2 Pages
“Sanity” took the form of - Social conform and compliance to society. Insanity or madness was considered - Independent, strong, forward, and radical thinking - Passion a patented mark of an unstable mentality, along with any other notions of extroverted sensuality A bleatingly obvious example of insanity is Bertha, yet other characters too suffer from an unstable mentality: St John though conventional walks a fine line between normality and indifference. His absolute abiding devotion to his faith begs Jane to question if his “wits were touched”. As “if he [was] insane, [he] was a very cool and collected insanity” his questionable intense devotion begs Jane to think his motives are an attempt to escape society; in which itself is an act of madness. Instability of mental health is juxtaposed against Jane. Where she exhibits few sexual cues and is almost presented androgynous. Purity is a common adjective repeatedly used to convey and emphasize Jane’s unblemished virginity. Quite the converse of passion (which is an unstable mind), Jane is pure and thus mentally stable. This appeals to Mr Rochester, noting “And it is you, spirit--with will and energy, and virtue and purity--that I want…”. He also makes continual reference to her “sense” which highlights her solid mentality as it infers she has the ability to cognitively and intellectually comprehend situations around her. I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad—as I am now. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation. . . . They have a worth—so I have always believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insane—quite insane: with my veins running fire, and my heart beating faster than I can count its throbs.” Jane concedes that she will not allow her “mad[ness]—as [she is] now” to control her, To overcome her sense that
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