Why Wealth and Status Dont Play a Key Role in Jane and Mr. Rochesters Relationship :: Jane Eyre Wealth Social Status Essays

Why Wealth and Status Don't Play a Key Role in Jane and Mr. Rochester's Relationship "My bride is here because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?" When one talks about marriage in the Victorian society, wealth and status is first considered. Love comes last or, more often, it is never considered. In the novel Jane Eyre, the relationship between Mr. Rochester and Jane is quite different. This is clearly shown when Blanche Ingram changes her mind about marrying Mr. Rochester, preparations for Jane's abortive first marriage, their attraction for each other without the presence of money, and when Jane inherits money and she makes a surprising move. The importance of wealth and status in Victorian marriage is immense. In Victorian England parents made their girls marry men from similar wealth and position. If a woman did marry purely for love and not for wealth she risked a life of poverty, homelessness, and hunger. This factor can also be seen in Jane Eyre, because Jane's mother was married to a poor clergyman against the will of her father. She married purely for love and therefore risked a life of being poor. This was almost a punishment for Jane's mother as she married against her father's will and only married for love. Wealth and status is also important in the novel Jane Eyre, although they are important in different aspects of the novel and important to different people. There are two opposing views. Blanche Ingram, a very spiteful character is going to marry Mr. Rochester because of his wealth but when she is called to the gypsy to find out her future, she "finds out" that he is not as rich as he seems and therefore cancels all plans to marry him. "She (Blanche) considers the Rochester estate eligible to the last degree; though I told her something on that point about an hour ago which made her look wondrous grave".1 However there is another view to the importance of wealth and status. Jane Eyre, the main character says, "Were I a gentleman like him, I would take to my bosom only such a wife as I could love".2 Money and status are not important to her. In her opinion marriage should not be an act of convenience. During the preparations for Jane's abortive first marriage, Mr. Rochester wants to buy Jane expensive items e.g. clothes and jewels. Jane has no intention of buying expensive jewels and clothes, as they are not important to her. She says, "Oh, sir! - never mind jewels! I don't like to hear them spoken of. Jewels for Jane Eyre sound