Religion Flashcards
(7 cards)
What does the expectation that a governess be responsible for religious education reveal about the intersection of social roles and religious values in Victorian society?
This expectation highlights the significant role of religion in Victorian life and the responsibility placed on women, particularly governesses, to instill moral and religious principles in the next generation. It underscores the belief that religious instruction was integral to proper upbringing and social order, and that employers sought governesses who could uphold their specific religious beliefs.
How does the character of Mr. Brocklehurst serve as a critique of religious hypocrisy and the misuse of faith for control in Victorian society?
Brocklehurst embodies the hypocrisy that Brontë critiques. His stark contrast between his austere preaching of Christian humility and his own luxurious lifestyle exposes the corruption and self-serving nature of some religious figures. His use of religion to enforce harsh discipline and publicly humiliate Jane demonstrates how faith could be twisted into a tool of oppression and social control
Analyze Helen Burns’ character as an embodiment of Christian ideals and how her passive acceptance of suffering contrasts with Jane’s more assertive nature.
Helen represents the Christian virtues of patience, humility, and forgiveness, offering Jane a model of passive acceptance of injustice as God’s will. Her Christ-like death reinforces this image of saintly suffering. However, her passive faith serves as a foil to Jane’s strong sense of justice and her refusal to accept mistreatment, highlighting different responses to hardship within a religious framework.
How does Jane’s crisis of faith in Chapter 28, following her desolation, demonstrate a potential pathway to spiritual reliance in times of extreme hardship?
Jane’s utter despair and vulnerability after leaving Rochester lead her to a moment of profound reliance on divine will. This mirrors biblical narratives of suffering leading to spiritual awakening or salvation, suggesting that in the absence of human support, faith can provide solace and a sense of higher purpose.
Contrast the religious devotion of St. John Rivers with Rochester’s focus on human passion, and analyze St. John’s rejection of love in favor of religious duty.
St. John represents a starkly different form of religious devotion compared to Rochester’s passionate nature. St. John prioritizes self-denial and religious duty above human love, even choosing to forgo a relationship with Rosamond Oliver. Brontë presents this as an extreme form of self-sacrifice, which Jane perceives as a kind of “death” to personal happiness.
Explore the internal conflict Jane experiences regarding St. John’s marriage proposal and how her ultimate decision reflects Brontë’s perspective on the relationship between duty, passion, and faith.
Jane grapples with the conflict between respecting St. John’s devotion and recognizing that marrying him without love would lead to her emotional and spiritual demise. Her rejection of his proposal affirms Brontë’s apparent belief that true faith should not necessitate the suppression of genuine human connection and personal fulfillment. Jane’s choice suggests a preference for a balanced spirituality that accommodates both love and devotion.
How does Brontë’s portrayal of various religious figures and Jane’s own spiritual journey offer a critique of extreme religious austerity and advocate for a more balanced faith?
Through the contrasting characters of Brocklehurst (hypocritical oppression), Helen (passive acceptance), and St. John (self-denying duty), Brontë critiques rigid and joyless interpretations of Christianity. Jane’s eventual embrace of a faith that allows for personal freedom, love, and moral integrity suggests Brontë’s advocacy for a more balanced spirituality that values both devotion and individual happiness, rejecting the sacrifice of one for the other.
