Passion versus reason

The novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë has the balance between passion and reason as one of its central themes. 

Jane is a naturally passionate person, but as a child, she is constantly punished for her passionate outbursts and lack of self-control. As she develops throughout the novel, Jane learns the importance of controlling her feelings and trusting reason, instead of acting on impulse. At Lowood, Jane learns from Helen the importance of enduring hardships with grace. Though Jane does not agree with Helen’s completely passive approach to injustice, Helen’s presence gives Jane strength and allows her to start her journey towards finding a balance between her feelings and her judgment. 

 Throughout her experiences, Jane is warned of the dangers of lettin...