St. John Rivers, Character Analysis
St. John Rivers is an odd character to say the least. He is a priest in a local church and he goes out to consult the sick and poor. This is something that many priests and monks did in St. John's day. However St. John also seems attached to his power and authority. St. John wants Jane to join him on his trip to India. This is normal, however he refused to allow her to accompany him as anything less than his wife. St. John has had other instances of power play with Jane and his sisters. When Jane forbids him from leaving her house until he answers her questions, St. John turns uneasy and seems to loose control of his demeanor.
My belief is that St. John loves to control people in any way he can. When he is studying Hindustani St. John demands that Jane stop her current studies in German and join him. He manages to get is sisters to attend to other parts of the country so he can have time to wear Jane down as she teaches at his school. Her position over her, and the phrasing he uses to address her is particularly showing in this manner. St. John does not want a wife and a fellow worker on his travails, he merely wants someone to have ensured power over who can not run away from him.
My belief is that St. John loves to control people in any way he can. When he is studying Hindustani St. John demands that Jane stop her current studies in German and join him. He manages to get is sisters to attend to other parts of the country so he can have time to wear Jane down as she teaches at his school. Her position over her, and the phrasing he uses to address her is particularly showing in this manner. St. John does not want a wife and a fellow worker on his travails, he merely wants someone to have ensured power over who can not run away from him.