A Comparison of God and Religion in Jane Eyre and Wide...

God and Religion in Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea Jane Eyre, from Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre, and Antoinette Mason, from Jean Rhys Wide Sargasso Sea, both depict very different creeds. While Bronte created Jane with a Christian background, Rhys has birthed Antoinette into a more primitive, confused faith. Analyzing each writers description of the red room will reveal the religious nature of their characters. In both texts, the rooms are symbolic of church. As Jane is sent to the bedroom of her dead uncle, Bronte relates it to a place of worship. A bed supported on massive pillars of mahogany, hung with curtains of deep red damask, stood out like a tabernacle in the center. Due to the vast size and illustrious beauty†¦show more content†¦However, she did recognize the room as a church. I looked around for the altar for with so many candles and so much red, the room reminded me of a church. Rhys vocalizes through Antoinette that the room was like a church without an altar. Void of a sanctuary, the room is in essence, void of God. Despite her want of God, Antoinette has no Divine guidance as she remains in the altar-less room. Rhys has created this room in Antoinettes dream ergo she has control over Antoinettes religious state. Due to this circumstance, Antoinette will never remember God because Rhys will never allow her to dream of Him. Heaven is exemplified in both books. Out of these deep surrounding shades rose high, and glared white, the piled up mattresses and pillows of the bed, spread with a snowy Marseilles counterpane. With this image of white pillows and mattresses floating up in the red room, clouds in the celestial skies are represented. Bronte has brought to Jane a church, a tabernacle, Gods throne, and now heaven. Since Bronte has deluged Jane with all of these pious suggestions, she has adumbrated Janes religious associations. No doubt Jane believes in God; Bronte has assured the readers by making His omnipresence known through the images in the room and allowing Jane to accept them. On the other hand, Rhys makes Antoinette out to be a skeptic. I lit them [candles] carefully from the one I was carrying but I couldnt reach