In this week's episode of The Female Stoic Podcast:

In Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, Jane's refusal to compromise her values, such as her decision not to become Rochester's mistress, is a prime example of Stoic virtue and self-respect. She believes in her own "inward treasure" and maintains dignity and self-respect even when facing social disapproval or personal hardship.

 The novel shows Jane striving for emotional balance, a core tenet of Stoicism. Her famous letter to Rochester demonstrates this, where she argues for a love that is "freely given" and based on reason, not passion alone. She asserts that true love should not make one a slave to another and that she will face the future with "dignity and without complaint" regardless of the circumstances.

Jane's drive for financial and emotional independence is another parallel to Stoicism, as it represents a desire for self-sufficiency and freedom from external control. By the end of the novel, she has acquired wealth and is her "own mistress," a status that allows her to return to Rochester on equal footing and assert her autonomy.

Jane is shown to be a character who prioritizes virtue and morality over fleeting emotions or desires, a concept that was culturally ingrained in 19th-century Britain, influenced in part by Stoic thought. Her rejection of both Rochester's unethical proposal and St. John's loveless one shows her commitment to a virtuous path, even when it means facing hardship. 

Music by Jean-Miles Carter

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