impractical; my time and cares were now required by another – my husband needed them all.” Jane becomes the guiding light and support of her family. She now takes care of Rochester’s needs and truly becomes his angel. She no longer works in the care of others; instead, all her time and efforts are spent on her husband, which is the middle-class role of the angel in the house.Jane began her education in rationality thereby taming her rebellious spirit with Miss Temple at Lowood School. Jane’s teacher’s name is especially significant because she represents all the angelic piety and peace of mind that Jane would like to possess. She is the ideal model of the angel of the house or of the guiding inspirational light of her family (in this case, a family of girls). Jane also learns from Miss Temple that a woman eventually needs a husband in order to fulfill the role of the angel in the house. For instance, Jane states, “destiny, in the shape of Rev. Mr. Nasmyth, came between me and Miss Temple” . Miss Temple’s marriage is significant because this is what ends her relationship with Jane.The angel in the house not only acts in the domestic sphere, but she functions in the spiritual as well. She becomes elevated almost to the level of an icon, like a Mary figure to worship. Due to the fact that religion cannot necessarily be counted on to support people in times of need, many transferred these religious feelings onto other objects. Many men chose to direct this worship onto women. Thus, in one sense, the woman became the man’s ideal to love and worship. This form of love is the kind Rochester develops for Jane, and she fulfills it by symbolically redeeming twice in the novel. The first time occurs when she agrees to marry him. Rochester declares, “Ten years since, I flew through Europe half-mad: with disgust, hate, and rage as my companions; now I shall visit it healed ...
