Restrictions Based on Social Class

At the time of Bronte’s writing, there was no such thing as marrying “up.” Every individual was born into a certain social strata and was expected to marry someone of the same level when the time was right. Often, true love was not a driving factor in this, because society determined that outward appearances were more important. Nowhere is this more apparent than through the fact that Jane feels as though she cannot marry Mr. Rochester because she was not born into circumstance. Her social status holds her back – it keeps her from being happy simply because she thinks and is told that she cannot be. And despite this, Rochester wants to marry her anyway. This seems to be the point that Bronte is making throughout the novel with Jane and Rochester’s relationship: true love will conquer all, no matter what society may think or dictate to the contrary.