Jane Eyre has deep roots when looking at Cambridge. In the novel, Cambridge has a major role in St. John River's life. Cambridge is not a major setting in the novel but connects to his religious goals. In chapter 34, St. John tells Jane, "To-morrow I leave home for Cambridge: I have many friends there to whom I should wish to say farewell” (Brontë 34). He is preparing to leave England and begin his missionary work in India. Cambridge represents the world that St. John belongs to, which is focused on religion and duty. This is very different from what Jane wants for her life. In Chapter 35, St. John tells Jane that he will "return from Cambridge in a fortnight” (Brontë 35), and gives her time to decide whether she will marry him and go to India for is missions work. This makes Cambridge important because St. John's trip gives Jane time to think about his proposal. St. John want to marry Jane but Jane wants to marry for love, not just for use. This becomes a major part of the novel because while St. John is preparing for India, Jane hears Rochester's voice calling her back to him (Brontë 35). The connection Jane Eyre has with Cambridge is also seen in Chapter 38 when Jane says, "I wrote to Moor House and to Cambridge immediately, to say what I had done” (Brontë 38). By this point in the novel, Jane has married Rochester and chosen the life that she truly wants. St. John eventually leaves England and goes to India, when he does is missionary work (Brontë 38). This shows that St. John follows his path and Jane follows her own. In my opinion, Cambridge represents following your heart and accepting where you are supposed to be in life. This connects to a main theme in Jane Eyre: Jane wants to make her own choices in life instead of allowing someone to decide what life she needs to live.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
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