While Jane Eyre listens primarily to her superego, the foundation of Emma Bovary’s characterization lies in her enslavement to her id and the class she cannot escape. The exception, her occasional acts of domesticity, can be explained by the conflict over what she wants and what she should be. She believes wholeheartedly in fantasies, and most of her actions, such as having affairs with little concern toward her husband, are in her own interest. This is attributed to the romance novels she read during her childhood in a convent. However, the convent also introduced her to the rules of society and morals, prompting her superego to dissent. When overridden by the id, the ego is responsible for engaging defense mechanisms to help the superego…show more content… John’s argument about going to India reveals the strict rules and consequences set by society. Jane realizes that St. John “had calculated on [her] first suggestions,” indicating that their choices were to be carefully thought through, lest they offend society (Brontё). When Jane protests that she does not want to marry him in order to work as a missionary in India, St. John replies, “Do you not see it, Jane? Consider a moment - your strong sense will guide you” (Brontё). The words “consider” and “strong sense” signify the belief that there is only one way to live, and that is in strict accordance with the rules of society. Jane further suggests they work together as friends instead of as husband and wife, earning her the following in return: “‘We cannot - we cannot,’ [St. John] answered, with short, sharp determination: ‘it would not do’” (Brontё). His clipped words indicate that he feels they must conform to society; there is no other choice. The strength of society’s rules is evident when Jane’s experiences intense guilt and feels that St. John’s coldness in response to her refusal “tortures” and “kills” her (Brontё). Brontё’s extensive use of diction conveys to the reader the mood of living in nineteenth century
