Self Talk

Luke wanted to know the context of Jane Eyre's little soliloquy about temptation. It's her recollection of her struggle when faced with a choice to live in sin or go out alone into the world. She chooses the latter. But only after struggling with herself and winning.

I wish a number of young women (and men) of my acquaintance would hold this same conversation with themselves!

...and while he spoke my very conscience and reason turned traitors against me, and charged me with crime in resisting him. They spoke almost as loud as Feeling: and that clamoured wildly. 'O comply!' it said. 'Think of his misery; think of his danger - look at his state when left alone; remember his headlong nature; consider the recklessness following on despair - soothe him; save him; love him; tell him you love him and will be his. Who in the world cares for you? or who will be injured by what you do?'

Still indomitable was the reply - 'I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. I will keep the law given by God, sanctioned by man. I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad - as I am now. Laws and principles, etc.... '