I dunno, I thought this version made it clear that St.John was a self-righteous douchebag all on his own, never mind the comparison to Mr. Rochester. There is just enough kindness in him to believe he's a good man, but a lifetime with him would kill Jane's spirit, just as she said.
He was pretty creepy while he so gleefully told Jane about her uncle's death and her inheritance.
St. John proposes to Jane precisely because he sees himself as able to control both himself and her. Unlike the other relationship, in which St. John wrestled with and conquered his passions, he believed his lack of affection for Jane would not cloud his perfectly rational and god-fearing judgment. On that matter, he expects Jane to submit to his will in all matters "as God intended." Imagine if all their marital disputes ended in such a justification? "I'm right, because I am man, and God made man superior to woman, such as yourself." With all due respect to people who do find contentment in this sort of relationship, the spirited and independent thinking Jane Eyre did not seem like the type to thrive under such an arrangement. I deliberately refer to St. John's proposal as an arrangement, because he himself does not speak of love, of which he simply believes "enough" of it will follow.
Whereas the book and movie make clear that Rochester is a changed man by the end, no such character development is suggested of St. John.
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