atus. This kind of marriage, as Jane implies, is not only a "well of mystery" but also a "Bridewell," a prison, like "a corridor in some Bluebeard's castle" (Bronte 1989: 108). Bertha Mason is sacrificed to the institution of the marriage of convenience and hence Thornfield, symbolizing this institution of marriage of convenience, must be destroyed before Jane and Rochester get married. 2 Unlike in marriages of convenience, in marriages with mutual affection the women would not see themselves as being sacrificed to an institution. Based on love, a marriage is seen as a way to achieve prosperity without compromising the self. As Jane declares, her marriage to Rochester has nothing to do with self-sacrifice, "Sacrifice! What do I sacrifice? Famine for food, expectation for content. To be privileged to put my arms round what I value-to press my lips to what I love-to repose on what I trust: is that to make a sacrifice?" (Bronte 1989: 450). In this marriage with mutual affection, couples share a kind of "half life," as Jane says: "I am my husband's life as fully as he is mine . . . . No woman was ever nearer to her mate than I am: ever more absolutely bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh" (Bronte 1989: 456). This description of her relationship with Rochester can be contrasted with Jane's feelings about a union with St. John. The idea of a marriage of convenience with St. John is, for Jane, a kind of sacrifice: "If I do go with him-if I do make the sacrifice he urges, I will make it absolutely: I will throw all on the alter-heart, vitals, the entire victim" (Bronte 1989: 450). In Bronte's book, it is impossible that Jane and St. John be a couple, for there is no love and desire between them. Jane not only would not be happy, but she knows that St. John would also feel the sacrifice, for he loves "a beautiful young lady called Rosamond. He wanted to marry me only ...