Question

Read the excerpt below and answer the question.

“Madam," he pursued, "I have a Master to serve whose kingdom is not of this world: my mission is to mortify in these girls the lusts of the flesh;” (chapter 7)

What is the meaning of the word mortify in this passage?

Answer 1

In this passage of Jane Eyre, the word mortify has a Christian connotation. Motify usually means to make somebody feel ashamed or embarrased, but also to subdue something through punishment or discipline.

In this context, when he talks about mortifying the lusts of flesh, he is talking about ending the sinful nature of lust and sexuality as part of a process of santification, through discipline or even punishment chastising the body to submission.

Answer 2

Answer: The meaning of the word "mortify" is to subdue a body's desires.

Step-by-step explanation: The word "mortify" is a verb and its meaning is to repress a body's desires as well as its needs by means of discipline, such as denial, abstinence and self-inflicted pain. In that way, the term "mortify" is used to refer to the activity of deadening the passions. Moreover, this verb collocates with the words "yourself" and "flesh", as it has been used in this excerpt from Jane Eyre.