with as little sanction of free will

[Irelia20150604]

The quotation comes from Jane Eyre Chapter 23


Quotation: I said this almost involuntarily, and, with as little sanction of free will, my tears gushed out. I did not cry so as to be heard, however; I avoided sobbing. The thought of Mrs. O’Gall and Bitternutt Lodge struck cold to my heart; and colder the thought of all the brine and foam, destined, as it seemed, to rush between me and the master at whose side I now walked, and coldest the remembrance of the wider ocean—wealth, caste, custom intervened between me and what I naturally and inevitably loved.


Context: Mr. R said he would be soon married with Miss Ingram and therefore Jane must leave. He told Jane he had found a new job for her – “to undertake the education of the five daughters of Mrs. Dionysius O’Gall of Bitternutt Lodge, Connaught, Ireland”
===
Hi everyone! I don’t quite understand the bold part. I’ve found the thread arm with as white a hand

[...] he waved a long, thin, delicate arm with as white a hand on the end of it, which fluttered like a silk flag [...]
(M. Peake; Gormenghast)

Is the author thus saying that his hand was as white as his arm?

Thanks.

Yes. He presumes that the reader will expect an arm to be white, but not necessarily a hand.

So I guess the part means “sanction of free will was as little as my tears”, i.e., “free will hardly allowed my tears to gush out”. Is it correct?

 

[se16teddy]

My tears rushed out just as involuntarily as I (had) said this. Involuntarily and with little (or no) sanction of free will are synonyms.

 

[Barque]

She said "I said this almost involuntarily" meaning the words came out without her exercising her will/her mind.

...and, with as little sanction of free will... - With the same lack of permission/applicability of free will.

My tears gushed out with the same lack of free will - they came involuntarily.

Cross-posted.

 

[Irelia20150604]

Ah, they are synonyms. Thank you both for your explanation. I see it now.

...and, with as little sanction of free will... - With the same lack of permission/applicability of free will.

My tears gushed out with the same lack of free will - they came involuntarily.

I suppose "the same" is very useful for the analysis of "as...(as)"