Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

[foxing_gloves]

 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Year: 1847
Page Count: 507
Genre: Coming of age romance
Warnings: child abuse, death of a child, racism, (abuse of) mental illness

Summary: Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead and subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed.

Where do I start. Honestly, this is a book I'm covering in class, so I might not have a lot to say.

I was familiar with the story of Jane Eyre before ever reading the book. The story was spoiled for me in reading another book, The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. It's set in alternative history where their version of Jane Eyre ends with Jane going to India with her cousin and through the novel's events, alters that version to the ending in our world. I had also watched the 2011 film. 

So I never had surprises in reading it. And it's status as a literary classic has influenced and biased all my feelings about it. I've dissected it so much that I'm unsure what my feelings would have been had I read it with no context.

Here's what I know. I liked the book more than I thought I would. I expected another boring slog with Victorian, Romantic literature (ugh, Frankenstein) but I actually read a book that I found to be engaging and written very well. I had an interesting experiencing in describing the highlights of the book to my best friend and my boyfriend. They had never read the book and they were both equally horrified!

The book is basically one bad thing after another happening to Jane until she gets her happily ever after in the end. You know, as a ~*~modern woman~*~, I think I would have loved an ending where Jane doesn't get married, keeps her money, and does whatever she wants. Of course, with the constraints of Victorian England, no way an editor would have accepted that kind of ending. It was already controversial enough. So I feel like the modern feminist inside me is too critical of Jane Eyre as it exists as a book cause it was revolutionary at the time.

I don't care for Rochester though, so as a romance it'll never work for me. Although I remember liking the film version. BUT THE AGE DIFFERENCE IN VICTORIAN LITERATURE! S&S HAD THIS TOO UGGGH. But I find Rochester to be manipulative and snobbish. His good traits don't redeem in my eyes.

Honestly, the guy locked his first wife up in his attic. He couldn't have found a hospital to put her in? I know we weren't great at treating mental illness back then but he had money! He totally could have put her in a hospital! The only reason he didn't was so word wouldn't get out that he wasn't single anymore cause then he would be able to shop around for a wife!!