My review of Jane Eyre starts with a funny story. I always believed I had read this book before, either in childhood or high school. When the Classics Club at 5 Minutes for Books picked it to read during September, I figured it had been awhile so I'd enjoy reading it again. Once I got about a third of the way into the book, I realized nothing in the story was at all familiar to me. I had no idea how it would end. How thrilling to actually read such a famous book for the first time! I have since learned that there are about a dozen movie versions of the book floating around, and I somehow managed to get this far in life without encountering any of those either! So for me this was a completely new story and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Now for the review:
I see why people describe this book as an early piece of feminist literature. In an age where a woman's identity and future security, both financial and emotional, depended almost entirely on landing the right husband, Bronte created a female character who learned early in life and through very unfortunate circumstances to depend on no one but herself. And maybe God, as there is the thread of religion throughout the book and the suggestion that Jane found some of her solitary resolve in a dependence on religious morals, if not an actual relationship with God.
I thought the characters were well-developed. The writing was a bit obsequious and hard to get used to in some spots, but there was good dimension to the characters. Even the evil Aunt Reed showed some humanity and insight into her nasty actions near the end of the book. I thought the fact that Jane was able to let go of her long-harbored bitterness toward her aunt for her ill-treatment showed that Jane had that insight into her motivations as well. Thus, while certain of the "evil" characters never became likeable, they were not flat.
One of my favorite characters was Helen Burns, the dying girl who befriended Jane at boarding school. I thought she was a beautifully rendered character and an almost other-wordly model of peace in the face of affliction. I think it was Helen's example and faith that helped to create Jane's moral compass for her own later actions.
Of course the big romance of the story centers around Jane's love for Mr. Rochester and the seemingly hopeless twist of fate that drives them apart. Ms. Bronte's description of Jane's outward resolve as contrasted against her inner feelings in this situation are particularly moving. Not knowing if Jane would ever finally end up with her true love -- while at the same time wondering if that would really be the best thing for her anyway -- was what drove me to read compulsively toward the conclusion. I found the end result satisfying. While Rochester might not have turned out to be the best husband for Jane when they first met, the heart-rending circumstances that transpired after Jane left him changed, softened and humbled him to the point where he was a wonderful match for Jane when they met again.
I found this a truly enjoyable and moving story. Thanks to 5 Minutes for Books for finally giving me a reason to read it!
10 comments:
I really enjoyed your review. I thought the same as your review but have a hard time putting my thoughts down in writing as well you did.
I so completely agree with what you said here:
"I think it was Helen's example and faith that helped to create Jane's moral compass for her own later actions."
I thought about the whole Christian aspect of it as well. I know that before she left Rochester, she realized that he had been her (false) god, and that wasn't right, so although it wasn't explicitly stated, I wonder if she found God with her cousins?
Awesome, awesome review. I think I agree with you that Helen Burns became her moral life compass. I feel like - if God was in Jane's story - she was at times trying to "conveniently ignore" Him while still feeling like she couldn't.
I'm having a hard time understanding the feminist aspect to this but I didn't hear that argument going into it and so I'm afraid I glossed over it.
Love your review!
Your funny story start was very fun to read. I'm glad you added it. I took mine out of my post but I'll mention it to you here: I read it in a college class where the prof. just loved Jane. I found her back then very naive and love struck with someone twice her age and ugly. Now that I'm closer to Rochester's age I found the book to be very rich. The latest screen version by Masterpiece Theatre in 2006 with Ruth Wilson helped me overcome some of my former prejudices.
Your review and thoughts are very much in line with my own....and you did a better job than I did. :)
Great review! This was my first exposure to the book as well, never read it or seen any movie versions of it. I enjoyed reading your views. :)
I was sure that I had read it before - I know I had to have read it because I own it, and I remember reading from this particular copy of it. I must not have been reading very closely (I was in junior high, so that's not that surprising). I didn't remember anything of the plot, so it was like reading it for the first time.
I agree with you that Jane and Rochester were not right for each other when she left, but then by the end of the book they were ready to be together. I think it's interesting that she is the one with "power" in their relationship at the end.
Your idea that Helen may have become Jane's moral compass is intriguing. Even as I was reading those passages I wondered what influence Helen would have on her. I find it interesting that after her death, Helen is mentioned only once when Jane returns to Gateshead Hall to see her dying aunt, and she is mentioned not in reference to goodness or forgiveness but to dying. I agree with you that Helen's spiritual example significantly influences Jane. Could it be possibly be the lack of further reference to her that emphasizes the importance of her influence?
I did an analysis of Rochester and Darcy's characters.
Here
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