“Women feel just as men feel; they suffer […] precisely as men would suffer; […] It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary” (Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre).

Charlotte Brontë published Jane Eyre in 1847, a time when women possessed limited liberties. Charlotte crafted a protagonist who was essentially the antithesis of womanhood during the Victorian Era. As a result, reactions to her novel were mixed at the time. No one could deny its literary value, but many felt threatened by the new ideas that Charlotte presented in her work. Some fathers at the time even went so far as to ban their daughters from reading the novel, fearing that they might be emboldened by Brontë’s protagonist. By publishing under a pseudonym, Currer Bell, Charlotte was able to challenge widely held social conventions without a fear of harassment or danger. 

Synopsis

The novel follows a young girl, Jane Eyre, from age 10 to about age 30, detailing her effort to remain true to herself in a male dominated world. Until she is 10 years old, Jane lives with her Aunt, Mrs. Reed, a cruel and harsh guardian. Eventually she’s sent to boarding school where she begins to discover her own identity independent of her oppressive relatives. Jane is smart and self-controlled, but she also has an impulsive nature that drives her. Eventually, while working as a governess for a wealthy family, Jane grapples with choices that she feels ill-equipped to deal with. Through her handling of these events, she begins to uncover who she is and who she wants to be in the future.  

Review

I absolutely love Jane Eyre as a novel and as a character. What struck me was Charlotte Brontë’s ability to elegantly convey such radical ideas. The way that Jane speaks is rational and kind but still confident. 

Brontë’s writing style struck me as unusually graceful from the first page. It’s the type of writing that easily flows from one idea to the next without the reader’s knowledge. I felt that I was in the story with Jane, living alongside her, wanting what she wanted and fighting for what she fought for. While some may feel that the prose is archaic, I maintain that the way in which Charlotte wrote this book, further reinforces the context of Jane’s life, which makes her actions and decisions all the more radical. 

Jane is a dynamic protagonist, constantly adapting to her surroundings and reacting to the obstacles placed in her path. I related to Jane in her struggles and truly did not know which choice she might make. Nevertheless, I knew that whatever she chose would be right for her and she would handle every situation with dignity. Characters like Rochester and Helen Burns served to contrast to Jane. Rochester’s moodiness and Helen’s faith offered both challenges and opportunities for Jane, helping her to define her own identity throughout the novel. 

Jane Eyre’s most central theme is about women having the courage to find independence in patriarchal 19th century England. It comments on social structures like class and gender as well as love, morality, and passion. Charlotte Brontë skillfully weaves these ideas together into a cohesive story while still convicting her reading and prompting further thought and discussion. 

The plot of Jane Eyre spans twenty years without many significant time gaps. Thus, the reader feels as if they are growing up alongside Jane. While this structure may have been customary for the time, I feel that the style was part of the reason that the themes ran together so smoothly. In showing the reader all of Jane’s moments, Brontë essentially lets the reader choose what to focus on, contrary to some modern books where the author’s message might be stated more clearly within the text. 

Jane Eyre was an absolutely fantastic book, one of my very favorites. In reading her work, I felt close to Jane Eyre but also to Charlotte Brontë as an author. Much of the novel is based on Brontë’s own life experiences, which adds a reality and a rawness that might not be otherwise present. I appreciate Brontë’s vulnerability and her courage. I also felt that the plot was ahead of its time, which I appreciated. Brontë also added some magical elements to the story which gave the text an air of mystery and suspense which I enjoyed. 

The only issue that I have with the novel is Rochester’s character. He felt very gruff and while I commend Brontë for writing great scenes between Jane and Rochester, I feel that the novel could have honed in on Charlotte’s themes even more strongly if Jane had made slightly different choices.

I would recommend Jane Eyre to anyone interested in breaking into Victorian literature. It has all of the traditional elements of the era but boasts a memorable and engaging plot. Jane Eyre also speaks to the empowerment of young females and reminds readers to always embrace their own identity. 

I give this book 📚📚📚📚📚— an engaging read by a genius author that will continue to be a classic for years to come! (5/5)

Love, Ellie

GFB Ambassador