Review | Jane Eyre

by Charlotte brontë

Published : First Published in 1847 under the pen name Currer Bell

This edition was published in 2011

Publisher : Michael O Mara Books

Format : Kindle, Hardback, paperback

Genre : Classic Literature

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Synopsis

A poor but plucky heroine is outwardly of plain appearance, but she possesses an indomitable spirit, a sharp wit and great courage. She is forced to battle against the exigencies of a cruel guardian, a harsh employer and a rigid social order. All of which circumscribe her life and position when she becomes governess to the daughter of the mysterious, sardonic and attractive Mr Rochester.

However, there is great kindness and warmth in this epic love story, which is set against the magnificent backdrop of the Yorkshire moors. Ultimately the grand passion of Jane and Rochester is called upon to survive cruel revelation, loss and reunion, only to be confronted with tragedy.

My Review

"𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 –𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶."

Jane's story begins when she is just a child, orphaned once by her parents death, she is sent to live with her aunt and uncle on her mothers side, orphaned again by her uncles death she is left in the care of her aunt and cousins. All treat her awfully, the aunt despises her and the oldest cousin hits her regularly. When Jane one day reacts at her unfair treatment and hits back the aunt wastes no time in sending her away to a boarding school, that is a charity run school for orphaned children.

The man who runs the school is advised that Jane is a despicable child and lies and steals at every opportunity, this couldn't be further from the truth but after he announces this on her first week and tells everyone to avoid and distrust her, Jane , being strong even then manages to make a friend and prove her superior wrong.

When she grows up she doesn't leave the school but stays on and teaches, eventually she longs for more and applies for a job in the North as a governess. This is where she meets Mr Rochester, his charge is the young girl she teaches every day and despite him not being strikingly handsome the pair both begin to fall in love with each other, both without the other knowing fully, apart from the odd look or desire to be near each other.

Eventually Mr Rochester can hide it no more and after testing Jane on her feelings he asks her to marry him, but on the day of the wedding a big secret is revealed and Jane, not being able to cope with what she discovers, runs off into the moors, not knowing where she is going, but knowing she cannot stay.

She eventually, after days of living rough is taken in by a brother and his two sisters, they nurse her back to health and upon realising she is educated offers her a job at the local school when she refuses to tell them where she came from or who to contact.

Jane doesn't ever forget her one love though and after a short time is drawn back to Thornfield Hall and Mr Rochester, only to discover the once great and stately hall, in burnt ruins.

When I first picked up Jane Eyre I was convinced that like the last classic literature book I attempted a few years back, that I would struggle to get on with it. I couldn’t be more wrong!

I loved everything about this story. The depths of description that this author went to, the emotions that are laid out raw on the page all allow you to see with your mind's eye fully the story that you are reading.

The build-up throughout is also so masterfully written, it’s not just a ‘meet this girl, this happens, then something bad leading to something good then over’ kind of book, there are so many up and down layers that delicately need peeling back, these are the layers that create such a beautiful story that is extremely unputdownable.

I found the protagonist adorable and I loved reading about her life from a young child growing into a woman. She is not only formidable but a type of woman that was rare in those days, she said what she thought to men who were deemed her superiors and she earned respect because of it.

Why I Loved It

The most powerful parts in this book for me were when she finds out the ultimate truth on the worst day it could happen, just when she thought she had grasped at happiness and also at the very end. I won’t spoil anything as I urge you all to read this book but how Charlotte Brontë describes her pain and also her sheer happiness is a pure joy to read. Never have I read such detailed text before. I was honestly left in awe of this book when I finished it last night.