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“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë
Jane Eyre may be downloaded for free from the ebooks catalog.
Compared to the stuffy romances of the time, Charlotte Brontë’s most famous novel is a surprisingly gripping read. Even in comparison to Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, which was previously ranked top of my list, Jane Eyre excels. Of note is that our heroine isn’t beautiful or rich or of any social consequence. She’s a poor, plain working girl whose concerns and feelings are so expertly portrayed that we almost feel they are our own.
And who wouldn’t connect on some level with Jane Eyre? Through her eyes and ears we see the displays of the upper classes as an outsider–giving the social mores of the time an even more futile tone. The purpose of the “genteel” characters seems no more important than the drapery. Indeed, the rolling moors and fields of scented heather claim more of our attention. Therefore the fact that Jane Eyre sees the brooding Rochester for who is really is, is a given. And her socio-economic situation makes her assertion of equality even more potent, because we know she’ll suffer for this knowledge. In the end this theme symbolically takes us to its happy conclusion. Earth, wind and fire conspire to reduce our characters to the equals they always were. They just needed a little reassurance that they were right.
Discussion
7 comments for ““Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë”
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I personally love this book. My mum read it when she was my age and when we came across a beautiful edition during a trip, she recomended it to me without hesitating.
And after reading it with great interest, passionately and discovering as the beautiful review up here says, that “who wouldn’t connect on some level with Jane Eyre?”, I can do the same!
Jane’s character really taught me a lot, and I hope I can live up to her in matters of independence, relationships and conception of one-self.
Bravo, Charlotte Brontë!
(And the new BBC adaptation is wonderful, in my opinion).
Don’t miss this great story!:)
Thanks for your comment, Lucía. This is a novel I could read over and over, and I definitely agree with you in recommending it to others!
I’m currently reading this book & though I consider myself to be too informed concerning it’s plot, I’m very much satisfied -rather, in awe -that Charlotte Bronte is one who don’t need to rely much on her stories’ plot to make her books interesting enough to read. Her characters are so authentic & original that I have to pause now & then just so I could relish them & consider that they’re more interesting than a ton of the contemporary ones.
I agree, Noel, these characters are classic. Even if one doesn’t fully like Rochester (and I believe they’re are many that don’t like him at all), you can’t deny the fact that he’s interesting. And the way Bronte interweaves the characters and plot lines is just amazing. I feel like reading this book again.
I’m 19 and I LOVE Jane Eyre!I can read it anytime! I love the characters and the story! Not many 19 year olds have read it and some tell me it’s boring and it drives me mad because it’s a wonderful classic novel!! I first read it when I was 11 and fell in love with Rochester! I love Jane’s couage and feel like I can relate to her, I wish I was more like her.
I think everyone should read this classic novel with a cup of tea on a winter evening! Enjoy!
I first read Jane Eyre in high school, and like Kate, I felt like I was the only one in class who fell in love with this book. I even finished it well before the due date–couldn’t put the darn thing down. I’m glad to see I’m not alone after all!
I love this book! It is so unlike the many others I have read. I have been reading for GCSE at the moment. I totally hate analysing books usually because it often ruins the story, but in this case I really didn’t! Please, I would appreciate opinions on Jane’s character. Why do you all find her interesting? It would help me a lot with the essay I have to write! thanks!