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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
An absolute masterpiece. So spectacularly genre bending. I felt all that Jane felt the entire novel and I have never had a book that’s pushed my emotions as much as this one has. So glad I finally read it!
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
'Jane Eyre' is a classic novel in the sense that its contents have been copied by countless, mostly lesser writers. The novel starts familiar enough, with a Cinderella-like setting, followed by rather Dickens-like schoolyears. When Jane Eyre starts a life as a governess, the novel touches its main subject, which contains romance, mystery, drama, hardship and redemption. At the end the novel verges on the melodrama, when Brontë tells of an all too improbable coincidence, and describes a tearjerker of an end scene.
Nevertheless, Brontë's writing style remains excellent throughout. Her way of writing is more accessible than her sister's (whose novel '[b:Wuthering Heights|6185|Wuthering Heights|Emily Brontë|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348940572s/6185.jpg|1565818]' was published the same year), and 'Jane Eyre' can be a real page-turner. The novel is rather lengthy, but knows hardly any dull moments, for Brontë perfectly times new twists to her story.
Moreover, Jane Eyre, the narrator of the novel, is a round character: she's a real, intelligent and independent woman. Her thoughts, actions and reflections are lifelike, interesting, and surprisingly non-conventional. Her romance with Mr. Rochester is very convincing, despite the age difference, and in no way does she behave inferior to the male character. On the contrary, in this novel Brontë appears to be a strong advocate for equality of men and women. This is best illustrated by a passage in the 12th chapter of the first part:
"It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions besides political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which people earth. Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex."
Hear, hear! 'Jane Eyre' is truly a classic.
Nevertheless, Brontë's writing style remains excellent throughout. Her way of writing is more accessible than her sister's (whose novel '[b:Wuthering Heights|6185|Wuthering Heights|Emily Brontë|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348940572s/6185.jpg|1565818]' was published the same year), and 'Jane Eyre' can be a real page-turner. The novel is rather lengthy, but knows hardly any dull moments, for Brontë perfectly times new twists to her story.
Moreover, Jane Eyre, the narrator of the novel, is a round character: she's a real, intelligent and independent woman. Her thoughts, actions and reflections are lifelike, interesting, and surprisingly non-conventional. Her romance with Mr. Rochester is very convincing, despite the age difference, and in no way does she behave inferior to the male character. On the contrary, in this novel Brontë appears to be a strong advocate for equality of men and women. This is best illustrated by a passage in the 12th chapter of the first part:
"It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions besides political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which people earth. Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex."
Hear, hear! 'Jane Eyre' is truly a classic.
ugh. this was a slog to get through. i wish the book had ended when jane found her cousins and got her money. if she had ended up with family and stayed working at the school (or found a governess job again or something) – i feel like it would have been so much more empowering and worthy read. her relationship with rochester was horrible. he was grooming her, he was lying to her, all of their conversations were combative. she was lucky something happened to break it up. the "lunatic" wife was problematic (hysteria was a big thing back then, and with rochester's subjugation of jane, i wouldn't be surprised if he was just unhappy with his wife, or if they just didn't get along and now suddenly she's "crazy" and it's socially acceptable to lock her away). i also hated st. john. he had such potential to be a good character (taking her in on that first night, getting her a job), but he blew it! this theme of men as the dictators of relationships is very troubling. and the fact that jane is supposed to be this feminist icon – gross. i hope no girl ever looks up to jane eyre. she's weak and demonstrates that if a man is persistent enough (even if disturbingly so) that he will get his way, no matter the girls actual opinions. no thanks.
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Jane Eyre is a novel of sombreness and sweetness, with Bronte's beautiful and poetic prose guiding the Reader through. My favourite parts to read were Jane's childhood and any interactions between Jane and Edward.
Jane is a very relatable but unique character, humble, selfless, and often self-denying of pleasures in life, as she had often experienced oppression in her young years. She finds love in the most unlikely place, crossing social status and wealth boundaries at the time, her and Edward compliment each other well.
Jane is a very relatable but unique character, humble, selfless, and often self-denying of pleasures in life, as she had often experienced oppression in her young years. She finds love in the most unlikely place, crossing social status and wealth boundaries at the time, her and Edward compliment each other well.