Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

98 reviews

cgrays's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

It's difficult not to compare this to an Austen novel, and the direct comparison does it no favors. Both the main character, and her love interest, are frustrating and shallow characters. 

This novel was also written when eugenics was in vogue, and this is very present in the novel once you start to notice it. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Classism

sarasanchez's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Classism

bearystarry's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Despite the … views of the time, I guess, and the fact that between the entire cast of characters there were about three redeeming qualities, I enjoyed listening to this book. The first two thirds were the most interesting and the last third sort of lagged for me but in general I guess I was just interested in the way Jane told her story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Incest, Terminal illness, and Alcohol

sgferguson's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism

carolinecronj's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

I went into this without knowing anything about the plot and would recommend you to do the same if you are still unspoilered, because some of the turns of the plot really surprised me.

What I greatly enjoyed about the book is its superb writing. Charlotte Bronte's command of the English language is nothing short of astounding, and her description of the various setting and a treat to read. 
 
However, my main problem with Jane Eyre is the romanticisation of abusive, manipulative and toxic character traits and relationships. I could not help but cringe at many of the supposedly sweet or romantic interactions throughout the book.

Furthermore, there are some deeply misogynistic archetypes, and the language throughout the book is at times ableist, racist and colonialist. 

In its own time and society, Jane Eyre was in many ways a revolutionary piece of writing and I definitely recommend it to be consumed as a historic product of its time. But if you are looking for a sweet and unproblematic love story, you should be looking somewhere else.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

theblushbookworm's review against another edition

challenging tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Reader, I read Jane Eyre. This classic was enjoyable for pleasure and not an English class pick from my perspective. The relationships are incredibly questionable and many views very outdated. But in keeping interest Jane Eyre holds up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Forced institutionalization, and Classism

cait's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

mjenae's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was not the story I was expecting, and much better for it.
I thought it was going to end depressingly and therefore make me dislike it, but the ending was beautiful and relieving. I also wasn't expecting such a strong Christian perspective throughout the book, and I enjoyed that. Jane was ever one of my favorites, and although at times I did not like Mr. Rochester, I came to love him by the end. St. John, on the other hand, I never did like. Someone read this book so we can discuss the wonderfully varied cast of characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

marilla07's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism

nanc_282's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I’ve read Jane Eyre many times. I only picked the book up to find a reference and ended up reading the whole thing. It’s a book that I always find something different in each time. Lots of dark and problematic themes. Reading this time, I was particularly struck by the character of St John and his coercive, manipulative behaviour towards Jane. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Classism

The age of the book means it does not acknowledge slavery and exploitation as the source of wealth for some characters.