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dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cursing, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Jane Eyre, while widely regarded as being an iconic feminist novel, is nothing groundbreaking. The protagonist, Jane, is a very dull one to follow, especially given the extremely slow pace of the book. Rochester, her love interest, is abundantly older than her and extremely manipulative. Bronte takes an abundance of time embellishing her text with description--while it is pretty prose, it amounts to little more than that. My main issue with the book, however, is the blatant way Bertha Mason, one of the characters, is handled. She is written off as unfeminine, insane, and disgusting, and is frequently juxtaposed to Jane. It seems as though Bertha's exclusive purpose within the story was to be a plot device: her agency is only relevant when it comes to developing Jane and Rochester's toxic romance. If Bronte wanted to write a trendsetting feminist novel, she should have done so by not weaponizing lack of femininity and mental illness as a means of degrading any woman close to Rochester other than her beloved protagonist. Bertha was his lawful wife, but Rochester decided she was 'too Black' and 'too unfeminine,' to be around, so he locked her in his attic and was confused when she began acting genuinely erratic and hostile. Bronte portrays her repeatedly as a monster rather than as a person. It was painfully obvious reading that book that those who hail it as iconic and inclusive refuse to acknowledge the flaws in the "happy ending." As a segway into that, Jane is seen to have no flaws throughout the book, other than her lack of ability to exit a toxic relationship, which isn't at all portrayed as a flaw in the text. On the contrary, Bronte treats Jane's return to Rochester as a 'deeply sympathetic act.' This only further promotes the widespread mentality of the time that women must give up and devote their lives to men 'out of the kindness of their hearts,' regardless of how much abuse they endured. He tried to trick her into committing bigotry when she did not consent. He held his past suicidal thoughts over her head to justify how he locked Bertha in his attic for decades (and our 'feminist' protagonist took no issue with the notion of locking 'unfeminine' women in attics). He threatened Jane. He intentionally flirted with other women just to make her jealous. And yet she still went back to him. Why? 'Because of true love?' That is not feminist by any stretch, it's just a bad romance novel. Jane also is never seen struggling to cope with her trauma or lashing out, because 'God forbid an accurate portrayal of mental illness, or just God forbid a woman being mentally ill. God forbid having a protagonist like Bertha.' The "happy ending" is a mary sue protagonist being put on a mantle with a horrible husband, and it sure as hell isn't happy for Bertha, who commits suicide towards the end of the book. And look, maybe Jane didn't know that Bertha was dead when she went back to Rochester, since the suicide happened beforehand. But Charlotte Bronte sure as hell did. She made the conscious choice to have Jane and Rochester be wed immediately after Bertha Mason kills herself. It leaves an incredibly bitter taste in my mouth to know that the female character most fucked over by the patriarchy, Bertha, was only treated as an obstacle so the male and female lead's relationship wouldn't be 'too easy.' I listened to someone suggest once that she 'killed herself so Jane and Rochester could be together' and wanted to vomit. And you know what, maybe I'm just a random person on the internet that very passionately hates the way this book is received, but a spin-off book called "Wide Sargasso Sea" was written many years later by an entirely different author. It handles many of the topics I just addressed and is unafraid to portray Rochester's manipulative, controlling disposition from a lens that isn't rose-tinted. Bertha Mason is the main character, and it's the (different) author's take on how she came to marry Rochester, be abused by him, and go insane. I would highly recommend reading it.
All in all, I found this a highly boring and uninteresting read. Once again, the prose itself was gorgeous, but that's all I can say in its favor. I wouldn't hate this book so much if it weren't for the reputation and reception it tends to have. I had to read this for a feminist literature curriculum and was embarrassed by how terrible the feminist themes were executed. It made me sick to read what felt more like a blatant attack on feminism. Yes, it was original for its time, but that's where it ends. Stop teaching that this book is the pinnacle of feminist literature, old or new.Teach about the history behind neurodivergent, 'unfeminine,' 'unruly,' and colored women (people in general, but especially women) being shoved into asylums that equated to torture facilities because they didn't fit the mold. Teach about the way people with genuine mental illness were treated and still are treated.
3/5 from me exclusively on the basis of significance and prose.
All in all, I found this a highly boring and uninteresting read. Once again, the prose itself was gorgeous, but that's all I can say in its favor. I wouldn't hate this book so much if it weren't for the reputation and reception it tends to have. I had to read this for a feminist literature curriculum and was embarrassed by how terrible the feminist themes were executed. It made me sick to read what felt more like a blatant attack on feminism. Yes, it was original for its time, but that's where it ends. Stop teaching that this book is the pinnacle of feminist literature, old or new.
3/5 from me exclusively on the basis of significance and prose.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was the first book I have read from one of the Brontë sisters. I did not know anything about what this book was about prior to picking it up, and I definitely think that not knowing anything really aided in my enjoyment.
"Jane Eyre" follows a young girl, Jane Eyre, throughout the majority of her life. When Jane was very young, her parents passed away, and her loving uncle took her in, despite her aunt's desire to leave Jane to find her own way. Not too long after, her uncle passes away as well, and Jane is left in a home where she is unwanted, and her aunt is plotting to be rid of her. Jane is sent away to a miserable school for girls where she spends the rest of her childhood as a student and become a teacher for two years. She then moves on to be a governess and continues to bravely face the adversity a young woman orphan faces in these challenging times.
If you are looking for a classic that will make you laugh, cry, be consumed by anger, and that makes you believe in love, this is the book for you! I was not expecting to be so sucked into Jane's story, but I was. Jane is the epitome of a strong woman; she is smart, confident, and willing to do whatever she needs to in order to keep her life moving forward. Every time Jane seemed to get some solid footing and make moves that would better her seemingly dreadful life, something outside of her control would arise and foil her latest venture. Jane is such a relatable character, even today.
This quickly became one of my favorite classics, and I look forward to reading more of the Brontë sisters.
"Jane Eyre" follows a young girl, Jane Eyre, throughout the majority of her life. When Jane was very young, her parents passed away, and her loving uncle took her in, despite her aunt's desire to leave Jane to find her own way. Not too long after, her uncle passes away as well, and Jane is left in a home where she is unwanted, and her aunt is plotting to be rid of her. Jane is sent away to a miserable school for girls where she spends the rest of her childhood as a student and become a teacher for two years. She then moves on to be a governess and continues to bravely face the adversity a young woman orphan faces in these challenging times.
If you are looking for a classic that will make you laugh, cry, be consumed by anger, and that makes you believe in love, this is the book for you! I was not expecting to be so sucked into Jane's story, but I was. Jane is the epitome of a strong woman; she is smart, confident, and willing to do whatever she needs to in order to keep her life moving forward. Every time Jane seemed to get some solid footing and make moves that would better her seemingly dreadful life, something outside of her control would arise and foil her latest venture. Jane is such a relatable character, even today.
This quickly became one of my favorite classics, and I look forward to reading more of the Brontë sisters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, Classism
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Abandonment
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Death of parent
challenging
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Classism
Minor: Incest, Mental illness, Death of parent
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I obtained a vintage copy of this book in primary school. I started reading it and then conceded ground, fatigued by its laborious plot. However, I returned to it five years later with more experience in life behind me and finished it.
Jane Eyre exhibits a disconcerting reality of the Victorian era from a feminine perspective. Hemmed in by society, orphaned and thrust to the ravages of fate but still retaining her Christian virtue and fighting for her beliefs Jane traverses a world opposed to everything she stands for.
But Jane is an epitome of religious virtue and refuses to despair ultimately traversing against all odds.
Overall, Bronte's narrative is labyrinthine. But it is also radical in how it conveys a sense of progression to the reader by the second half of the novel which reads like a Victorian thriller. With the hint of the supernatural to it, Jane Eyre is as tantalizing today as it was when it first fell upon Bronte's unsuspecting England.
Jane Eyre exhibits a disconcerting reality of the Victorian era from a feminine perspective. Hemmed in by society, orphaned and thrust to the ravages of fate but still retaining her Christian virtue and fighting for her beliefs Jane traverses a world opposed to everything she stands for.
But Jane is an epitome of religious virtue and refuses to despair ultimately traversing against all odds.
Overall, Bronte's narrative is labyrinthine. But it is also radical in how it conveys a sense of progression to the reader by the second half of the novel which reads like a Victorian thriller. With the hint of the supernatural to it, Jane Eyre is as tantalizing today as it was when it first fell upon Bronte's unsuspecting England.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I studied this for Uni and it is brilliant, the plot is heavy but amazing to analyse. But Bertha, or Antoinette, is ignored. To take Spivak’s criticism this book is an allegory of colonisation and it is sad that her story is ignored and erased under Jane and Rochester’s love. While we need to understand the time the author wrote in, this criticism still remains when modern readers view this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis