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If it were for that I'd give it 5 stars, however the 2nd half is heavily racist, ableist, xenophobic, and classist. Themes of colonialism and religious missions, institutionalisation, grooming (Jane is sadly very much groomed by the men in her life), etc. There is no condemnation of any of this, no revolt against bigotry in the narrative. Therefore, I can't give it a pass for being "of its time", as there are many classics which either resist against or refuse to entertain such bigotry.
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Incest, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Death of parent
Also, I didn't realise how many red flags poor Jane is surrounded by. I begrudged her choice to go back to Rochester, but he was so much better than her cousin.
The story provides keen insight into what could happen to a poor and helpless woman in a patriarchal society. It seems so easy for the men in her life to push her around and even order her to marry them, it makes me so uncomfortable.
Also, as an Indian woman, I find St. Johns mission to rid the hindu heathens of their beliefs so ridiculous and disturbing. I don't know how people can go around claiming they have the greatest thing and try to fear monger people into a religion, its baffling.
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Abandonment
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Classism
Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, Colonisation
Minor: Infidelity, Suicide, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
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.
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, Classism
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.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Classism
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Violence
Minor: Confinement, Mental illness, Death of parent, Classism
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence