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A review by hangsangareader
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I've read this book for my English Literature class. It was my second read with a gap of over ten years, and the experience differs. As a teen, I thought this was a wonderful romance, and Jane and Rochester were so cute. Not anymore. Having the opportunity to reread a book in class gives us a whole new perspective on it.
This book is fantastic. Charlotte Brontë is an exceptional writer. The story has so many mirrors you must be aware of: the moon, the color red, a window, cold and warmth, being in that liminal state, the in-between. The images are also beautiful throughout. Writing-wise, Brontë is a genius. All of that said: I love Jane, despise St. John, and can put up with Rochester.
I must be one of the few people who can empathize with Jane Eyre, but I find some aspects of her countenance to be similar to mine, which creates a feeling of sorority towards her. And this is the reason why I accept her feelings toward Rochester. He is a terrible man by himself - lousy language and gaslighting, lying to her, and trying to lead her to a life of perpetual sin. No, thank you. She was rash in escaping without money, but intelligent is escaping his claws.
But Mr. Rivers is not a better person. He might be worse. At least Rochester loves Jane (even if in his broken way of loving). I did not care for a man trying to emotionally blackmail Jane into following him and becoming a simple instrument for him to live his dreams. I laud Jane for following her heart.
As for Bertha. If she felt like an annoying hindrance to Jane's love in the first read, she is now a completely different beast. What if she was looking out for Jane? What if this woman, who does not get an opportunity to speak for herself, told Jane to run from a man who would lock her up in an attic? She is why Rochester can be considered a genuinely nasty individual. Is he keeping her locked up in Thornfield an act of benevolence? The more I think about it, the more she seems like the biggest victim in the novel.
This book is fantastic. Charlotte Brontë is an exceptional writer. The story has so many mirrors you must be aware of: the moon, the color red, a window, cold and warmth, being in that liminal state, the in-between. The images are also beautiful throughout. Writing-wise, Brontë is a genius. All of that said: I love Jane, despise St. John, and can put up with Rochester.
But Mr. Rivers is not a better person. He might be worse. At least Rochester loves Jane (even if in his broken way of loving). I did not care for a man trying to emotionally blackmail Jane into following him and becoming a simple instrument for him to live his dreams. I laud Jane for following her heart.
As for Bertha. If she felt like an annoying hindrance to Jane's love in the first read, she is now a completely different beast. What if she was looking out for Jane? What if this woman, who does not get an opportunity to speak for herself, told Jane to run from a man who would lock her up in an attic? She is why Rochester can be considered a genuinely nasty individual. Is he keeping her locked up in Thornfield an act of benevolence? The more I think about it, the more she seems like the biggest victim in the novel.