A review by sofipitch
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

dark 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

5.0

I read this in middle school the first time and I remember I didn't like it. I felt that Jane wasn't a "strong" enough female protagonist (it was like 2012, the age of YA "girlboss" female protags like Katniss so pls forgive me). I also didn't like the fantastical parts of the story, like Jane returning bc she heard Mr. Rochester calling her or Jane magically becoming rich. And while yes these plot devices/ ways to give the character a happy ending are still weak, this time around it did not ruin the book for me. I loved the gothic atmosphere that permeated the whole book, many of the descriptions, especially of the outdoors were lovely. I did like how first Jane is, I think I was too young to grasp this at a young age, especially with a difference in time period/ culture. And the romance, which even in middle school I liked, was amazing, it often pulled at my heart strings and I would find myself near tears.

There were some things I didn't like still, theres a casual racism that permeates English culture, so the n word is dropped once and unfavorable depictions of Romani ppl are offered. Jane almost agrees to go be a missionary in India which 🤢. There is also a degree of Christianity and "Christian morals" in this book that are annoying. Unfortunately a lot of these traits come with reading European classics.
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