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A review by ekcanales
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
adventurous
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.0
Somehow, I both loved and hated this novel, but I can clearly see how this is widely regarded as a classic. This book takes a very intriguing dive into topics of religion, inequalities, and sexual desire, while investigating the effects of trauma on a person's development.
Although, I found the characters absolutely insufferable. Jane repeatedly makes poor decisions and creates issues for herself, which made her difficult to root for. But I also felt a lot of sympathy for her, due to the power dynamics and societal pressures that influenced everything she does. Mr. Rochester is also a terribly manipulative person and it often feels like he is just toying with Jane (and the other people in his life) purely for his own entertainment. I didn't enjoy these characters separately, and absolutely NOT together. I never once rooted for this couple.
I read this novel for a literature class and, I will admit, analysis and discussion makes this book so much more intriguing, interesting, and deep. Exploring the historical contexts and nuances of the book added a lot of value for me, but I still did not enjoy the novel itself. The characters were unlikable and the plot was confusing and disjointed at times.
Although, I found the characters absolutely insufferable. Jane repeatedly makes poor decisions and creates issues for herself, which made her difficult to root for. But I also felt a lot of sympathy for her, due to the power dynamics and societal pressures that influenced everything she does. Mr. Rochester is also a terribly manipulative person and it often feels like he is just toying with Jane (and the other people in his life) purely for his own entertainment. I didn't enjoy these characters separately, and absolutely NOT together. I never once rooted for this couple.
I read this novel for a literature class and, I will admit, analysis and discussion makes this book so much more intriguing, interesting, and deep. Exploring the historical contexts and nuances of the book added a lot of value for me, but I still did not enjoy the novel itself. The characters were unlikable and the plot was confusing and disjointed at times.