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A review by sean_kennelly
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
5.0
I must admit that I did put off reading Jane Eyre for too long. Firstly, I had read books in 2019 which I supposed to be similar in genre and subject manner (Pride & Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, Daughter of Fortune). Then as 2020 dawned my reading habits slumped, and I put it off further, reasoning that it would benefit from regular reading and proper attention. And lastly, when I was back in my book-guzzling habit and needed a book to start, I picked up Jane Eyre and read Brontë‘s baffling and convoluted preface that my copy contains and put it right back down again. But finally the pile of books that I had carted all around Australia was dwindling and I knew it was time to take the time to read this.
Once begun, I devoured this book pretty quickly, in no small part because of how beautiful and captivating the prose is. The dialogue sparkles with wit and humour, and the settings and peoples are artfully described. The settings - Gateshead Hall where Jane is raised an orphan among spoiled cousins, Lowood Institution where she gains an education and suffers at the hands of a pious zealot, Thornfield Hall where she makes her home, and Marsh End where she discovers family - each is brought powerfully to life and is summoned easily to my mind. Most endearing though is Jane’s narration, which drips with wisdom, joy, pathos, melancholy and powerful insight. Coupled with the enchanting dialogue, this narration fleshes out our protagonist and presents a heroine for the ages. She is strong-willed, fiercely independent, and doggedly moral even in the face of greatest temptation. Perhaps more enjoyably, she is witty, intelligent, and sharp as a knife. Once she reaches adulthood (although the story never really advances beyond her 20th year) she lives her life on her own terms, and follows the courses she feels best serves herself and her god. Even if her choices plunge her into destitution, they are her own and are made with solid conviction and moral fortitude. For me, the Christian proselytising held little interest, but it did serve to demonstrate Jane’s unwavering sensibilities.
Our other great presence in the book is Mr Rochester, part of the landed gentry, master of Thornfield Hall, and Jane’s employer as governess. He is a difficult character to get a grip on in some ways. In personality and physicality he is grim, imposing, intimidating and aggressive. None of these traits are presented as odd or inappropriate for a man of his station when dealing with the employees of his estate (a mark of the times). He is also fair, kindly and affectionate (in his own never-gentle way). He is also open to the thoughts and opinions of young governess Jane, a trait which when viewed through the lens of Victorian social graces implies a benevolence and magnanimity of character. His history is dark, convoluted, and conspires to keep him and Jane apart, and when viewed from a modern perspective is morally dubious. Stripping away some of these modern judgements however, leaves us with quite an impressive love interest for gentle Jane. It is a case of opposites attract - for as she is gentle, he is combative, and as she is mild, he is passionate and obsessive. Some of these feminine/ masculine traits are still bandied about in modern romances, and perhaps found their prototype here.
Truthfully, this book inspires a lot of thought and opinion due to the depth of its constitution. You could pick it apart over and over, leaning on feminist critiques, historical significance, and its place in the lineage of romantic fiction. But in essence it is such an enjoyable read, that sometimes none of that intellectualising seems to matter. It goes down smoothly, whether you stop to examine its implications or not.
I bought this at the Lismore car boot market.
Once begun, I devoured this book pretty quickly, in no small part because of how beautiful and captivating the prose is. The dialogue sparkles with wit and humour, and the settings and peoples are artfully described. The settings - Gateshead Hall where Jane is raised an orphan among spoiled cousins, Lowood Institution where she gains an education and suffers at the hands of a pious zealot, Thornfield Hall where she makes her home, and Marsh End where she discovers family - each is brought powerfully to life and is summoned easily to my mind. Most endearing though is Jane’s narration, which drips with wisdom, joy, pathos, melancholy and powerful insight. Coupled with the enchanting dialogue, this narration fleshes out our protagonist and presents a heroine for the ages. She is strong-willed, fiercely independent, and doggedly moral even in the face of greatest temptation. Perhaps more enjoyably, she is witty, intelligent, and sharp as a knife. Once she reaches adulthood (although the story never really advances beyond her 20th year) she lives her life on her own terms, and follows the courses she feels best serves herself and her god. Even if her choices plunge her into destitution, they are her own and are made with solid conviction and moral fortitude. For me, the Christian proselytising held little interest, but it did serve to demonstrate Jane’s unwavering sensibilities.
Our other great presence in the book is Mr Rochester, part of the landed gentry, master of Thornfield Hall, and Jane’s employer as governess. He is a difficult character to get a grip on in some ways. In personality and physicality he is grim, imposing, intimidating and aggressive. None of these traits are presented as odd or inappropriate for a man of his station when dealing with the employees of his estate (a mark of the times). He is also fair, kindly and affectionate (in his own never-gentle way). He is also open to the thoughts and opinions of young governess Jane, a trait which when viewed through the lens of Victorian social graces implies a benevolence and magnanimity of character. His history is dark, convoluted, and conspires to keep him and Jane apart, and when viewed from a modern perspective is morally dubious. Stripping away some of these modern judgements however, leaves us with quite an impressive love interest for gentle Jane. It is a case of opposites attract - for as she is gentle, he is combative, and as she is mild, he is passionate and obsessive. Some of these feminine/ masculine traits are still bandied about in modern romances, and perhaps found their prototype here.
Truthfully, this book inspires a lot of thought and opinion due to the depth of its constitution. You could pick it apart over and over, leaning on feminist critiques, historical significance, and its place in the lineage of romantic fiction. But in essence it is such an enjoyable read, that sometimes none of that intellectualising seems to matter. It goes down smoothly, whether you stop to examine its implications or not.
I bought this at the Lismore car boot market.