Jane Eyre

(1847)

This is a book about a woman's life from the age of ten to twenty-two. You will enjoy this book if you don't mind romance and crying. It is easy to understand why this is a classic. Jane is sent to a horrible boarding school by her malicious aunt, then becomes a governess working at a mysterious manor. Love is around the corner, and she must avoid it at all costs.--Submitted by Anonymous

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A flowing story in which the characters come to life. With vibrant and strong language Charlotte Bronte takes us on a magical journey through which we see Jane Eyre's life. In thrilling and descriptive text Bronte clearly describes Jane Eyre's tragic journey. Growing up she has a sad life, from the death of her parents to her abusive cousin. Yet when she goes to live with Mr. Rochester her life takes a rapid turn. Can this be Janes' chance for happiness or is she set for another fall?--Submitted by kerry

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When I first read Jane Eyre, I was absolutely captivated by the story, the characters, Jane's plight as an orphan at Gateshead and Lowood and her transition to governess at Thornfield. The story develops in a way that holds your interest as she meets Rochester and the secrets of Thornfield are revealed. What lies in wait for Jane is nothing compared to what she has escaped from and this, I feel, is the most incredible and page-turning aspect of the book. For sheer what-is-going-to-happen-next value, Jane Eyre really can't be beat--it is a true gothic novel. It is a romance between two strong characters each with diametrically opposed pasts and who represent the time period in which it was written. The plot is so imaginative and so full of unexpected turns and coincidences that it is impossible to put down after being drawn in at Chapter One. This book leaves the reader wanting to know what will happen to the much abused Jane and read with increasing credulity all that she goes through as a child and subsequently the fate that befalls her once she is at Thornfield. Jane Eyre is truly timeless--it is a work of literature that will introduce readers of any age to memorable characters and a story that gets better and better each time you read it. Go get yourself a copy, curl up on the couch and travel to England in the 1840's courtesy of Charlotte Bronte! Happy Reading! --Submitted by Jennifer C. Person

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Would anyone care to read a text about Mr Rochester, and comment? Please.

Good day! I am writing a text about Mr. Rochester. Would anyone care to read it, and comment on it? The first paragraph is about his appearance, the second about his mood/manner, the third about his past and the fourth about his goals. I would love it, if someone could comment on the content and language. Keep in mind that my class is writing this only after reading 21 chapters. Mr. Edward Rochester Mr. Rochester is the master at Thornfield Hall, where Jane Eyre resides, for a time, as a governess. He is, described by Jane as a man who is not possessed of good looks: «I traced the general points of middle height, and considerable breadth of chest. Ha had a dark face, with stern features and a heavy brow; his eyes and gathered eyebrows looked ireful and thwarted just now; he was past youth, but had not reached middle age; perhaps he might be thirty-five» (p. 113) and «... with his broad and jetty eyebrows; his square forehead, made squarer by the horizontal sweep of his black hair. I recognized his decisive nose, more remarkable for character than beauty; his full nostrils, denoting, I thought, choler; his grim mouth, chin, and jaw – yes, all three were very grim, and no mistake. His shape, now divested of cloak. I perceived harmonized in awareness with his physiognomy» (p. 120) Mr. Rochester is indeed as Mrs. Fairfax describes him: peculiar. Jane also describes his manners ”abrupt and changeful”. This description fits him well, considering that he shifts between the moods of careless, interested, playful etc. At first he seems, to the reader, perhaps commanding, and a little condescending, towards Jane. However, he excuses this, even though Jane is his paid governess; and that is what is makes him so special. Unlike many upper-class people, with a huge fortune, he tells Jane, his hired governess, that he wants to talk to her as an equal, never mind that his is, in the 1800-hundreds-reality, above her. Over time, he, in fact, becomes very friendly, and fond of her, and enjoys her company the most. It also seems as if Mr. Rochester’s past haunts his mood and manners. Quite a few times, during a one of his tales, he stops talking and his mind wanders off and he falls into deep thoughts, which is indeed peculiar. Another thing worth mentioning is his nonsense-talk. This could either be playfulness or the talk of a deluded man. Two times, he calls Jane a which, who tries to kill him, but he soon forgets it all. The reader learns a great deal about Mr. Rochester’s past life. We know that he has had family troubles. First of all, his elder brother died five years earlier. One other thing of importance to understanding Mr. Rochester is that his father and his brother (who didn’t want to diminish the family fortune by division) made some steps “that were not quite fair, and made a great deal of mischief”(p. 128), and brought him into a painful position, and now Mr. Rochester feels that he has been robbed of happiness, which makes his mood often depressed. Another important chapter of his life, that the reader learns to know, is his infatuation in the French opera singer Celine Varnes. He gave her a place to live, servants and all those things. But, one day, when he goes over to surprise her, he hears her and another young man, talking rude of him, behind his back. After that, he loses all love for her, and also puts bullet in the other gentleman’s arm. The lady is Adele’s mother and she believes Mr. Rochester is his father. After some time, she runs away to Italy and abandons Adele. Mr. Rochester then takes Adele in to his care. To begin with, the reader could get a strong impression that Mr. Rochester feels so robbed of happiness and degenerated that his only goal is to live his life; have a good time etc. However, after some time, it becomes clearer that he wants to marry a real woman, who accords with his interests and ideals, and who also has a great personality and accepts his – like Jane Eyre.

Posted By Taudalpoi at Sun 13 May 2012, 3:57 PM in Jane Eyre || 1 Reply

A quote that shows Jane Eyre's change at Lowood?

Hi. I am writing about Jane Eyre at Lowood. I have written about Helen Burns and Miss Temple and how they are contributing in her change. But I need two examples and one direct quote, which shows a change in the character? Would anybody like to share such a quote, or perhaps tell me in what chapter I could find one?

Posted By JonasHaeg at Mon 7 May 2012, 3:02 PM in Jane Eyre || 2 Replies

Why does Jane Fall in Love with Rochester

I'm currently read JE in a grad class that's focus is feminism. As we went around are discussion circle, everyone had to point share a thought on the book, and when my turn came around, I voiced some confusion as to why Jane would fall in love with Rochester. My reasons came down to this: Rochester is kind if a jerk, in general and to Jane. He's very condescending to her, at one point saying he wants to claim Jane "as his own." He's deceitful: he dresses up as a gypsy in order to trick Jane into expressing how she feels for him, and then, after he knows how she feels, he continues to dirt with Ms. Ingram in order to make Jane jealous. Aside from this, he does other things that would seem to suggest he's a jerk: he constantly tries to make up Jane into something she isn't with jewelry and expensive dresses, against her protests, and he can be downright cold. He comes around a bit and shows his romantic side, but this is only after he has won Jane's heart; he never acts that way in the process of her falling in love with him. As I stated my case in class, from the very start, when I said, "I don't get who Jane falls in love with Rochester," I was met with complete confusion by my (female) professor and some of the other students (four of which are female, and only one other male, who judiciously kept his mouth shut). My professor was ready to pounce right away, asking "How can you think that?" As I explained those points above, she sort of conceded that she could see where I was coming from, as did my fellow students, who were a but more diplomatic by agreeing with me (at least in the sense that they understood my viewpoint) because they could tell I was being grilled by the professor (up to this point in class, this being our fourth meeting, she had never displayed so much emotion). The women of the class seemed to think that Jane falling in love with Rochester was perfectly reasonable, and it was an aspect of the story they obviously enjoyed. The best reasons that they could come up with that Jane fell so in love with Rochester is that she saw him as an intellectual equal, and some sort of "challenge." I didn't buy it then, and I still don't. It seems to me the most likely reason she would fall in love with him is because he was the first man she encountered that showed her even a little bit of affection and respect. So, am I totally off-bass here? If so, maybe someone can explain to me better why Jane falls in love with Rochester. I think I caught my class off-guard with this claim--they obviously felt the reasons for Jane falling in love with Rochester were self-evident.

Posted By Mutatis-Mutandis at Sun 12 Feb 2012, 9:25 PM in Jane Eyre || 14 Replies

Jane eyre contest!!

Hey guys, I thought it would be fun to throw a little contest. Your challenge is: Write a letter as if you are Mr Brocklehurst reporting Jane's 'progress' at Lowood to Mrs Read. Imagine you are Mr Brocklehurst writing this letter just after his speech when Jane drops the plate. Keep in mind: Mr Brocklehurst's high opinion of himself. Mr Brocklehurst's need to impress Mrs Reid. The religious reference. I will be picking the best one tomorrow afternoon... there will be a prize :)

Posted By lanlitguy at Wed 1 Feb 2012, 6:17 PM in Jane Eyre || 6 Replies

Just finished reading Jane Eyre

I loved it! I first read it when I was 13, and forgot a lot of the book, though I remembered significant parts. It was a page turner this time for me. I now see why I never forgot Jane Eyre's personality. Jane Eyre was the person I could relate to when I was a teenager in some ways, and I wanted to be like her. I wanted her strength and self-assured personality. What a strong woman and so ahead of her time. This novel put me right in the time period and I was intrigued. For her time, she was quite a feminist. I am amazed also how "street wise" she was, even though her world was so small. Although she never got to see what was down those roads she didn't travel, she knew she needed to get back to the one who truly loved her, I think the only man she could be completely comfortable with- and who accepted her regardless. Finally, I read a novel with a happy ending.

Posted By KCurtis at Wed 1 Feb 2012, 4:56 PM in Jane Eyre || 0 Replies

Jane Eyre Thesis about Gender

Hello everyone - any good ideas for a thesis talking about gender & society issues in the great book of Jane Eyre?

Posted By Brocklehurst at Tue 18 Oct 2011, 9:27 PM in Jane Eyre || 1 Reply

kind of narrativevoice in jane eyre ...!!!

good eveing everyone ..!!:seeya: how are you ? would you please tell me What kind of narrative voice is used in the novel JANE EYRE and what influence does it have on the reader and the narrative? i will be so thankful to your help ..

Posted By fatimah23 at Sat 24 Sep 2011, 8:40 AM in Jane Eyre || 2 Replies

How many of you are obsessed with Jane Eyre?

Share your favorite part of Jane Eyre below. :piggy:

Posted By irishpixieb at Mon 22 Aug 2011, 9:18 PM in Jane Eyre || 18 Replies

Critical interpretations???

As you may know, I need to write an essay on how secrets are portrayed in Jane eyre...and I need to write it using critical interpretations or viewpoints to give a balanced arguement. Soo, i tried looking for some interpretations on google, but I really struggled to find anything. I'm looking for how a marxist may view the text, a femininst etc. Thanks :)

Posted By Dinosaurrr at Fri 8 Jul 2011, 5:30 AM in Jane Eyre || 9 Replies

How are secrets portrayed in Jane Eyre?

I have an assignment to do soon, and the topic of discussion is how secrets are presented in both Jane Eyre and Atonement. In this case, I need help with Jane Eyre. Other than Rochester's secret wife, could anyone elaborate on that? Thankyou! :)

Posted By Dinosaurrr at Wed 6 Jul 2011, 8:02 AM in Jane Eyre || 2 Replies

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Jane Eyre

(1847)

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