Jane Eyre - Book Review

‘Jane Eyre’ was published in the 19th century in the English language. It is written from its protagonist’s
perspective, the first-person narrative by the author who was a poet and novelist and whose novels are
distinguished as classics of English literature. This book is written in 38 chapters and describes five stages of Jane
Eyre’s life.

The author of the literary masterpiece, Charlotte Brontë, borrowed heavily from her own life to create, as the
name suggests, the main protagonist of the book - Jane Eyre. In that there was a boarding school, a career in
teaching, a clandestine affair, and a short stint as a governess. Her passions clearly fueled the dullness of her
existence because she created a fantastically romantic story using these mundane events. Brontë’s depiction of
affection and bullying in a boarding school is eerily accurate as she also started her life as an orphan packed off to a
boarding school. Jane Eyre’s time at Thornfield Hall was a romanticised version of Charlotte Brontë’s own time in
Brussels, where she developed a strong affection for her employer. But one has to wonder why a woman would
continue corresponding with a man who refused to respond to her affection. Whatever her equation with her
employer in Brussels may have been, Jane’s time at Thornfield Hall most probably heavily borrowed from
Charlotte’s feelings and emotions. Brontë created meaning where she may have struggled to see any, success in a
spot inhabited by failure, and romance where it wasn’t returned. She seemed to inhabit and survive in a world
which rarely gave her what she wanted. Yet she crafted a world of her liking and channelled it into Jane’s world.

Jane Eyre is oftentimes spoken of as a romantic tale, but romance is a small part of this story. It is primarily the life
story of a woman who goes from belonging nowhere to finding a family, purpose and love. At all times in history,
the worst circumstance is that which belongs to an orphaned child. When the story begins on that note, it is
natural that one expects a saviour to show up and end all her troubles. The metaphorical white knight who would
restore her missing confidence and self-esteem, two virtues she never had a chance to build as a child. Mercifully,
the book progresses as real life does. Jane does not benefit from a white knight and is forced to employ the only
saviour available to her: the one within herself.

Jane suffers several failures, until at last she makes a life for herself as a teacher. She suffers as long as she expects
someone else to fix her problems. Considering the times, it was quite bold for the author to write of a woman who
chose a solitary life and a career as a teacher rather than marry - the commonly considered sensible option. By
stark contrast Diana and Mary, her cousins, lament the loss of an inheritance they assume a right over in hopes it
would help them secure good husbands. I am inclined to praise the masterful manner in which Charlotte Brontë
has shown the contrast between different women, their choices, and how those choices made them feel.

Romantics love the bliss. The bliss is the awe-inspiring emotion one feels when listening to the booming thunder
and ear splitting crackling during a massive lightning storm. Charlotte Bronte is just such a romantic, and she gives
us examples of nature throughout her best-selling novel, Jane Eyre. Having said that, one of my favorite parts of
this book and one that has made me think the most is how Charlotte Bonte describes the outdoors is one of the
few places where Jane feels at ease (I believe most of us can relate to this feeling), and she seems to see the hand
of Providence in what Nature reveals to her. Bronte’s use of the blissful settings in Jane Eyre reveals Jane’s
connection with the God of Nature, and foreshadows Providential events. "Night was come, and her planets were
risen: a safe, still night; too serene for the companionship of fear. We know that God is everywhere; but certainly
we feel his presence most when His works are on the grandest scale spread before us; and it is the unclouded
night-sky, where His worlds wheel their silent course, that we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His
omnipresence...I felt the might and strength of God." In this descriptive setting, although Jane is alone at night, far
from a home and companions, without family, she feels “safe” and “serene,” knowing that God is everywhere, and
is watching over her. If God, who made everything that she can see, ensures that the planets stay on course, surely
she can trust that God will see her safely to her end destination. Throughout the story, Bronte’s use of setting in
Jane Eyre reveals Jane’s connection to Nature, and in the God who created it.

Also, nature plays a dramatic symbolic role throughout the plot. Not only does Bronte use setting to reveal Jane’s
connection to Nature, but she also uses setting to foreshadow events directed by the hand of Providence. One
example of how the setting gives foreshadowing is just after Mr. Rochester confesses his love for Jane. Suddenly,
there is a furious storm, used to indicate a “stormy” relationship ahead, although Jane is not worried. “But what
had befallen the night?…loud as the wind blew, near and deep as the thunder crashed, fierce and frequent as the
lightning gleamed, cataract-like as the rain fell during a storm of two hours’ duration, I experienced no fear, and
little awe." Immediately after Mr. Rochester asks Jane to marry him, a terrific storm begins. Several things are
being foreshadowed here. First, the sudden storm indicates that their newly-confessed love will experience some
severe opposition. Second, the splitting of the giant chestnut tree in the storm is also used to indicate their
relationship will be severed in some way, yet saved at its root.

One sometimes has to wonder whether Charlotte Brontë took inspiration from Jane Eyre or whether Jane was
inspired by Charlotte. It appears that Charlotte was determined to prove a plain looking small girl could achieve as
much or even more than imposing women. In all walks of Jane’s life, she wrote an antagonist much stronger, than
the protagonist. One can only assume it gave Charlotte much pleasure to lead her heroine on this journey,
patiently claiming victory over each person.

Lastly, I would like to say that one of my favourite features of the whole novel was the narrations on certain events
from older Jane, in addressing the readers Bronte creates an inclusive narrative that the reader feels apart of. It
was intriguing to see Jane's perspective on past events and just how much she has grown.

As we come to a closing, here are the few key takeaways from the book: This is an autobiographical novel, albeit
not the only covering Charlotte Brontë’s life. This is not a love story, at least not in the conventional sense. Instead,
it is the journey of Jane Eyre, learning to love herself and discovering how everything falls into place when she
finds herself.

Rating this book a 10/10, I believe that it is a one-of-a-kind book every young girl (as well as any and every woman
for that matter) must read.