By: Kirsten Clark
In sitting down to write about Jane Eyre, I started thinking about what to write about my favorite book. I asked myself, "What do I love about the book?" The love story- Duh. The imagery- Incredible. But the insight into the common Victorian lifestyle? It's probably one of my favorite aspects of the book.
Charlotte Brontë did a splendid job presenting the inward struggle between the "social norm,” and the desires of the heart. Social norm infiltrated a number of things, one being religion. But before I get ahead of myself, I must give a bit of background to Jane's story.
Jane was adopted at a very young age to her aunt and uncle. Her uncle passed away. But with his dying breath he asked his wife, Aunt Reed, to promise to raise Jane as one of her own children. She acquiesced, but begrudgingly so, and despised the child as she grew in her care.
Jane was a passionate child—something that was looked down upon in one so young. Her aunt called the local "clergyman", Mr. Brocklehurst, to talk to him about her "bad behavior.” He hears the account from Aunt Reed, and doesn't give Jane a chance to defend herself with out the veil of prejudice against her. Men of the church were supposed to be forgiving, but unfortunately they weren't in Victorian times. They relied on their own knowledge and became extremely legalistic. He says, "punish her body to save her soul" (This is hypocrisy because one cannot work for salvation).
Rank in this time period was everything. Wealth and station and connections were what made you who you were to the rest of the world. Jane becomes a governess later in life and is employed by a man named Mr. Rochester. He is a wealthy man about 35 to 40 years old and his home, Thornfield Hall, is a large mansion full of beautiful, expensive things.
Both fall in love with each other but know that rank impedes their possibility of ever being together. Jane was a working girl, and Mr. Rochester was an eligible bachelor; neither position works together because in that day, you just didn't marry below your station.
In Chapter 17, Jane is observing Mr. Rochester talking to other ladies in the room and wonders at their ability to keep their countenance with out blush or shy look. She thinks to herself that he is more her kind of person- her intellectual equal, not her equal in rank. Her thought concludes with and understanding of their "forever sundered" relationship, and this beautiful sentence: “yet while I breathe and think, I must love him."
These are just a few of the many examples that occur in the book. For the sake of space I conclude with a recommendation: Jane Eyre is a book that explores a person's natural desire of belonging, and the price of belonging. It explores the common battle between right and wrong and is wrought with mystery, love and sacrifice. Do yourself a favor, and go enjoy this classical piece of literature!
In sitting down to write about Jane Eyre, I started thinking about what to write about my favorite book. I asked myself, "What do I love about the book?" The love story- Duh. The imagery- Incredible. But the insight into the common Victorian lifestyle? It's probably one of my favorite aspects of the book.
Charlotte Brontë did a splendid job presenting the inward struggle between the "social norm,” and the desires of the heart. Social norm infiltrated a number of things, one being religion. But before I get ahead of myself, I must give a bit of background to Jane's story.
Jane was adopted at a very young age to her aunt and uncle. Her uncle passed away. But with his dying breath he asked his wife, Aunt Reed, to promise to raise Jane as one of her own children. She acquiesced, but begrudgingly so, and despised the child as she grew in her care.
Jane was a passionate child—something that was looked down upon in one so young. Her aunt called the local "clergyman", Mr. Brocklehurst, to talk to him about her "bad behavior.” He hears the account from Aunt Reed, and doesn't give Jane a chance to defend herself with out the veil of prejudice against her. Men of the church were supposed to be forgiving, but unfortunately they weren't in Victorian times. They relied on their own knowledge and became extremely legalistic. He says, "punish her body to save her soul" (This is hypocrisy because one cannot work for salvation).
Rank in this time period was everything. Wealth and station and connections were what made you who you were to the rest of the world. Jane becomes a governess later in life and is employed by a man named Mr. Rochester. He is a wealthy man about 35 to 40 years old and his home, Thornfield Hall, is a large mansion full of beautiful, expensive things.
Both fall in love with each other but know that rank impedes their possibility of ever being together. Jane was a working girl, and Mr. Rochester was an eligible bachelor; neither position works together because in that day, you just didn't marry below your station.
In Chapter 17, Jane is observing Mr. Rochester talking to other ladies in the room and wonders at their ability to keep their countenance with out blush or shy look. She thinks to herself that he is more her kind of person- her intellectual equal, not her equal in rank. Her thought concludes with and understanding of their "forever sundered" relationship, and this beautiful sentence: “yet while I breathe and think, I must love him."
These are just a few of the many examples that occur in the book. For the sake of space I conclude with a recommendation: Jane Eyre is a book that explores a person's natural desire of belonging, and the price of belonging. It explores the common battle between right and wrong and is wrought with mystery, love and sacrifice. Do yourself a favor, and go enjoy this classical piece of literature!