A feminist Victorian heroine in a gothic landscape by Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre’s willpower and self-assuredness is admirable and a soothing balm for me
I studied Jane Eyre during my first year of University and loved the sheer depth of experiences within the novel. It is so much more nuanced than her sister’s Wuthering Heights. I was, of course, mostly drawn to Jane’s strength of spirit and how she was able, in the midst of a series of testing experiences, to retain her resolve to stick to her values. I agree to being slightly uncomfortable with aspects of the male characters’ opinions, and thoroughly disliked St John, I couldn’t help, however, appreciating Rochester’s warmth of feeling for Jane’s feisty personality and his affectionate teasing of her. After all, his affection was not based on beauty and skin-deep attributes, but on what lies beneath in the soul - so that has to be a major positive for him. I also respect Jane’s judgement of him despite all the mistakes he’s made.
Others factors I loved were Jane’s connection with Nature, her fearless ability to call out the evil treatment of others, and her generosity towards those she cared about - as well as Brontë’s gothic elements and foreshadowing techniques. This novel remains a true masterpiece that still offers so much to unpick and appreciate.
Thank you for reading, and I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Ooh, in what ways do you find it more nuanced than Wuthering Heights?
You're right about Jane's resolve—that struck me the most as well. Yes, I agree about Mr Rochester—I loved how he really embraced her very self and how they had a pure love for each other, though there are things about him that I don't have much patience for.
I hadn't thought much about the nature aspect of it—thanks for highlighting!
I think what I mean about WH is that I found it to be a very aggressive book. It was full of conflict and characters acting very badly. I know it is supposed to be dramatic and full of passion, however, I just felt bombarded by it. Sort of bludgeoned into submission. This meant that I didn’t feel able or inclined to pick up on multiple layers of meaning within the narrative. Jane Eyre was more subtle and so I had the freedom to explore it in far greater depth. I may re-try WH at some point - perhaps an accomplished narrator of an audiobook version would help me to appreciate it more?
That makes sense! I found the passion a bit overwrought too, and my main criticism when I first read it was that we're simply told that they love each other but there isn't much of a build up before that. Cf with Jane Eyre, we learn more about her with each page.
Makes me want to read it all over again! I have such a strong memory of the scene in the red room from when I read it as a teenager. It’s such a powerful book, and I like that features characters that aren’t conventional (not conventionally handsome nor kind).
Have you watched the BBC adaptation from 2006? It’s excellent. Might be a little dated now but I remember it being great.
Great review, Alicia! I'm glad we read this together and that we had similar reactions to it. I enjoyed it too, and I recommend reading 'Wide Sargasso Sea.' I would be interested to know whether it changes any of your initial impressions about 'Jane.' Thanks again for this project, and for the shout out!
Thanks Mike! I'm glad we did too, and thanks for suggesting Jane Eyre—it would otherwise have been a while since I read it, and I'm pleased we did. Yes, very interesting that we had similar reactions, especially since you had the context of Wide Sargasso Sea, which I'll certainly put on my TBR.
Loved reading your deep dive Alicia - I haven’t read this for a long time and plan to re-read it this year. I think I’ll find the ‘mad’ wife more problematic this time as I read it for the sheer love of Jane last time. I do love the Brontë sisters!
I saved this post when it first came out! It’s always quite exciting when someone you follow reviews a book you’ve also read. Rochester’s treatment of his wife is absolutely horrible, and I think that adds to the gothic atmosphere. Even when he and Jane have their “happy ending,” there is still a dark shadow looming above them because Rochester is, quite frankly, a bad man, and our darling heroine has ended up with him.
Something that really struck me about Jane Eyre was the power dynamic between Jane and Rochester. They cannot be together as equals until she is in the position to take care of him / he is dependent on her. He essentially has to fall in order to be “at her level.” This woman—who is young, intelligent, and very competent—can only be an equal with an old man who is completely reliant on her. I read that as something of a statement about the differing statuses of men and women at the time.
Anyone who reads and enjoys Jane Eyre is a friend of mine. I have enjoyed the book over and over. Yes, it would have been lovely if you could have read it without knowing ANYTHING about the plot.
It’s interesting isn’t it that we can criticize Rochester and yet fully believe in and even enter into her love for him?
She made me love him, in spite of myself. That, I think, is her genius.
I enjoyed reading this piece Alicia!
I studied Jane Eyre during my first year of University and loved the sheer depth of experiences within the novel. It is so much more nuanced than her sister’s Wuthering Heights. I was, of course, mostly drawn to Jane’s strength of spirit and how she was able, in the midst of a series of testing experiences, to retain her resolve to stick to her values. I agree to being slightly uncomfortable with aspects of the male characters’ opinions, and thoroughly disliked St John, I couldn’t help, however, appreciating Rochester’s warmth of feeling for Jane’s feisty personality and his affectionate teasing of her. After all, his affection was not based on beauty and skin-deep attributes, but on what lies beneath in the soul - so that has to be a major positive for him. I also respect Jane’s judgement of him despite all the mistakes he’s made.
Others factors I loved were Jane’s connection with Nature, her fearless ability to call out the evil treatment of others, and her generosity towards those she cared about - as well as Brontë’s gothic elements and foreshadowing techniques. This novel remains a true masterpiece that still offers so much to unpick and appreciate.
Thank you for reading, and I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Ooh, in what ways do you find it more nuanced than Wuthering Heights?
You're right about Jane's resolve—that struck me the most as well. Yes, I agree about Mr Rochester—I loved how he really embraced her very self and how they had a pure love for each other, though there are things about him that I don't have much patience for.
I hadn't thought much about the nature aspect of it—thanks for highlighting!
I think what I mean about WH is that I found it to be a very aggressive book. It was full of conflict and characters acting very badly. I know it is supposed to be dramatic and full of passion, however, I just felt bombarded by it. Sort of bludgeoned into submission. This meant that I didn’t feel able or inclined to pick up on multiple layers of meaning within the narrative. Jane Eyre was more subtle and so I had the freedom to explore it in far greater depth. I may re-try WH at some point - perhaps an accomplished narrator of an audiobook version would help me to appreciate it more?
That makes sense! I found the passion a bit overwrought too, and my main criticism when I first read it was that we're simply told that they love each other but there isn't much of a build up before that. Cf with Jane Eyre, we learn more about her with each page.
I hope you find a good audiobook version!
Makes me want to read it all over again! I have such a strong memory of the scene in the red room from when I read it as a teenager. It’s such a powerful book, and I like that features characters that aren’t conventional (not conventionally handsome nor kind).
Have you watched the BBC adaptation from 2006? It’s excellent. Might be a little dated now but I remember it being great.
Oh yes, that red-room scene is seared into my memory now too. I haven't watched it, and I want to!
Great review, Alicia! I'm glad we read this together and that we had similar reactions to it. I enjoyed it too, and I recommend reading 'Wide Sargasso Sea.' I would be interested to know whether it changes any of your initial impressions about 'Jane.' Thanks again for this project, and for the shout out!
Thanks Mike! I'm glad we did too, and thanks for suggesting Jane Eyre—it would otherwise have been a while since I read it, and I'm pleased we did. Yes, very interesting that we had similar reactions, especially since you had the context of Wide Sargasso Sea, which I'll certainly put on my TBR.
Loved reading your deep dive Alicia - I haven’t read this for a long time and plan to re-read it this year. I think I’ll find the ‘mad’ wife more problematic this time as I read it for the sheer love of Jane last time. I do love the Brontë sisters!
I saved this post when it first came out! It’s always quite exciting when someone you follow reviews a book you’ve also read. Rochester’s treatment of his wife is absolutely horrible, and I think that adds to the gothic atmosphere. Even when he and Jane have their “happy ending,” there is still a dark shadow looming above them because Rochester is, quite frankly, a bad man, and our darling heroine has ended up with him.
Something that really struck me about Jane Eyre was the power dynamic between Jane and Rochester. They cannot be together as equals until she is in the position to take care of him / he is dependent on her. He essentially has to fall in order to be “at her level.” This woman—who is young, intelligent, and very competent—can only be an equal with an old man who is completely reliant on her. I read that as something of a statement about the differing statuses of men and women at the time.
Anyone who reads and enjoys Jane Eyre is a friend of mine. I have enjoyed the book over and over. Yes, it would have been lovely if you could have read it without knowing ANYTHING about the plot.
It’s interesting isn’t it that we can criticize Rochester and yet fully believe in and even enter into her love for him?
She made me love him, in spite of myself. That, I think, is her genius.