Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Today I finished reading Jane Eyre.  It's a weird feeling finishing this book, I feel like I lost a friend.  I considered reading it again right away but figured my husband might want some time with me.  Last thing I need is him getting jealous of a book.  But this wasn't just any book you see, this was the greatest book I have ever read.  That is why I miss it so!  This book drew me in like no other and made me feel what no other book has made me feel.

I recommend everyone read this book especially women - not girls, but women.  I know that if I had read this book when I was in high school it would not have meant as much to me as it does now.

There are many themes to this book that I would like to touch on - mostly because I can't wait until book club meets to talk about it.  I must share my thoughts with the world!  Or at least the two people who read my blog.  Here are the themes: Morality, God and Religion, Social class, Gender, Love and Passion, Independence, Forgiveness, Home and Family.

Morality
From the very beginning of the book, Jane is concerned about death.  This is, in part, due to the fact that she is living with her Aunt and Cousins only because her late Uncle made his wife promise on his deathbed that she would take in Jane Eyre and raise her as her own child.  Jane's Aunt, Mrs. Reed, of course did not raise her with a loving and caring heart and eventually Jane was sent off to Lowood, a charity school for girls.  Here she meets Helen who soon becomes good friends with Jane.  Helen comes down with tuberculosis and dies in her sleep.  She tells Jane that she is not afraid because she knows she is going to me her Father in Heaven.  At this time in her life, Jane cannot decide if she believes Helen or not.

God and Religion
After almost a decade at Lowood, Jane becomes a very devoted follower of Christ and is quite confident in her teachings.  Even with her confidence, she finds it difficult to balance a life between God and Passion.  We find though that she will always put God before herself when she chooses to run away from Thornfield instead of staying as Mr. Rochester's Mistress.  She is continually growing in her relationship with the Lord and knows firmly how she stands.

Social Class
Jane Eyre is given quite the ambiguous cast into society.  Although she was raised in a wealthy home, she is a dependent upon Mrs. Reed.  At this time in her life she has a hard time knowing her place.  After her time at Lowood she becomes a governess in a wealthy manor.  When friends of Mr. Rochester come to stay at the home they look upon her with total disregard and even talk about her in the foulest of tones right in front of her!  They do not feel that a governess should be allowed to be near them at all.

Gender
Through the story you get a sense of how men and women are supposed to act.  You also get a sense that Jane is not going to sit back and let men decide for her, starting with Mr. Brocklehurst.  Mr. Brocklehurst was doing his best to keep her down by telling the entire school that she is deceitful and should be ignored.  Luckily, Ms. Temple knows Mr. Brocklehurst's nature and gave Jane the chance to stand up for herself - and she did.  Jane didn't simply become what Mr. Brocklehurst wanted her to become, she stood up for herself and made something of her time in Lowood.  Jane later is proposed to by Mr. Rochester and St. John.  In the first instance it seems as though Mr. Rochester tried to trick her into a marriage and in the second St. John said it was her duty to marry him according to God's will.  In both instances, then men seemed to think they were entitled over the life of Jane.

Love and Passion
The love story is what carries us through the novel.  Jane is neglected of love early in life and seems to need none of it.  Her passion is enough for her.  Her passion is what keeps her strong while living under her Aunt's roof and gives her the courage to stand up to her before she leaves.  Although she does not actively seek love, she does find it and holds to it dearly.  First she finds love in her friend Helen Burns and literally clings to her until Helen is no longer.  She then falls in love with Mr. Rochester and has the most difficult time leaving him once she learned his secret.  She was so in love with him that she was almost willing to turn her back on her religion and stay with him.  Finally, she finds the love of family with the Rivers who remain with her through the end.  Through all this she keeps her passion for life.  This is what keeps her from marrying her cousin St. John.  He has no passion towards her and she needs love in a married, not merely convenience.

Independence
Jane knows that she is from a lower class even though she grew up in a wealthy home.  Although she may be poor, she refuses to be a dependent.  She will not accept handouts and will only be given what she has earned.  This is what makes the story of her begging from door-to-door, asking for food, so difficult to read.  Jane was truly humbled when she had to ask people for help - something she had avoided doing her entire life.  When she later comes back to Mr. Rochester she is more glad than ever to marry him not only because he is widowed, but because they are equals.  Jane had acquired enough money to sustain herself and would no longer be Mr. Rochester's dependent. 

Forgiveness
Mr. Rochester has a great need for forgiveness - although he doesn't know how to ask for it.  He feels that marrying a good person such as Jane will atone for his past life and rid him of his demons.  Eventually his demons come out and all is taken away from him.  In the end, he loses his home, sight, and hand.  Only when he is seemingly left with nothing, does he come to God and ask for forgiveness.  It brings to mind the verse that Jesus once said about sin.  "If your right hand sins, cut it off.  Better to lose a hand than the whole body."

Home and Family
Although Jane seeks independence, she also seeks a sense of belonging.  This is why she excelled in school, at Thornfield and with The River's.  She had a sense of belonging while still being independent.




After reading the book, I immediately needed to see the movie.  I had high hopes for the movie because I loved the cast, I thought each of them looked almost exactly as I imagined - although Mr. Rochester was bit too handsome.  So I set out for the movie ASAP and it pains me to report that the movie is horrible!  They took out all religion and social undertones which just left it as an empty love story.  This love story means nothing if you don't realize that Jane left Mr. Rochester because of her devotion to God.  It also means nothing if you don't realize that she comes back to him because it is such a big deal in that day and age to be independent and wealthy!  The movie hardly made any sense!

Obviously, I am upset.  So I set out to find a movie that would do.  The next movie I picked up was actually the BBC TV series from the 80's.  It was fantastic!  Of course the cinematic quality left something to be desired, but the acting and storyline was all there.  I would highly recommend this version.  The book was followed almost exactly, which made me love it all the more.  There were some scenes that were cut short, mostly the love scenes actually, which is quite the 180 from the movie.  Next I plan on getting the BBC TV series from 2006 - I can only hope that the story line stays the same and all that changes are the costumes and quality!