Jayne Eyr

Jane Eyre is a Victorian gothic romance novel written by Charlotte Brontë, one of three famous Brontë sisters. The novel was influenced by Charlotte's own experiences and  the bleak Yorkshire  Moors where she spent the majority of her life.

On the surface, this could be seen as a typical gothic romance tale- gloomy atmosphere, an isolated house, a dark secret... However, instead of portraying a weak and feeble woman waiting  to be rescued by a rich and handsome hero, our author creates a multi-layered, strong minded heroine, Jane Eyre. It is she who drives most of the plot by her own actions and at the time this would have been unusual. More typical of the time was that she was a poor middle class woman who had to earn a living by becoming a governess (like the author herself).

The main appeal of this story is the intense relationship between Jane and the intimidating yet attractive( though not conventionally handsome) Mr Rochester. Although a lowly governess, Mr Rochester is drawn to jane's pure spirit and otherworldliness, especially compared to the woman he has already committed to. Even after receiving a good but strictly disciplined education at Lowood institution- lacking any nurturing apart from that of her good friend, Helen Burns, and a few kind teachers- Jane is able to speak her opinion and stand up for herself against her employer. The fact that she has never experienced true love (even at a young age she was cast away by her aunt) could account for why she felt such a strong connection to her lover. But will her heart overrule her strict morality?

Although the language is very formal (reflecting the more restricted relationships and the importance of religious beliefs in the Victorian era) and possibly challenging for modern day readers, the strength of Charlotte Brontë's writing allows us to immerse ourselves in the story.
Even today, almost 170 years later, young women can admire Jane because of her independent and feisty spirit.

Thea Perkins-green