Book Review

   Jane Eyre, a bright jewel in the crown of British literature, was written by one of the finest female writers, Charlotte Bronte. At that time, although women were still in a subordinate position, women’s consciousness was rising in British society after the first industrialization. Therefore, the thesis of this novel is feminism. 

     Jane Eyre, an ordinary girl, had lived in her uncle’s house since she lost her parents very young. She was discriminated against and abused by her aunt, Mrs Reed, and Jane’s cousins after her uncle died. To get rid of Jane, Mrs Reed sent her to Lowood School. At that time, Jane lived the same hard life as before, but fortunately, she met Miss Temple, a warm and friendly teacher who influenced Jane profoundly, and met her friend, Helen, who was kind and tolerant but died from lung disease. However, after Miss Temple married, the terrible school had nothing to keep Jane. To reduce her loneliness, raise herself, and explore the wide world, Jane signed up for a job and was soon hired by Mrs Fairfax to become a governess in Thornfield Manor, where she met and fell in love with Rochester, the owner of the estate. However, at the wedding, Jane was informed that Rochester had had a wife who was mad confined in the attic. Therefore, Jane decided to leave. On her way, Jane fainted from hunger, rescued by her cousin St. John, a missionary. Hence, Jane settled down with St. John and his two sisters, getting a job that taught in a village school under the help of St. John. Later, Jane inherited a considerable inheritance from her uncle and gave half of it to St. John while rejecting St. John’s marriage proposal because she still loved Rochester deeply. Then, Jane baked to Thornfield Manor with her unforgettable love and deep thoughts, finding that the estate was ruined. After inquiring, Jane knew that the mad woman set a fire a few months ago also died in the fire, and to save her, Rochester lost a hand and an eye. The tragedy blew away all struggles of Jane, leaving only her love which made her realize that she can’t live without Rochester. Therefore, at the end of the story, Jane found Rochester and married him, living a happy life.

     The whole story tells about how Jane Eyre obtained mental and physical double freedom. When Jane Eyre left the school to see the outside world, she found a new direction in life, which means this girl who had been controlled first broke the fetter and had the power to dominate her movements. Then, the plot that Jane Eyre left Thornfield Manor expressed her unyielding self-esteem, never willing to be humble, to ingratiate herself with Rochester, and even to please her love of herself. Therefore, the decision to leave represented that Jane Eyre accomplished the freedom and independence of emotion. Moreover, when Jane Eyre inherited a large property, she also achieved independence in finance. Dependent on the above, Jane Eyre gained her personality independence.

     Regarding the plot, one representativeness is a quote Jane Eyre said to Rochester, “Do you think because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! I have as much soul as you and fill as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me as it is now for me to leave you, and we stood at God’s feet, equal, as we are!” This powerful statement stunned me, and a feeling of admiration swept through my heart. In the 19th century, society deprived women of many rights, estimated them by their beauty and dowry. Therefore, women had no choice but to be the attachment to men. If a man is like a flood pouring down a mountain, then a woman is a boat drifting with the current. Therefore, it was incredible that a woman like Jane, who didn’t have beauty, property or social status, said that she deserved to be equal to her lover and asserted that the soul of females had nothing to do with gender and external elements. This plot not only conveyed women’s demands for equality but also reflected women’s desire to get rid of the social criterion that the value of a woman only lay in her beauty, shouting for their entire souls.

     The other part confirming feminism is that Jane Eyre refused St. John’s proposal, which strongly reflects the awakening of women’s consciousness. In the 19th century, getting married was necessary, not an option for females. Yet, when Jane considered whether she should match a perfect man who she didn’t fall in love with, the idea of getting rid of resigning herself to patriarchal society came up, which shows that awakening females have desired the right of choice. Moreover, it exposes the rebellious spirit of females. History tells us that marriage is the essential label for females. A good marriage is an indispensable criterion for judging women’s success, and those who refuse to get involved in the wedding would be humiliated as “spinsters”. Females have been gazed at by men all the time, and few females dare to fight against injustice, to break fetter. Therefore, the movement of the ordinary girl, Jane, turning down the respected missionary St. John is an inspiring and powerful revolt against patriarchal tradition. 

     All in all, Jane Eyre is a lightening that illuminates the dark society, establishing women’s subjectivity in literature and contributing to the development of British feminist literature, which encourages women to pursue independence and self-improvement, kindness and fraternity, freedom and equality. The emergence of Jane, a new type of female image, impacted the concept of women in the patriarchal society at that time, promoted the awakening of women, and had a profound impact. Even today,  Jane Eyre is timeless. 

2022-11-26

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