Book Review: Jane Eyre
By: Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre is certainly not a new book - as you know. Never the less, it is a very engaging read that I had never had the pleasure of reading until now.
Jane Eyre is certainly not a new book - as you know. Never the less, it is a very engaging read that I had never had the pleasure of reading until now.
I of course had heard of it, but figured it would be rather boring. I had decided to try reading some classics though, since I have the time and this was the first one I chose. I'm glad I took the time.
The beginning was a little slow for me, but once I got more into the book I didn't want to stop reading it! What really interested me was the fact that some parts of the book - particularly the school scenes, were modeled after what she and her sisters went through. Charlotte's own life story is also in some parts very grim, which maybe why some parts of Jane Eyre are rather depressing (not all though.)
In case you're not familiar with the story, Jane Eyre is an orphan and at the beginning of the book is living with an aunt who hates her. Eventually she is sent to a school where treatment for a time is almost worse than what she received from her aunt. It does get better though and she spends 8 years of her life there, two of which were spent as a teacher.
She eventually decides to leave her job and takes a new one as a governess to a young orphan girl who lives with her guardian Mr. Rochester. Fate plays out and young Jane ends up falling in love with him, yet a shocking turn of events leads her to leave the mansion and the man she loves, but cannot marry. With no money and nothing but the clothes on her back she sets off to a new town with new people, but she never forgets the man she loved and she eventually goes back. She soon discovers even more surprising things.
Some of you may have already seen the movie, but don't let that stop you from reading the book, it truly is an interesting read, that gets more in depth than a movie ever could. Some parts may be a bit confusing though, but understandably since it was written in the 1800's.
It also has a good moral, because even though some parts of her life were very sad, once she grew older she faced most of them with a very good attitude. Which in the end worked out to her benefit. It's also important to see how Jane forgave Mr. Rochester though he betrayed her, and even kept on loving him, but how she also did the right thing and let him go. Of course this book is not for everyone, and even though I enjoyed it doesn't mean you will. If the fact that it was written in the 1800's doesn't daunt you though, I suggest you try reading it. After all it did become a well known classic for a reason.
| Title: Jane Eyre Author: Charlotte Bronte Publisher: The Penguin Group - Puffin Classics ISBN: 0141305371 Reviewed By: Elisabeth Adkins |
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