Hi everyone,
Thanks to those of you who have posted so far! I enjoyed reading your ideas on the book. Here are a few tips for those of you who are still working:
1. Please make sure to limit yourself in terms of length. You can only post a certain number of characters (I'm not sure how many), so try to keep it brief and lucid.
2. Don't worry about summarizing the book.
3. PLEASE make sure to thoroughly discuss why the book is still relevant today. Go into detail! I want to know why you think this book is still widely read and has stood the test of time.
When filmmakers decide to create a film adaptation of Jane Eyre, they make the mistake of focusing too much on the romance between Jane and Mr. Rochester. However, the story of Jane Eyre is much more than that. When the book was published in 1847 critics were appalled and shocked by its contents. They labeled the novel, “dangerous and filled with outrageous decorum” (xiv). During this time period society was the opposite of what it is today. From our point of view the society of that time would be labeled radically conservative, because they were deeply religious and bent on rules of propriety. The suspense and passion of Jane Eyre was too much for people of that time to handle. Jane Eyre is still relevant to readers today because of Jane’s individuality despite of her time period and the novel’s portrayal of several universal truths.
ReplyDeleteJane is a poor, plain, and neglected individual. Her life, despite its fairytale ending, is a tumultuous ordeal. However, throughout the novel Jane remains strong and displays independence and self-control. For example, when she found no reason to stay at Lowood School for Orphans she advertised and found a job herself. This shows her independence because she is able to fend for herself. She doesn’t rely on other people. Another highlight in Jane’s character is her optimism, despite her experiences she is still able to say, “These eight years my life were uniform but not unhappy… I had the means of an excellent education, a fondness for some of my students…together with a great delight in pleasing my teachers, especially such as I loved urged me on” (100). Jane’s optimism gives her the strength to do whatever’s necessary in the present situation. She’s all about the present, never dwelling on the past. Even when her cruel aunt was in her death bed Jane wanted her aunt to, “think no more (of what her aunt did to her), to let it pass away from her mind” (280). She is also very self-controlled which is ironically most evident when she is around Mr. Rochester. Even though at times her emotions get so intense they affect her physically, she doesn’t let them get the best of her. Especially when she had to make the hard decision to leave her beloved Mr. Rochester, “… she knew what she needed to do and she did it mechanically…” (373). Jane is able to think with her head, not with her emotions. This is a trait that is not so easily ascribed to women. However, Jane’s character defies the generalization of a women’s character, which is something she was able to do in 1847 until now.
Despite the fact that the Charlotte Bronte’s novel is a time capsule of what life was like during that time, it was also very ahead of its time. Bronte was able to touch on several universal truths which are still applicable to today’s society, such as the importance of education. Jane was able to broaden her understanding of the world, be independent, and find work to be able to make a living. Education not only affected her academically. It didn’t simply equip her with skills necessary for living. It also expanded her ability to think independent thoughts, which was necessary for her to make important life decisions, like leaving Mr. Rochester.
Bertha Mason may be an allusion for another universal truth. In relationships it is impossible to know everything about the other person. So, there is always a possibility that a partner may have “ghosts in their closet”. Bertha was Mr. Rochester’s “ghost”. She was a mistake that was made a long time ago, but haunted him and tortured him for a very long time. He tried to hide Bertha from Jane, but inevitably the truth came out. The same can apply to relationships.
Jane Eyre is a very rich and insightful novel. It takes the reader through one person’s life, and ultimately forces the reader to look into his or her life. Jane may have been a governess from the 1800’s, but somehow she remains relatable and untouched by time.