Jane Eyre is a literary classic written by Charlotte Bronte. While this book has many fans from all around the world and from different generations, it has not been immune to criticism. So, is Jane Eyre really a good book?
Jane Eyre is definitely worth a read, at least once. It is a novel that beautifully combines romanticism with some elements of Gothicism. It was also a revolutionary novel for its time, initiating discussions of equality and independence for women.
Read below as we talk about this novel in more detail and whether it’s really worth reading.
Is Jane Eyre A Good Book?
Yes, Jane Eyre is a good book. The book paints a realistic picture of the challenges that life might throw in the path of a person’s pursuit of happiness and salvation. The author’s dedication to capturing the whole range of human experience is obvious from beginning to end.
The anguish of being parted from a loved one, the ecstasy of love, and the sting of loneliness were all brought out in such a beautiful way that they have the potential to touch the very core of any individual.
Moreover, unlike many other works written at the time, this one gives the protagonist, a woman, a large amount of agency. Jane is not a delicate flower who has to be treated with respect and admiration.
Given the historical period in which the story is set, she is the ultimate female protagonist. Among the few examples of powerful women in Victorian literature, Jane is notable for her fight toward self-realization, her resilience in spite of hardship, and her strong personality and wisdom. She was incredibly fascinating because she was so bold and independent for a woman of the Victorian era.
Why is Jane Eyre Considered a Classic?
The fact that Jane Eyre challenges the prevalent values of its era helped establish the novel’s status as a literary classic. Jane Eyre is a powerful, autonomous character. Not only does she refuse to submit to the authority of her caregiver, but also that of her headmaster and the guy she claims to love, which is something uncharacteristic for a woman of that era. All women were expected to submit to their male counterparts and enter into marriage at the first possible opportunity.
The feminist beliefs Jane expresses are shared by women who have always thought they should be treated as equals to men. Even in this day and age, women continue to battle for equal rights and equal pay.
Women in all eras of history, including our own, can look to the words and deeds of Jane Eyre for inspiration and realize that women do not have to be submissive and inferior to men.
Jane Eyre is also a critique of the prevalent religious beliefs of the period. Mr. Brocklehurst and St. John impose strict regulations on her and engage in a great deal of hypocrisy. In the end, she rejects their opinions in favor of her own, independent judgment.
The story of Jane Eyre is timeless. Despite taking place in the nineteenth century in England, the story and its central themes are universally accessible. Jane yearned to be loved, first by her family and later by her friend and master, but as she matured, she realized that it was possible to feel loved and be independent at the same time.
“No; I know I should think well of myself, but that is not enough; if others don’t love me, I would rather die than live.” Chapter 8
Jane, who was just 10 when she said this, had recently fled a home in which she had been both despised and mistreated. She is able to rediscover who she is, regain her faith, and prioritize herself above everyone else with the help of Helen Burns.
Even though Jane is from a bygone era, many people today may relate to her ideas, feelings, behaviors, and motivations because they have been through similar situations where they didn’t feel loved or didn’t know who they were.
Is Jane Eyre a Feminist Novel?
When Jane Eyre, one of Charlotte Bronte’s most famous works, was released to the public for the first time in 1847, it had a significant impact on the culture of the era. Many readers have held a longstanding, fond conception of Jane Eyre in their minds. The novel Jane Eyre is often regarded as not only the earliest but also the most influential and successful representation of the modern perspective on the role of women in society.
Jane Eyre represents a new ideal of a strong, emotionally vibrant, and physically capable woman. Women did not hold significant positions in Victorian society. The only viable careers for women up to the final decade of the 19th century were those of schoolmistress or, more commonly, private governess. In fact, Charlotte had to publish her works under the guise of male authorship, using the name Currer Bell to hide the fact that she was actually Charlotte.
In many ways, Jane Eyre serves as a symbol of women’s fight for equality. Jane Eyre’s character, a woman with a forward-thinking female conscience, questions men’s power.
The Gothic Romanticism in Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre is a superb example of a classic Victorian novel, with its blend of romanticism and Gothicism. Jane and Mr. Rochester both feel affection for one another, but they are unable to pursue their relationship due to many obstacles.
This is a typical trope in romance novels for the protagonist and antagonist to have fundamentally incompatible personalities and have society’s expectations get in the way of them being together.
The story also has several characteristics of Gothic fiction (similar to Edgar Allan Poe’s writings). Thornfield Hall, a gothic mansion with a madwoman living in the attic, and Mr. Rochester, a Byronic figure, are all elements typical of the Gothic genre.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jane Eyre is unquestionably a good book that everyone should read at least once in their lives. It is an old novel from the Victorian era that still seems relevant to women in today’s society.
