Review of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte; review by Tulip Sengupta

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is a staple of literature from the Victorian era. The novel’s protagonist, is a female, Jane Eyre, who is nothing out of the ordinary. Jane is an orphan, and lives with her abusive aunt and cousins, until she becomes an adolescent. Then, Jane is sent to Lowood Institution, which she attends for six years. At this school, Jane gradually develops into a young woman, yet is still unsure of her identity. After teaching for two years at the school, after graduation, Jane accepts a job as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she falls in love with the master of the abode, Edward Rochester. Jane’s relationship with Mr. Rochester is enticing and captivating; the reader can never expect what will happen between the two. The majority of the novel is focused on their complicated relationship.

Forced to read this novel for school, I initially despised the book. From its blandness and usage of high vocabulary, I could not stand the book. However, midway through the book, my opinion of the book took a complete 360. The author began to take a stance and for a lack of a better term, jab, at the gender divide and class system of the time. Although Jane Eyre is far from the ordinary, the character, Jane Eyre, is the ordinary. This is one of the few books written during that time period in which the female heroine is not unconventionally beautiful. All in all, I would definitely recommend this book. Although it may seem like a dull and painful read at first, the novel is compelling and keeps one at the edge of their seat.