Jane Eyre- Charlotte Bronte

Synopsis:

This novel follows the life of our protagonist, Jane Eyre, a plain, orphaned, English girl living with her aunt- though not due to Mrs Reed’s resplendent geniality- rather a promise she made to her late husband before his death. Hence, throughout her childhood, Jane suffered saturnine feelings of abandonment and isolation- notions which were augmented by the fulminating nature of her cousins. After years of emotional and physical abuse, Jane is sent away to a boarding school, whence she discovers her love for knowledge despite the unforgiving conditions she is kept under. Eventually, after leaving school, our protagonist ventures to find placement as a governess; providence leading her to the manor of an aristocratic businessman, Mr Rochester- triggering the turbulent, tragic tale of their journey towards love. Using first person retrospective narrative, Bronte enables a reader to understand Jane’s character development, yet also become aware of the oppression in which she suffered solely due to her gender in this patriarchal society. Though this tale is far from smooth sailing- in fact, arguably Jane only remained alive due to pure good fortune- the writer cleverly captures the resilience of women, whilst also remaining truly authentic in speech and actions- a quiet symbol of feminist resistance.

My reflections:

Although this book ostensibly is known as a romance novel, in digging deeper into the narrative there is something so charmingly feminist about the way in which Bronte allows her protagonist’s inner monologue to echo through the tale. In a society where women are expected to be silent, obedient, and staid, through the use of first person narrative a reader becomes aware of the many layers in which women embody. Jane isn’t afraid of solidarity, or of using her voice, yet she does so in a beautiful, bold way.

A quote that still echoes in my mind even days after turning the last page is when Jane stands up to Mr Rochester by saying, “Do you think that because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, that I am soulless and heartless?”. Perhaps what is most striking to me about this sentence is that even 180 years later, in a current day society where the majority would argue that the patriarchy is a long-gone notion of the past, these words summarize how I feel as a woman in the 21st century. I am not seen for my ticking mind, or my fruitful heart, rather my words are secondary to a man’s, my presence is inferior, and my kindness is manipulated- just like Jane.

Reading Jane Eyre didn’t just connect me to a character, it allowed me to feel seen. In Jane’s fulminating defiance, in her quiet strength, in her unwavering sense of self, I found a mirror. Perhaps this is Bronte’s more beautiful triumph of all: she gave voice to a woman who, across centuries, still speaks to us all.

 

Who is the real mad woman in the attic?

Lets discuss Mrs Mason- a Jamaican woman brought to the west due to her marriage with Mr Rochester. She is the imfamous ‘mad woman of the attic’- yet is this fact, or fabrication?

Through the lens of a white-Christian England, her character is displayed as mentally unstable and animalistic- yet how can we be sure this is truly the case when Bertha’s voice is so noticeably silenced? The only portrayal of her character is told through the eyes of Mr Rochester and Jane: maybe, Bertha was never mad, maybe she was just an inconvenience, a barrier between our budding couple’s future… Perhaps when viewed through a post-colonial criticism (examining how literature reflects and reinforces the legacy of colonialism and imperial structures), one is able to argue that she is simply a product of a racist society. Continually is she exoticized and dehumanized- “What is was, whether beast or human being, one could not, at first sight, tell”; on reflection, does ‘madness’ truly have a ‘look’, or is it solely just a state of mind? If so, isn’t Jane’s depiction of her appearance a mere condemning of her heritige?

Finally, we know that Mrs Mason came from a wealthy family, and Mr Rochester not-“My father did not like me to inherit property. I was younger than my brother: he sent me out to Jamaica , to espouse a bride already courted for me”- yet once married, he became rich and prosperous. Isn’t this purely an exploitation of her monetary value?

Maybe the ‘mad woman in the attic’ isn’t Bertha at all, maybe is it the society that put her there…

 

Bronte’s depiction of love:

In a society where romance novels are solely revolved around sexual relations and superficial love, it is so refreshing to read a book which truly encapsulates the mind of a woman in love with not just the appearance of a person, but the soul of one. Because in truth, what is romance without pure connection? Rather than falling for Mr Rochester due to his physical appearance or status, Jane sees him for his spirit, his essence. She yearns, yet not in a way in which she loses her sense of self- rather arguably she gains it. She discovers what it means to be a woman, not one marginalized by a patriarchal society, but one who lives in full alignment with her core principals and desires. Perhaps Bronte is teaching her readers that love shouldn’t be all consuming, it shouldn’t dictate each living, breathing moment- instead it should add depth to our lives, without erasing who we are. In truth, I believe Bronte captured the mechanisms of the feminine mind in the purest, highest form; her novel is timeless, it continues to resonate because it speaks to the soul, and not just the heart.