Title: Jane Eyre
Author: Charlotte Bronte
Publisher: Michael O’Mara; Elibron Classics series edition (August 1, 2011)
Page Count: 576
ISBN #: 1843175711
Publication Date: 1847
Description:
Jane Eyre is an orphan sentenced to the lower class of society because of her loss. Family members see her as a burden and quickly send her away to a boarding school that is known to be harsh and strict on the students. Despite the cruel conditioning of her childhood, Jane manages to grow to be a strong woman who knows her self-worth, but will she stand the test against the dark and mysterious happenings at Thornfield Hall?
Thoughts on the book:
Jane Eyre is an incredible example of the strength of the human will but also the tenderness of the human spirit.
One of the big issues Jane is faced with is how to deal with her position in society. She is the daughter of a poor curate and her mother, who was of noble blood, had been disowned because of her marriage, so according to Jane’s aunt, her position in the household is less than a servant. Even though society seems to be set against Jane, she holds no grudges against people as a whole, and still she doesn’t suffer or tolerate cruelty for long. She has open arms and deep appreciation for the kind people she comes across, but she will not sacrifice her self-worth for anyone or anything.
A question that kept coming to mind while reading Jane Eyre was:
Is it right to judge and pass negative verdict on victims of crime or wrongdoing? Some examples for the previous question: In Jane Eyre her social status was less than a servant because her dead parents left her no money. In today’s society some will feel less sympathy for a rape victim if they were dressed inappropriately. Can you think of instances where the victim is treated harsher than the offender?
Favorite quote:
“Prejudices, it is well known, are most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never been loosened or fertilised by education: they grow there, firm as weeds among stones.”
–Charlotte Brontë Jane Eyre