Jane Eyre

The quintessential Gothic romance, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre has been on my reading list for some time. I'm a fan of her sister's infamous work, Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. Plus, with the new movie out, I had even more reason to start reading it.

At first glance, Jane's life is inherently depressing. Orphaned at a young age, she's taken under the care of her uncle. However, he dies shortly after and his haughty, jealous, and mean-spirited wife, Mrs. Reed, plays the role of Cinderella's stepmother and altogether makes Jane's life miserable. The haunting account of the "red room" is vivid and disturbing, as is the terrible treatment received by her bratty cousins. Unlike Cinderella, unfortunately, Jane is not eventually rescued by a prince, but is instead sent off to Lowood Academy, and so her dreary life continues.

Were the story told by any other character than Jane Eyre, it would more than likely be way too depressing to read. But Jane's optimistic and heavenward view of life and human nature seems to mature through her pitfalls and obstacles. I have to admit, I was impressed by her sense of theology and overall sense of God. In particular, her response to Mr. Rochester stood out to me:


"A wanderer's repose or a sinner's reformation should never depend on a fellow creature. Men and women die; philosophers falter in wisdom, and Christians in goodness: if any one you know has suffered and erred, let him look higher than his equals for strength to amend, and solace to heal."


In addition, Jane Eyre is filled with allegory: from the lightning-struck chestnut tree to attempted arson, the abundant symbolism and imagery provide even more room for thought. 


If you haven't already, go read Jane Eyre. It's a classic for a reason, and there's certainly never a dull moment (or page).