Jane Eyre
Genre: Romance,
Classic, Victorian Literature
Author: Charlotte Brontë
Rating: Read the disclaimer
Disclaimer: I don’t usually rate classics. But if I did, I
would be rating Jane Eyre 10/5 stars. Does that make sense? Why would I rate it
like that? But then, this is not a review, it is more of a book discussion. And
this discussion is going to reveal why I would rate Jane Eyre so. Read on.
Jane Eyre, O, you girl!
How could I explain how much you gravitate my adorations and
respect! I don't know why the school did not encourage us to read this as much as
they did Sherlock Holmes. I don't know why parents or elders did not talk about
this as much as they did Pride and Prejudice. Jane Eyre should be a must-read to
every girl out there. A plain-looking, simple girl who is one of the best
characters ever. But firstly, let me tell you why.
Jane Eyre, orphaned at a very young age, was taken into her
maternal uncle's house and mistreated by her aunt and her son. But she did not
conceive whining about it to be the solution. Neither did she demand attention.
Rather, she chose to go to a boarding school that only offered thin clothes and
burnt porridge, instead of staying with a family that disliked. As a kid, she
did not give in to luxuries and chose a path of freedom and knowledge.
Her friendship with Helen Burns was so pure that I felt a sweet
warmth wrap around me as they both kissed each other's cheek and slept in each other's arms, at
Helen's death bed.
When the only person she connected well with left, she did not
choose to stay and follow a monotonous life. She sought independence. She left
the only place she had lived in for years to a new adventure, a new life. She
was in control of her life rather than letting fate decide it.
Soon, she settled in the house and with its inmates although a
peculiar something was happening in the house every now and then. And sooner
she fell in love with Mr Rochester. I am not asking you to learn to fall in
love quickly. Instead, learn why you should fall in love. Jane fell in love with Mr Rochester Not because the other
person is handsome but because he treated her equally. He requested and
respected her opinions and presence. He liked her for who she was rather than
what she looked like.
This is going to be the main point according to me. Tender words
and foolish seductive phrases and over-the-top romantic descriptions were not
her thing. She was intolerant of them. She preferred reality over fantasizing,
cheesy dialogues. Which is why she is my bro.
When she learned of Mr Rochester's secret, she let him explain.
She did not shun him or hate him. She let him explain, heard him out, and
decided for herself. And she did not let love bargain her principles. In spite of her unconditional love for him, she took courage and left him, although it
meant walking into the world unprepared.
The sudden acquisition of wealth did not rejoice her merely because
she had no one to share with. Take it in. Let it sync. Ponder over it. Then
react. She was elated the next moment upon learning that she actually had
cousins and even shared her wealth with them. Money did not give her happiness
that relations did.
When St John Rivers proposed her to marry him and serve as his
assistant in a missionary to India, she refused to marry without love and stood
by her decision. She let no feeling of obligation or indebtedness affect her
liberty or life.
She loved Mr Rochester even when he was blind and handicapped. She
reunited with him and resumed their incomplete Happily Ever After.
The ultimate lesson is that, you should not be intimated by the
countless hurdles life throws at you. You should not let the delusions of the
problems fetter you into a non-progressive state. Instead, face it and look for a solution with principles in your mind. Above all, accept life for what it is. Nothing more. Nothing less. Just like Jane Eyre.
Jane Eyre is my favourite classical literature and it was wonderful to hear your take on it.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much
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