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= Jane Eyre =

Introduction:
Jane Eyre, a classic autobiography written by Charlotte Bronte under the pen name Currer Bell was revolutionary for its time. Published in 1847, Jane Eyre has stood the test of time, a testament to the literary genius of Bronte. Written in an age where gender discrimination and the class divide was at its finest, the success of a novel that followed the story of a simple young woman was unexpected. The author herself felt the need to write under a pseudonym in order to be taken seriously before revealing her true identity years later. This is perhaps why the novel has resonated with so many readers; it is an authentic representation of the struggles of women and the unjust treatment of the poor. As stated by Jane Austen, “It is only a novel… or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language”, this holds true for Jane Eyre. In order for a novel to be successful, its characters must be dynamic and relatable. Jane Eyre, written in the genre of a bildungsroman, effectively captures the journey of its protagonist. It follows the experience of a young girl, depicting her growth to adulthood and her love for the master of Thornfield. Jane navigated her way through her life based on her own moral compass. The audience was able to watch Jane's immense personal growth and drastic improvement in her status, both financially and emotionally. Jane Eyre’s well-made plot is another important factor of the novel that contributed to its success. Bronte used prolepsis and analepsis in clever ways to create suspense and to eventually allow the audience to have all of their questions answered. The end of the novel brings a satisfying sense of closure for the readers. Each of the characters and settings introduced throughout the story was vital to the development of the plot. Additionally, the use of a narrative voice in a novel is another extremely important factor that defines its success. The point of view from which the novel is told, must suit the story and contribute to the way the plot is developed. Choosing a first-person narrative in Jane Eyre allowed for the exploration and use of unique features such as gothic elements, a feature that is highlighted in the novel when Jane was unaware of the presence of Bertha. The use of elements such as these massively furthered the plot and made the book a far more captivating read.

Reading Jane Eyre is an immersive experience as the readers themselves are met with several thought-provoking questions. There are many instances in the book where the reader is almost invited to discuss Jane’s choices with her, sparking thoughts about their own principles and values in their minds. Through reading Jane Eyre, the audience is able to learn more about themselves. There is also a certain universality to Jane Eyre as it provokes the reader to explore the idea of an underdog which to this day continues to resonate with and intrigue its readers.

Setting:
Jane Eyre is structured around 5 different locations, all presumably in Northern England, each of which has its own importance in her history. She spends her early childhood in Gateshead Hall, the residence of the Reeds. From there, she moves to Lowood, where she meets and falls under the influence of Mr. Brocklehurst, Miss Temple, and Helen Burns. She becomes the governess of Adele at Thornfield, where she falls in love with Rochester, subsequent to which she runs away after learning of Bertha. She arrives at Moor house which is the residence of her cousins, the Rivers family. She and Rochester are then reunited at his hunting lodge, Ferndean Manor, at the climax of the novel. Every house or place Jane lives in, reflects her experience in her life:

Gateshead: Most of her childhood begins at Gateshead, where the word "gate" reflects the beginning of the novel and Jane's initiation into the real world and becomes the "head" or start of her problems. Here she faced a period of loneliness and hostility from her family. Gothic elements are introduced in the novel, as Jane remembers the night she spent in the red room where she met the ghost of her uncle Reed at Gateshead as punishment after being hit by John Reed

Lowood: She does her schooling at Lowood which means "low wood" relating to the location of the place which was next to a tree in a low valley but also because it was a "low" period in her life. At Lowood, Jane underwent intensive moral and spiritual evolution. Her friendship with Helen Burns taught her that patience and faith in God are important. Lowood was as dark and gloomy as Gateshead.

Thornfield: Thornfield is described as "picturesque" with "battlements round the top" and a grey front. It was a place of difficulty and trial in Jane's life, where she fell in love with Rochester, only to find out about his violently insane first wife who was locked in a room. She then returned to find the estate burned, set on fire by Rochester's wife, who then jumped to her death.

Moor house: Moor house was a wide open place suggestive of freedom. Jane discovered friends and relatives in unlikely places and became a fully-formed person with free will. The Rivers found her collapsed at the door and took her in and nursed her back to health.

Ferndean manor: Ferndean manor, described as “a building of considerable antiquity, moderate size, and no architectural pretensions, deep buried in a wood.” is a place suggestive of fulfilment. Ferndean is described as a dark place, representing the state of mind of Rochester. In Ferndean manor, Jane reunited with Rochester, experiencing mature love.

Themes

 * Love vs autonomy- Jane’s search for love and independence is a prevalent theme throughout the novel. At the beginning of the novel, Jane is portrayed as a character who reliant through her childhood on her ruthless aunt. The harsh circumstances she is forced to endure as a child strongly influence her desire for independence and financial stability later on in the book. Jane is also seen frequently faced with a dichotomy. Her desire to be in a relationship where she is on an equal footing with her partner, causes her to, despite her deep love for Rochester, forgo his marriage proposal. Her “fear of losing her autonomy” by becoming Rochester’s mistress and her awareness of Rochester’s social class as compared to her midway through the book, leaves Jane feeling lost and sombre. Furthermore, later during Jane’s time at Marshend, she once again receives a marriage proposal from St. John; Jane forgoes this proposal too, due to her lack of love for St John, who she finds cold, and unfeeling. It is only at the end of the book, after Bertha’s death, and Jane’s newfound affluence, that Jane finally finds the balance between love and autonomy as she becomes financially independent, far more than Rochester and is able to marry the man who she loves.


 * Social class and status:  This is another prevalent theme in the book. Growing up as a “charity child”, and later sent to Lowood, Jane found herself scorned for her low social status. Characters like Brocklehurst at Lowood often looked down upon Helen and Jane, and evidently set double standards for students of a higher social standing. Later in the book, when Jane becomes a governess in Thornfield, she finds herself in an awkward boundary, neither upper nor lower class. It is once again this class boundary that Jane finds restrictive. The restrictiveness of class is highlighted when Mrs. Fairfax is seen warning Jane about her choice to pursue a relationship with Rochester.


 * Gender Roles: Through the book, Charlotte Bronte also addresses the repressive nature of patriarchal Victorian Society in which women were expected to "confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, an expectation that Jane found herself wanting to deviate from. The book is also frequently seen exploring gender role reversals as well. Unlike what was expected of other women at the time, Jane was a governess who was well educated. Her desire to be on equal footing with Rochester was fulfilled by the end of the book as she was in several ways the person on whom Rochester was entirely dependent, both physically and financially.


 * Religion: Throughout the book, Jane encounters several characters who have strong beliefs about religion and who greatly influence her. In her childhood, Jane finds people who consider themselves to be devout followers of god and Christianity, often twist these ideals and selectively use them, resulting in “hypocrisy and injustice”.  Mr. Brocklehurst at Lowood is one such example of a person who embodies a seemingly misguided view of Christianity, while treating Jane and others as Lowood as inferiors on the basis of their wealth. In stark contrast, however, Jane finds that Helen at Lowood too is a devout follower of Chritianity but it perturbed to find that Jane is the polar opposite of Brocklehurst- idealistic and unnaturally forgiving.

Character:
The novel is written in 3rd person by a 30-year-old Jane dictating all the important and tough memories in her life from when she was a little girl. Jane is the protagonist of the story, and is just a simple girl who battles through life's struggles. Jane develops from a pained, uneducated child to an independent young woman. Jane goes through several phases of her life where she is put down by characters like Mrs. Reed or where she is learning about herself. From the beginning, Jane possesses a sense of her self-worth, pride, dedication towards her trust in God. Her integrity is constantly tested over the progression of the novel, and Jane has to learn to balance the frequently conflicting aspects of herself, to find happiness. In the novel, they introduce several characters alongside Jane that give the book an interesting plot. Through the help of other characters Jane was able to mature and grow towards freedom. Jane faces many obstacles - her cruel and abusive Aunt Reed, the oppressive conditions at Lowood school, her love for Rochester and more. The other major characters are Mr.Rochester, Bertha Mason, Mrs. Reed, the Reed siblings, Helen Burns, and St John to name a few.

Edward Fairfax Rochester is an extremely wealthy man, he is the central male character and Jane’s lover.

Mrs. Reed is Jane’s cruel aunt who is forced to look after Jane by her late husband's wishes. She raised Jane at Gateshead until Jane is sent away to Lowood. Mrs. Reed resents her because Mr. Reed always loved Jane more than his own children. Mrs. Reed has 3 children - John Reed, Eliza Reed, Georgiana Reed. They along with their mother tormented and ruined Jane's childhood.

Bertha Mason is the crazy wife of Mr. Rochester. She lives locked in a secret room in Thornfield. Bertha ultimately burns down Thornfield, ending her own life in the process.

Helen Burns as Jane's only friend at Lowood was victimized by her teachers and would regularly take punishments, Helen tragically dies of tuberculosis at a very young age.

Jane's trust in God was influenced by Helen Burns. Helen explained to her that God is a “Might Universal Parent” that would love and help her through tough times. Through Helen, Jane has learned to love, overlook hatred, and live her life in happiness. Years later, when Mrs. Reed is dying, Jane puts this advice to use: she forgives Mrs. Reed for her abuse and attempts to set her aunt at peace. Though it’s too late for Mrs. Reed to make amends, Jane believes that she did the right thing. From St. John, Jane learns to embrace her interests and establish her own morality. Miss Temple was another significant influence on Jane’s life. She treated her as her own daughter, indicating that Jane is no longer alone. This resulted in her development in terms of maturity and confidence.

Although Jane shows signs of maturity, she has yet to gain complete control over her emotions. This is visible in Thornfield Hall, where Mr. Rochester asks her whether he is attractive or not, she impulsively responds by saying no. Jane regrets her actions which shows that she is starting to understand the negative consequences of her actions. Before Rochester, Jane only knew of men that were unforgivably harsh to her. Mr. Rochester, as a result of his kind demeanor towards Jane, teaches her how to appreciate herself, enhances her confidence, and betters her self esteem process.

With the help of all of these characters, Jane was able to grow and develop new skills that helped her get to an overall feeling of freedom and confidence. Even though she went through many obstacles she was able to better herself and turn into the confident and independent woman she was now.

Narrator:
Jane Eyre is told through first person narration, this has been established through the language in the novel and from the words ‘autobiography’ written on the first page of the book. Throughout the novel, Jane recalls events from her life that she deems significant as a 29-30-year-old woman. Possibly the most famous line from the book, “Reader, I married him”, is a great example of the advantages to this type of narration. In the case of Jane Eyre, using first-person narration allows for a connection to be built between the reader and the protagonist. Bronte reveals Jane’s innermost thoughts and thereby makes the audience feel as though they are the keeper of those secrets and Jane’s confidant. Jane’s constant reference to the reader also works to ensure that they feel involved in her decisions and are therefore more invested in the story. The novel tells a woman’s story from a woman's perspective, something that Victorian audiences had rarely or never seen before. This further added to the impact that the novel had on past audiences.

However, this creative choice calls the reliability of the narrator to question and opens the possibility or scope for alternative points of view. First-person narration is often incomplete and biased, meaning that the reader may not be aware of the true events and is only given access to a single side of the story. The reader must keep in mind that Jane is writing the story as a 30-year-old woman and referring to events that happened to her 10-20 years before. Put simply, this means that Jane may not have been able to remember exactly what happened. Her memories could have been distorted or exaggerated in her mind as time passed. One such example from the novel is the red room, a traumatic incident experienced by Jane at the age of 10. Jane’s recollection of her experiences at her aunt’s house is likely to be affected by the bias she had against her aunt. The gothic elements present in this passage are also likely to be a direct result of Jane’s heightened imagination as a young frightened child.

The first person narration seen in Jane Eyre allows for the reimagining of alternative points of view. Bertha Mason, as described in the novel, is a savage and ghost-like woman. Jane even goes to the extent of comparing her with a German vampire. However, this character was reimagined by author Jean Rhys in Wide Sargasso Sea. Here, the character is given a more human quality and can be empathised with. Jane’s description of Bertha could have been affected by her relationship with Mr. Rochester and his disapproval of her.

The narrative voice in Jane Eyre is very effective in driving the plot forward. It works well for the genre of a Bildungsroman as the reader can easily discern whether Jane has matured through the language she uses and from her thoughts or feelings.

Structure:
The three volumes of Jane Eyre are of roughly equal length. To keep the reader involved, each of the first two volumes thus ends with a dramatic event related to Rochester's marriage. The fire at the end of volume one could be seen as a warning or a foreshadowing of the dangerous situation in which Jane is placed, the interruption of Jane's wedding to Rochester revealing the true identity of the woman in the attic, responsible for the fire, and the resolution of the novel which is brought about by another fire. During the course of these volumes, Jane grows from an immature youth to a well-respected woman by learning from several different environments that test her character. Overall, the well-made plot has a few unifying factors that bind the separate structural elements such as ellipses which have been extensively used to keep things unsaid, however having an importance in guiding the story. An evident example of this would be Jane’s parents being dead. Another significant element is analepsis or flashbacks. This tool has been used throughout the novel as it is a recount of Jane’s narrative. Similarly, prolepsis or flash forwards have been used in the form of foreshadowing and an example is seen when Bertha tears apart Jane’s veil right before she is married. These elements or structural tools are used to create the three volumes. The volumes could be described in three parts- her early life, formative experiences and the conclusion, all contributing to her development in terms of maturity.

In her early life, she taught herself to be virtuous. Her aunt’s punishments had made her realize that she was not treated as a part of the family. Lowood institution was not a better place, but it helped Jane stand on her own feet. The setting of Thornfield is observed to have more chapters than the other settings, which falls under another structural element- duration. This is due to the fact that there are many events in Thornfield that contribute to the development of Jane’s maturity such as her leaving the marriage after she finds out about Bertha, an act that only an experienced and mature person would make as she knows that staying would only cause her more pain.

While living in the Moor house, Jane’s cousin, St. John proposes that they flee to India, but the same night, she thinks she hears Mr Rochester’s voice: “was it a mere nervous impression… more like an inspiration”, indicating that she feels the need to visit Rochester and does so. She follows her emotions and is rewarded with a marriage with her true love. She finds that it is sometimes acceptable to follow her feelings and hence concluding that she has become a mature adult.

Adaptation:
In its 173 years of publication, Jane Eyre has been made into 8 on-screen English adaptations, and countless more in other languages or loosely based on the story of Jane Eyre.

The onscreen adaptations are not however the only adaptations of Jane Eyre, there are comics, other books, The Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Hyrs and Jasper Fforde’s The Eyre Affair being the most popular, the other books include retellings, re-workings, sequels, prequels, and spinoffs. There's also a variety of Ballet performances, live shows, and radio shows.

The BBC show by the name of Jane Eyre is one of the more popular adaptations of the novel. It is known for its good characterization and clarity with the themes. The setting and dialogue are high-quality and the chemistry between characters is beautiful.

Another popular adaptation is the 2011 film of the same name as the novel, however, the structure of this adaptation is effective as it starts from a point of conflict and the story is told through flashbacks. This adaptation's settings also help in creating a gothic feel.

The Wide Sargasso Sea told  the story of Bertha Mason and was written as a prequel and response to Jane Eyre by Jean Hyrs. This book provides a perspective on the common symbol of the woman in the attic, it's also a valuable piece as it was published in 1966 and reflects on the Victorian Period, racism at the time, and the socio-political scene of West Indies at the time. The theme of foreshadowing has been quite beautifully depicted through the form of dreams. The relationship between Bertha, who is named Antoinette in the novel, and Rochester is also explored in great depths.

It is essential to, however, read the book before you watch any of the adaptations as some of them miss out on important scenes, settings, characters, themes, or dialogue. Reading the book before watching the movie is also important to help you visualize characters and setting without the assistance of the filmmaker's visual choices, therefore reading gives us a unique passage. Reading the book allows more insight into the events taking place and decisions made by the characters.Most of the onscreen adaptation of Jane Eyre tend to focus on the love story and pay little attention to Jane’s childhood, The love story in the novel is a critique of the times the novel was written, and the book was able to spread its focus across all themes, which often lacks in the adaptations

The 2011 Jane Eyre movie, While having one of the more loved portrayals of  Jane Eyre and Mr.Rochester, glazes over the character of Helen Burns and Jane’s time in Lowood, and the character of Miss Temple is omitted. Both the gypsy meeting and the death of Miss reed have also been omitted in this adaptation.

According to the reader’s guide of Jane Eyre, Many on-screen adaptations have missed out on characters and events that were a part of Jane’s journey in the novel. They rank 7 of the most loved Jane Eyre adaptations ( 1934,1943,1983,1996, 2006 and 2017) based on the inclusion of scenes and characters.

The movies and shows have to condense three volumes with five hundred pages into a 2-hour movie, which greatly hinders the details of the text,  as the book is free to go more in-depth with the details. Action sequences are more visual and portrayed better in on-screen and theatrical adaptations, while more emotional growth and reasoning can be better portrayed through a written form. Inner monologues show the internal thought of the character, but on-screen adaptations, this is not possible most of the time.

Other details may get lost in the move from a written form to its onscreen form. Each filmmaker chooses to focus on one or two themes and thus the other themes often get overshadowed.

Reference section
Introduction:

MJ BookloverMary Jane is a longtime literature lover who lived in the Cincinnati area for many years. “Why Does ‘Jane Eyre’ Still Matter?” Read Great Literature, 9 May 2020, readgreatliterature.com/why-does-jane-eyre-still-matter/.

“The 7 Critical Elements Of A Great Book.” Writers Write, 3 Aug. 2020, www.writerswrite.co.za/the-7-critical-elements-of-a-great-book/.

Setting:

“Structure by Setting.” It.info, https://crossref-it.info/textguide/jane-eyre/9/1090.

“Setting.” Novel Summaries Analysis, http://www.novelexplorer.com/jane-eyre/setting-36/

Themes:

LitCharts. "Love, Family, and Independence Theme in Jane Eyre | LitCharts." LitCharts. n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2020. < https://www.litcharts.com/lit/jane-eyre/themes/love-family-and-independence >

eNotes. "Jane Eyre Themes - eNotes.com." eNotes. n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2020. 

Brontë. "Jane Eyre Themes | Course Hero." Course Hero. n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2020. < https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Jane-Eyre/ >

Charlotte Brontë. "Jane Eyre: Themes | SparkNotes." Sparknotes.com. n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2020. < https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/janeeyre/themes/ >

Character:

Wikipedia Contributors. "Jane Eyre." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Sept. 2020. Web. 24 Sept. 2020. < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre#Major_characters >

Charlotte Brontë. "Jane Eyre Character Analysis in Jane Eyre | SparkNotes." Sparknotes.com. n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2020. < https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/janeeyre/character/jane-eyre/ >

N.a. "Main Characters - Meet Jane Eyre." Sites.google.com. 10 Sept. 2020. Web. 24 Sept. 2020. < https://sites.google.com/site/meetjaneeyre/main-characters >

Rogers, Shelton. "Religion in Jane Eyre | The Nineteenth Century British Novel." Blogs.commons.georgetown.edu. 19 Sept. 2016. Web. 24 Sept. 2020. < https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/engl-145-fall2016/2016/09/19/200/ >

prezi.com. "Male Influences of Jane Eyre." prezi.com. n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2020. < https://prezi.com/_qc_bynje6a0/male-influences-of-jane-eyre/ >

Study.com. "St. John Rivers in Jane Eyre: Character Analysis & Quotes - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com." Study.com. n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2020. < https://study.com/academy/lesson/st-john-rivers-in-jane-eyre-character-analysis-quotes.html >

Narrator:

Bunting, Joe. "The Ultimate Point of View Guide: Third Person Omniscient vs. Third Person Limited vs. First Person." The Write Practice. 24 Jul. 2020. Web. 24 Sept. 2020. < https://thewritepractice.com/point-of-view-guide/ >

Structure:

“Bildungsroman.” LitCharts, www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/bildungsroman.

“Structure Defined by Volume.” It.info, crossref-it.info/textguide/jane-eyre/9/1089.

“Jane Eyre's Personal Development Through Experience: [Essay Example], 2413 Words.” GradesFixer, 28 Sept. 2018, gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/maturation-of-jane-eyre/.

“Jane Eyre Questions and Answersby Charlotte Brontë.” Enotes.com, Enotes.com, www.enotes.com/homework-help/how-jane-eyre-journey-from-childhood-towards-1143066.

“The Maturing of Jane in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.” The Maturing of Jane in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre | 123 Help Me, www.123helpme.com/essay/The-Maturing-of-Jane-in-Charlotte-Brontes-16647.

Adaptation:

“Adaptations of Jane Eyre.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Aug. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptations_of_Jane_Eyre.

“Movie and TV Adaptations.” Movie and Television Adaptations of Jane Eyre, jane-eyre.guidesite.co.uk/movies-tv.

“Jane Eyre.” IMDb, IMDb.com, 18 Mar. 2011, www.imdb.com/title/tt1229822/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1.

“Jane Eyre.” IMDb, IMDb.com, 18 Mar. 2011, www.imdb.com/title/tt1229822/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1.

Singh, Tanushree. “Why You Should Always Read the Book before Watching Its Screen Adaptation.” Times of India, 15 Sept. 2020, 08:30 IST, timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/why-you-should-always-read-the-book-before-watching-its-screen-adaptation/articleshow/78108771.cms.

Blakemore, Erin. “Sorry, but Jane Eyre Isn’t the Romance You Want It to Be.” JSTOR Daily, 23 Feb. 2019, daily.jstor.org/sorry-but-jane-eyre-isnt-the-perfect-romance-you-want-it-to-be/.

McNulty, Ed. “Jane Eyre (2011) • Visual Parables.” Visual Parables, 10 Feb. 2011, readthespirit.com/visual-parables/jane-eyre-2011/.

“Book vs. Movie: Jane Eyre (1943, 1983, 1996, 2006, 2011).” 21 Mar. 2020, Book vs. Movie: Jane Eyre (1943, 1983, 1996, 2006, 2011).

External links section
Example external link

https://jane-eyre.guidesite.co.uk/movies-tv