Jane Eyre in Overdue Podcast

Apr 12, 2011 Rachel rated it it was amazing

“That which yields is not always week.” Jacquelyn Carry, Kushels’ Dart series. That was the quote that came most often to my mind in this second reading of Jane Eyre. I don’t think that two books could ever be farther apart in theme and genre but still this quote will forever connect them in my mind.
I think Jane Eyre is often mislabeled. For some reason people seemed compelled to compare Jane Eyre to Jane Austen (is it the name ‘Jane’? It is about all they have in common) and for this reason pe “That which yields is not always week.” Jacquelyn Carry, Kushels’ Dart series. That was the quote that came most often to my mind in this second reading of Jane Eyre. I don’t think that two books could ever be farther apart in theme and genre but still this quote will forever connect them in my mind.
I think Jane Eyre is often mislabeled. For some reason people seemed compelled to compare Jane Eyre to Jane Austen (is it the name ‘Jane’? It is about all they have in common) and for this reason people think Jane Eyre is a Period Romance, which it is not. Yes there is a central love story but it is not what drives the plot as it would be in a romance novel. It is also not really a period piece (in my opinion) because you could take these same characters out of the past and put them in a modern setting and have a very similar story, that is not something that could be said of Jane Austen’s characters or plots.
Jane Eyre, at its heart, is about a young woman who is trying to be someone she can always respect. When at a young age she realizes that there is no one who loves or cares for her she decides that she will just have to do it herself. And thus begins a book that is so much more than a romance. This is a coming of age book, a ghost story, a gothic romance (as in original meaning not love story), inspirational, Christian fiction, it is the for runner of magic realism, woman’s empowerment and yes a love story.
What surprised me the most in re-reading this book was how invested I still was in the story. I have found that in re-reading other favorites because I know how things will turn out I am lest compelled to keep reading. Not so in Jane Eyre. The whole thing moved me again. It made me laugh, root for characters, cry, hold my breath and the ending gave me chills all over again. Even though I grew up watching all the different reproductions of this story in film and I know it so I well I could recite the whole thing (not word for word but scene for scene) I still couldn’t put the book down.
That is all well and good for me. I already like the classics, I like historical fiction and period pieces I even like romance. Why is this a book anyone else should read? Because you should and so should your daughters and this is why.
Jane Eyre is the best role model anyone could ask for. What sets this book apart and why it should not be listed with other romances is because it is not about how a man sweeps Jane of her feet and affirms her worth. That does happen, Mr. Rochester is the first person (not just man) who comes along and tells Jane how amazing she is and how much he loves her and so on (it is very moving don’t get me wrong) but Jane’s response is that she already knew it. She never needs someone else to tell her what she is worth she already knows.
The best part of the book is right in the middle when (without giving away spoilers) Mr. Rochester is trying to compel Jane to stay. They have already affirmed that they are madly in love with each other but an obstacle to their bliss has just been revealed.
“Who in the world cares for you? Who will be injured by what you do?”
Jane’s internal response is this: “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained, I am, the more I will respect myself.”
That is what I want my daughter to feel. It says that it doesn’t matter what the world things, weather good or bad, it matters what you think of yourself. This is not an excuse for immorality but a reason to adhere to them. This is what sets Jane Eyre apart. She has every reason in the world to give in to temptation and love. To pretend that love is an excuse to do what you want and not what is right. This is not just any fling either, this is the first person in the world who has given her love and who she loves completely in response. As the book goes on it is proved more and more that they are soul – mates (if there ever was such a thing) and yet she does not compromise herself for him. She does not use love as an excuse.
If you have not read Jane Eyre you should. It is well written in that it is has a simple and clean style and the author assumes intelligence in her readers ability to read between the lines. The characters are complex and grow throughout the book. The central mystery is well hidden and one of the best plot twists ever devised. Jane is a character that you can’t help but fall for and love. It is one of the best stories of all time. Read it!

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