Oh Charlotte, how I love you! I can’t believe it took me so long to ever read a Bronte novel – what was I thinking?
Jane Eyre is the classic story of head strong, independent and imaginative Jane, a ten year old orphan living with her awful Aunt Reed and spoiled cousins. Life with the abusive Reed family is terrible, and soon after the novel starts her Aunt sends her to a boarding school for poor children. The situation at Lowood Institution is not much better and Jane survives near starvation, mistreatment by the holy roller who runs the place and a sickness that nearly wipes out half the school. After eight years Jane is finally able to leave the school and becomes a governess to young Adele, the ward of the passionate and tortured Mr. Rochester at Thornfield Hall.
Even though Jane is considered plain and unattractive and Mr. Rochester is abrupt and cynical, they begin to have feelings for each other. But there are strange goings-on at Thornfield Hall – crazy laughter heard through the house in the middle of the night and a near fatal fire in one of the bedrooms. As Jane and Mr. Rochester’s romance develops, the story about Mr. Rochester’s past unfolds. Soon Jane finds herself torn between the love of her life and the morals she hold dear.
It took me awhile to get through Jane Eyre as I wanted to savor the experience. And an experience it was! Passionate love, turmoil, betrayal and despair mixed in with lush scenery and gothic elements all made Ms. Bronte’s novel a fully engaging read.
I found myself re-reading many of the passages as they were so lovely. Here is one of my favorite quotes when Jane explains the feelings she has for Mr. Rochester:
Most true is it that ‘beauty is in the eye of the gazer.’ My master’s colourless, olive face, square, massive brow, broad and jetty eyebrows, deep eyes, strong features, firm, grim mouth – all energy, decision, will – were not beautiful, according to rule; but they were more than beautiful to me: they were full of an interest, an influence that quite mastered me – that took my feelings from my own power and fettered them in his. I had not intended to love him; the reader knows I had wrought hard to extirpate from my sould the germs of love there detected; and now, at the first renewed view of him, they spontaneously revived, green and strong! He made me love him without looking at me.
After finishing the book I rented the Masterpiece Theater version of Jane Eyre and was really happy to see that it was pretty faithful to the novel. The sexual tension between Jane (Ruth Wilson) and Mr. Rochester (Toby Stephens – who by the way is the son of Maggie Smith – aka Professor McGonagall) was spot on. As with most Masterpiece productions, they did a wonderful job with the costumes and scenery. In fact, I had only two minor quibbles with this production. First, I felt the actress who played Adele seemed way too old for the role and was awkward in the part. Also, I found the Toby Stephens was almost too like-able for Mr. Rochester. In the novel Mr. Rochester is way more brooding, gruff and temperamental. It seems that he was softened a bit, even to the point of being jovial, to make his character a little easier to swallow for modern audiences. These two issues aside, I felt the movie was ultimately a good adaptation of the classic book.
After finishing Jane Eyre, I immediately picked up Becoming Jane Eyre
Thanks to Laura’s Reviews for hosting the All About the Brontes Challenge and for Penguin Classics for sending me a copy of The Bronte Sisters: Three Novels: Jane Eyre; Wuthering Heights; and Agnes Grey(Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)
What a Bronte week you had
I have had Becoming Jane Eyre on reserve at the local library for weeks. I think I have made my way to number 4 in line. I am hoping my name comes to the top of the list as Spring Break begins. I can think of no better way to spend my week off.
I bet it was a treat to read these two books back to back! I don’t think I’ve ever read any of Bronte’s work.
Well Kathy, what are you waiting for!
I would highly recommend reading Jane Eyre – it was just so good!
I just watched the same movie last week and absolutely loved it!! My reason for picking it up was The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte…a wonderful book that I totally recommend!
Staci – That book is on my challenge list and hope to read it in the near future.
I’ve read Jane Eyre but it was a LONG time ago. I believe I was in middle school and I barely remember it so I’d like to re-read it one day.
You really should as it is just so good!
You’ve had a Bronte fest of your own Stephanie! I enjoyed reading these concise reviews. I am also a participant in Laura’s reading challenge.
Susan – isn’t the challenge fun? I’m so glad you joined in on it too!
Lovely reviews! I read Jane Eyre in high school and again a decade or so ago. It’s one of the few classics I can honestly say I loved. Wuthering Heights is good, too, but I didn’t fall in love with it as I did Jane Eyre.
I haven’t yet read Wuthering Heights, but hope to do so in the near future.
That’s Ruth WILSON, not Ruth Williams, playing Jane Eyre in the wonderful BBC series from 2006!
As to Toby Stephens’ Mr. Rochester being almost “too likable”, I think his strength in the role is that he is true to Edward Rochester as created by Charlotte Bronte, in his ability to change emotions on a dime. Rochester is supposed to be a very abrupt and changeable man, and Stephens brings that to his portrayal, IMO. When Rochester is “jovial”, it’s because he is fascinated by this girl, Jane Eyre — as he is more curious about her and wants to know her better, he becomes more animated. That also is true to the story, IMO, and I didn’t think they “softened” him particularly for this production.
Sarah – thanks for pointing out that I had the last name wrong for the actress who played Jane Eyre – I must have read it wrong!
I believe that Toby’s character was good in the Masterpiece version of Jane Eyre, but have to stand by what I wrote in my review. There were many more times in the movie when he was the likable, funny and animated character, rather than the tortured one soul we see more of in the book. Maybe the director or writer needed more of a balance in the character to make it true to the original work. Overall though I felt the movie was a good one and would watch it again!
Fantastic review! Jane Eyre’s language was more aggresive compared to Jane Austen, who I got used to the moment I adjusted. This could be because of the theme of the literature which was a more deeper romance.
It’s a story of mind over heart or heart over mind; morale over love or love over morale. I want to read Wuthering Heights next. For sure it would be as good as this one.
My girlfriend recently read Wuthering Heights, after loving Jane Eyre, and couldn’t stand it! I hope that’s not the case for me, although it makes me a bit worried!
FWIW, I can’t stomach Wuthering Heights either. WH and JE are two VERY different books. I can’t find anything redeeming about Heathcliff, but hey, that’s just my take on it!
PS: As to Toby Stephens’ portrayal of EFR, reasonable people can disagree! And there is going to be another re-make of JE filmed this year or early next year, and it will reportedly be heavier on the gothic elements (in light of the success of all the vampire movies & TV shows that are popular lately). It should be interesting to see what a new actor & actress make of the roles of EFR and JE, but I think they will be hard-pressed to improve on the screen chemistry that Stephens & Wilson have.
Wow–you just flung yourself headfirst in the Charlotte Bronte pool! Great reviews.
I love Jane Eyre and the movie version, but haven’t read Becoming Jane Eyre. I’ll have to give it a try!
I’m participating in the Brontë challenge, too. Like Staci said, you will also enjoy The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë by Syrie James. It’s an excellent read. Are you going to read Wuthering Heights? That novel tends to be polarizing, but it just might be my favorite book.
I have Jane Eyre on my list to read this year because I’m not sure if I’ve ever really read it – but I know the story. So I will just re/read and see. Becoming Jane Eyre sounds good, too!
A nice week in Bronte land. Believe it or not I have not read Jane Eyre…I know…gasp…you’d think I would have picked up and foregone my upteenth time reading Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. but no. This year, that will change.
Great review of all three..which are on my list.
I read the Bronte sisters many many moons ago and enjoy both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Both books take right into the stories with their descriptions and the characters feelings. Glad you enjoyed JE. Never saw the movie thought so I’ll have to look that up.
Great reviews! I love your Bronte fest. I like to read a classic book and watch the movie as well. I loved the Masterpiece Theatre version .. . the sexual tension was great! I love Tobey Stephens in Jane Eyre as well as in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.
I’m glad you were a part of this challenge!