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Jane Eyre Review


After watching the National Theatre's production of Jane Eyre, I decided that I would give the book another go. I had first read it for my 19th Century module in 2018. I did not overly enjoy it then, and this opinion held after my second reading.

I will admit that I am not one for the Bronte's, finding their works a little dull. Yet, Jane Eyre started promisingly. A female narrator who saw her flaws and never held back her thoughts from the reader. Positively Jane remains level headed throughout much of the book. She sticks to her morals and listens to her head rather than her heart, something that endeared her to me. A strong lead character Jane weaves her way through her life entertainingly and descriptively. As a narrator, Jane felt like a natural, abit biased. She is never the naive little girl but stands up for her morals. Yet, throughout her love for Rochester seemed to alter her descriptions of him. I never felt that I was seeing the true Rochester. Instead of the version that Bronte felt would be seen favourably by readers. This altered the love story by creating an imbalance of information. Although, their love does seem genuine and Bronte shows it growing and overcoming obsticles.

My main problem came with Bertha. At no point in the book did she ever feel like a well-written character. Described as one would describe a feral animal, her madness felt like an excuse. Instead of creating a character that existed beyond her madness, Bronte calls her once pretty and dumb. No evidence is ever given for either of these other than her husbands opinion. On which note Bertha's story is told entirely through Rochester and while he is allowed to explain his actions, made to seem heroic to the last by attempting to save this mad woman who caused him such trouble, Bertha is reduced to an insane would be murderer. This last actions, along with her other night time adventures, feel to me like a desperate cry for help. Ignored by the person who was meant to care for her. While Jane, who treats everyone around her with compassion, shows contempt for Bertha and highlights the negatives so that the book may end on a happy note.

Overall, Jane Eyre is a decent book that unfortunately misses the mark with one of its most important characters. 

6/10
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