A Book Report of Jane Eyre
Background information of the author:
Jane Eyre, a classical romantic novel was written by Charlotte Bronte. It was a milestone works in English literature. After it was published in 1847, it had caused some critics, but it also received great popularity among the public. The novel merges elements of three distinct genres. It has the form of a Bildungsroman, a story about a child's maturation, focusing on the emotions and experiences that accompany growth to adulthood. The novel also contains much social criticism, with a strong sense of morality at its core, and finally has the brooding and moody quality and Byronic character typical of Gothic fiction.
The author, Charlotte Bronte was born in English on April 21, 1816. She was the third of children in her family. Her two sisters, Emily and Anne were also the famous authors. So they were commonly called the three sisters of Bronte’s on literature history in England. When she was very young, her mother died for cancer and then she lived a hard and unfortunate life. She used to read a lot of books in her father’s book-room and began to write something creatively on the literature. But to the death of her two sisters, left her feeling dejected and emotionally isolate. In 1855, she died of pneumonia while the pregnant Jane Eyre not her first book but her first published masterpiece.
Key Character:
Jane Eyre
She is the protagonist and title character, orphaned as a baby. She is a pain-featured and reserved but talented, empathetic, hard-working, honest (not to say blunt), and passionate girl. Skilled at studying, drawing and teaching, she works as a governess at Thorn field Manor and fails in love with her wealthy employer, Edward Rochester. But her strong sense of conscience does not permit her to become his mistress, and she does not return to him until his insane wife is dead and she herself has come into an inheritance.
Mr. Reed:
Jane’s maternal uncle. He adopts Jane when her parents die before his own death. He makes his wife promise to care for Jane.
Mrs.Salah Reed:
Jane’s aunt by marriage, who resides at Gates head , because her husband insists Mrs. Reed adopts Jane .However, Jane receives nothing but neglect and abuse at her hands at the age of ten. Jane is sent away to school. Years later, Jane attempts to reconcile with her aunt, but Mrs. Reed spurns her, still resenting that her husband loved Jane more than his own children .Shortly afterward, Mrs. Reed dies of a John Reed
Jane’s nasty and spoiled cousin, responsible for Jane’s banishment to the red-room. Addicted to drinking and gambling, John supposedly commits
suicide at the age of twenty-three when his mother is no longer willing or able to pay his debts.
Eliza Reed
Another one of Jane’s spoiled cousins, Eliza is insanely jealous of the beauty of her sister, Georgiana. She nastily breaks up Georgiana’s elopement with Lord Edwin Vere, and then becomes a devout Christian. But her brand of Christianity is devoid of all compassion or humanity; she shows no sympathy for her dying mother and vows to break off all contact with Georgiana after their mother’s death. Usefulness is her mantra. She enters a convent in Lisle, France, eventually becoming the Mother Superior and leaving her money to the church.
Edward Fairfax Rochester
He is Jane’s lover, a dark, passionate, brooding man, who is traditional romantic hero. He possesses a strong physique and great wealth, but his face is very plain and his moods prone to frequent change. Impetuous and sensual, He falls madly in love with Jane.
Helen Burns
She is Jane’s best friend at Logwood. Although she is unfairly punished by Miss Scratched at Logwood, Helen maintains her poise, partially through her loving friendship with Miss Temple. She is a tolerant and peaceful girl, and she has many impressive intellectual attainments. She believes god is equal to everyone, so she is not afraid of death. But
unluckily she was died because of disease.
Maria Temple
The warm-hearted superintendent at Logwood generously offers the girls bread and cheese when their breakfasts are inedible. An impressive scholar, a model of ladylike behavior and a compassionate person, Miss Temple is a positive role model for Jane. She cares for Jane and Helen, offering them seedcake in her room and providing Helen with a warm, private bed when she is dying.
The structure of the book:
Jane’s childhood at Gates head Hall
Jane’s education at Logwood School
Jane’s time at Thorn field as a governess
Jane’s time with Rivers
Jane’s reunion and marriage with Rochester
Brief introduction:
When the novel begins, Jane, a ten-year-old girl lives with her only relatives, her aunt and cousins who dislike her. Powerless and isolated, she is treated as badly as a ragtag. As the novel goes on, she grows in strength. She distinguishes herself at Lowood School because of her hard work and strong intellectual abilities. As a governess of Thorn field, she
learns the pleasures and also the pains of love through her relationship with Edward Rochester. When Jane expects to change the life and goes down to get married, she unfortunately comes to know that Rochester has a legal wife who seems to be the shallow following him. After being deceived by him, she goes to Marsh End, where she regains her spiritual focus and discovers her own strength when she rejects st.John River’s marriage proposal. In the end, she has become a powerful, independent woman. After finding Rochester’s misfortune brought by his original wife, Jane chooses to stay with him forever.
The theme:
1. Love and passion.
She never gives up the determination in struggling against her fate, and maintains her dignity although she possesses neither wealth nor physical beauty.
2. Feminism
The role and standing of women in the Victorian era is constantly debated by Bronte throughout Jane Eyre, specifically in regard to Jane’s independence and ability to make decisions for her.
As a young woman, small and of relatively low social status, Jane, however, believes in the importance of women’s independence, and strives to maintain a position in life. Her initial lack of money and low social status does not unnerve her, as she realizes that those things are
just seemingly flashy.
3. Morality
Jane refuses to become Mr. Rochester's paramour because of her "impassioned self-respect and moral conviction." She rejects St. John Rivers' Puritanism as much the libertine aspects of Mr. Rochester's character. Instead, she works out a morality expressed in love, independence, and forgiveness. Jane does not want to be seen as an outcast to society by being a mistress to Rochester.
Classical fragment:
1. You think because I am poor, I am plain, I have no feelings? I promise you, if god is gifted me with wealth and beauty, I should make it does as hard for you to leave me just as for me to leave you now, but he did not, if my spirit can address yours, as we both pass the grave stood beside him. 2."Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton?--a machine without feelings? And can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!--I have as much soul as you,--and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through
the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh;--it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal,--as we are!" 3Why do you confide in me like this? What are you and she to me? You think that because I’m poor and plain, I have no feelings? I promise you, if God had gifted me with wealth and beauty, I would make it as hard for you to leave me now as it is for me to leave you. But He did not. But my spirit can address yours, as if both have passed through the grave and stood before heaven equal
Reflection：
After reading the novel, the image in the story may catches our attention. Jane Eyre is a female who pursues independence, the self-respect, equality, liberty and human value although she is a facial expression of average woman. She is poor but aspiring, small in body but huge in soul, obscure but self-respecting girl. After we close to the covers of the book, after having a long journey of the spirit, Jane, a marvelous figure, has left us too much to recall and think. We remember the goodness, for someone who lost arms and blinded in eyes, for someone who despised her for her ordinariness, and even for someone who had hurt her deeply in the past.
We remember her pursuit of self-respect and self-dignity. These are the typical character of Jane which can be seen throughout the
book. They are also the goals that Jane manages to gain and keep all her life. She treats people as equals, and also requests others’ equity to treat her. At Gates head, after she maliciously counter-attacks her male cousin Joan Reed who has beaten mercilessly her for no reason, she refutes immediately:” Master! How is he my master?” Am I a servant?” Although lives under subjugation, she is not willing to acknowledge herself one step below others humbly. Though there are differences in statues, in property and also in appearance, all the human being is equal in personality. And finally, although Jane loves Rochester deeply, she left him for self-respect and self-dignity. In order to maintain “Ego”, she protects personality as if protects the life.
The most impressing scene was the friendship between Helen and Jane. I know it is too hard to find a true friend in our daily life. When Jane was isolated by other students, Helen was willing to become her friend and they had a wonderful time. In my opinion, when you are in trouble, a real friend will help you out immediately, even if his help does not work, but it will make you stronger and more confident. Jane and Helen are this example, so are Lily and me. We are good friends when we were a little child. We share all the happiness and sadness to each other. Facing the difficulties, we make our effort to solve the problems together. In a word,
friendship is a key to keep our life warm and energetic.
From the novel, we can find the most valuable thing, that is, the true love. Jane has enough courage to pursue her love, which is of great significance in our society. At that time, that a woman matched a rich man was not allowed by all the people, but Jane believed that ever one should have the right to love or to be loved. She loved Rochester, not because he was wealthy, but because he was the man she loved. Their love is the true love. Nowadays, we are busy making money and ignore the existence of love. We should try our best to look for the true love, which will add warm and color to our life.
I think the author, Charlotte Bronte wrote this book for showing some of her own meaningful ideas, of which the bourgeois system of education, the women’s freedom and independence and also the true love. Jane Eyre’s spirit drives us to have a positive attitude toward life, especially the women.
Conclusion:
This is a story about a special and unreserved woman who has been exposed to a hostile environment but continuously and fearlessly struggling for her ideal life. The story can be interpreted as a symbol of the independence spirit.