Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.  (Published in 1847.  Written under the fictitious name of Currer Bell.  The Edition: Penguin Classics (2006)) For one thing, I am in love with this book.  I mean its no continuous happy story like say Pride and Prejudice is, but overall the ending is what I wanted.  **SPOILERS AHEAD**

Reading about Jane's upbringing made her a more relate-able character even though it seems like many would not be able to say that they have been in the same situation.  Because Jane was related to the Reeds, I see the reason behind telling the "autobiography" that way,  but at times I was upset with how she was treated.  I should expect it though, seeing as many people then (and now) still have issues about abuse in the families.  The best thing that Mrs. Reed could have done was send Jane to Lowood, even though in her mind she was sending her away just to get rid of her.  When Jane finally spoke her mind to Mrs. Reed I truthfully gave a little fist pump in the air, being so happy with her (it would be later when she was talking to Miss Temple that I changed my opinion on the way she handled things).  Jane herself was very independent and wasn't afraid to let others now what she was thinking, and I think that is why so many women find Jane Eyre as a book that has been passed on through the ages.  Other books during this time era that were considered Romances didn't have a man trying to get married to a woman, when in reality he was already married to another.
That, in turn, brings me to talk about Mr. Rochester.  I loved this man right from the very beginning, and I (for some strange reason) could tell that he loved Jane as soon as he met her.  It was heart-wrenching watching him struggle to hide his feelings for Jane and there were lots of times that he would slip up before stopping dead in his tracks or stopping his thought entirely.  I felt like he was a man of secrets however, and it was soon apparent that he was indeed.  I couldn't seem to understand why Mr. Rochester would keep Grace Poole as one of his servants after she tried to burn down his bed (little did I know...).  At that point in time, I felt that he was just a kind hearted man looking for the best, or didn't want to turn someone out who had been with him from the very beginning.  It was after finding out that he was married that my ideas of him changed dramatically.  I couldn't see him the same way anymore, but at the same time I wasn't sure that I wanted too.
Now, the next man in Janes life was St. John.  I probably wont talk a lot about him, and that was just because I thought he was a pompous ass.  There are times when you are right to say "Do this for your heavenly father because that is what he wished you to do" and there are times when you are wrong.  And the majority of times that St. John was wrong when saying that are far more heavier then the times he says it right.  I know that the ideas about marriage were different during that time, but I don't think that you needed to marry someone you didn't want to when you were independent.  Especially not your cousin who you just found out about and have been treating him like a brother.  And I believe that Jane had every right to say no to him.  All the ten times she did.  I missed talking about a majority about St. John just because I think the is so self-centered that he can't get his head out of his ass.  I mean he wasn't one of those in your face, all controlling men, but the way that he treated Jane was just rude and inconsiderate.

There are a lot of other characters in this book that play minor but important parts that I haven't named but it may just be because I don't feel the need too.  The book is a love story between Jane and Mr. Rochester and slightly the dreaded St. John (shudder).  But mostly between Jane and Mr. Rochester.  One thing about their relationship that bothered me, was the way that Jane continually called him sir even though they were engaged.  And after everything.  That's one thing that I didn't really like.  I felt as though by her saying that, that she would be part of Mr. Rochesters property.  But I feel that because Jane left and made her own way through the world changed her perspective drastically so she didn't feel like she needed to depend on him.  And, when Jane came back and then Mr. Rochester had to depend on her for seeing because of the accident where he lost his eyes.  I felt that because of that change I realized that their love was more than what I thought it would be.

On a random note about this book, when I first heard about Mr. Mason and how he had this big gaping hole in the side of his head and that "someone" had bit him, I had this strange sense that it was Grace Poole and she was possessed.  And Mr. Mason was a priest coming to get rid of the demon.  Yeah, I watched The Exorcist a lot as a child.  Maybe that was just me though... Now, after hearing about how it was Mr. Masons sister who went crazy, I still think that she did the whole exorcist thing and her head turned around and she tried to eat him.  I don't know why, seeing as I don't even know if demonic possessions are even real, but I just want it to be in a book to say, "oh yeah, I read that in blah blah blah".

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  And maybe that is just because I love reading 19th century literature or the way that they lived, but still.  It was a fantastic book, but if you are going to try to read the Bronte sisters, I would so suggest reading this one first and just burning Wuthering Heights (I still haven't got over it).

Happy Reading!