Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Published: 1847
Country: United Kingdom
Publisher: Smith, Elder & Co
Few novels attain the status of instant classic, but Jane Eyre is certainly one of them. Recognized as a great work, even before the extraordinary details of the lives of the Brontes, a family unique in having three sisters all of whom were major writers, were widely known. Jane Eyre represented something new in English fiction. It is the voice of the narrator that is instantly memorable, reflecting on a childhood of cruelty and neglect. Styled as autobiography, the heroine is shown as having no obvious advantages – no beauty or wealth – except for her intelligence and resilience. The orphaned Jane has to overcome a loveless upbringing before taking her place in the world as a humble governess. What might be the predictable clichéd romance of her love for her employer, the forbidding, Byronic, Rochester, takes an unexpected twist with the revelation of his hidden past. The temptations and the obstacles that Jane must overcome form the heart of her struggle for recognition and true independence. To have the book published, Charlotte Bronte used the pseudonym Currer Bell, since at the time a woman could not be expected to deal with such controversial issues; but readers of all kinds have found the story of Jane’s thwarted, but ultimately triumphant, capacity for love, as compelling today as on its publication in 1847.
Learn more about Jane Eyre.
- CHAPTERS - Chapter by chapter synopsis and relevant essays to contribute towards your understanding of the novel
- CHARACTERS - Explore the diverse range of characters in the novel
- THEMES - Develop your understanding of key thematic ideas throughout the novel and read useful related essays
Jane Eyre essays
Get some inspiration for your own work by looking at these relevant essays on Jane Eyre!
Duty and desire in Jane Eyre
How is the conflict between duty and desire explored in these texts? Desire is a term conveying a longing for a certain object, person or outcome.
How does Charlotte Bronte develop the adult Jane Eyre through the presentation of the child?
How does Charlotte Brontë develop the adult Jane Eyre through the presentation of the child? Brontë presents many of Jane's characteristics in her adult years through the development of Jane's childhood.
Presenation of childhood in Jane Eyre and Once in a House On Fire
Charlotte Bronte writes about the past life of Jane Eyre as a child in the household of the Reed family, she describes how Jane Eyre was alienated and oppressed by the Reed family.
Comparision on Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea on the theme of love
Jane Eyre is an auto-biographical novel written by Charlotte Bronte in 1847. We follow the life of Jane; her accomplishments, her downfalls and her emotional turbulence throughout the novel.
Discuss the role of religion in Jane Eyre
Religion and the characters it presents are used by Brontë throughout the piece to raise poignant questions regarding moral boundaries.
Explore Bronte's use of symbolism in Jane Eyre
Throughout the novel, Jane Eyre, Bronte embeds symbolism to assist conveying the story through giving certain aspects deeper context.