
“I can live alone, if self-respect, and circumstances require me so to do. I need not sell my soul to buy bliss. I have an inward treasure born with me, which can keep me alive if all extraneous delights should be withheld, or offered only at a price I cannot afford to give.”― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
The first time I read Jane Eyre, I was completely enthralled and it has been a favorite of mine ever since. Jane is a remarkable heroine and her first person narrative engages the reader from the very beginning. The story follows the life of the orphaned Jane beginning with the time she lived with her cruel aunt and cousin. She is sent away by her aunt to a strict and abusive boarding school and later becomes a teacher there. Eventually she accepts a position as a governess at Thornfield Hall where she meets the mysterious, and much older, Mr. Rochester. Jane is not sure what to think about him but over time they develop a deep but complicated relationship. Jane is confident in herself and has a moral compass she adheres to, even when difficult as illustrated when she says, “”I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad—as I am now.” Jane’s sense of self gives her the confidence to defy societal expectations and make the greatest sacrifice she can imagine. This coming of age story by Charlotte Bronte has twists and turns, drama, mystery, and is one of the great love stories of all time. If you’ve not read Jane Eyre, don’t put it off any longer!
Content Advisory: Abuse, death of a parent, grief, mental illness