31 December 2008

25. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Poor Jane Eyre!

Misfit! Everywhere she goes!

Separated into five sections, each set in a different area, this book chronicles Jane's attempts at fitting into her world. Four attempts at figuring out who she is and where she belongs end in failure. Until finally things swing her way. But in classic 19th C. british lit fashion, not until the very last second.

I really quite liked this book. The writing is divine: her descriptions of places small and large are excellent.

And because Jane knows herself so well, or expresses herself to herself so well even if she doesn't know exactly what her conclusions mean, the inner voice of the character is portrayed really well. We are with Jane all the time, and yet we never tire of her. I usually resist first-person narratives, too, but not here, in the hands of an expert like Bronte.

1 comment:

OlmanFeelyus said...

I read this in college for a single lit class I took. I remember after having read the first couple chapters, going into class and lamenting how I couldn't find any symbolism in it. Then an older student broke down the scene when Rochester first shows up (on his big, black Stallion) and all the potent imagery and sexuality there. A real eye-opener!

Man, those were tough times. Imagine if you had to stay with all your old, crazy girlfriends by keeping them locked up in the attic. The feed bill alone would be untenable for me.