Books Read: 8

Next blog update!! Still trying to catch up, but making progress by writing about Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I read this book for Victorian Literature and Culture. Its a long novel so I will do the summary in three paragraphs. It's about a girl named Jane Eyre who lives with her maternal uncle who dies very soon after her own parents die (missionaries) and the abuse she receives from her Aunt and cousins. Finally, she is sent off to boarding school, Lowood Institution-a charity school, where she becomes educated and makes friends with a girl Helen Burns. However, due to the abuse and neglect of the benefactors of the school conditions are poor (little food, cold rooms, old beds), because of this typhoid fever runs through the institution killing many of the students, including Jane's friend Helen. Finally, they are exposed for their abuse and a new building and conditions improve.

Time moves on ahead and Jane has become a teacher at the school, but moves on to become a governess at Thornfield Manor to Adèle Varens, a young french girl adopted by the master of the house from his former french dancer mistress (not his) after she abandoned her. Jane meets the master of the Manor, Mr. Rochester, while walking and spooking his horse, which forces him to fall off and hurt is ankle. When she reaches the manor she discovers that he is the head of Thornfield Manor. Mr. Rochester becomes interested in Jane and has her keep him company. However, several strange things happen in the house: strange laughter in hallways, burning Mr. Rochester's bed, and a guest named Mason is attacked. Later on Jane receives word that her aunt has had a stroke and goes to stay with her-she learns that she has an uncle John Eyre, who has been trying to find her, but lives in Madeira. During this time Jane realizes that she is in love with Mr. Rochester, but is worried he will marry Blanche Igram. However, he professes his love for her and they become engaged. However, the night before the wedding a strange woman comes into Jane's room and rips up her wedding veil, which Mr.Rochester explains away as one of the servants being drunk. We later find out at the wedding ceremony that Mr. Rochester is already married to another woman (reason for the all strange behavior) a crazy madwoman he keeps locked in the attic. Jane is devastated by this and runs away.

She almost dies of starvation when she is rescued by a Pastor, St. John Rivers, and his sisters, but she hides her true identity from them. She stays with the Rivers family for many months and teachers at a local charity school. Jane becomes friends with the sisters, but find St. John too reserved for her. However, he opens up to her and confesses his difficult love with Rosamund Olivers, a wealthy benefactress, but he cannot marry her due to his call as a missionary and how she will not accept such a life. St. John figures out Jane's true identity through a letter saying that her uncle, John Eyre, died and left her with a large inheritance and she also finds out that he is also the uncle of St. John and his sisters. Overjoyed to have found a family, Jane splits her inheritance equally among her new cousins. Afterwards, St. John proposes marriage to Jane, because she would be a good missionary wife, but Jane at first refuses though over time she is convinced. Until the last minute when she "hears" Mr. Rochester calling for her and she goes to Thornfield to see if Mr. Rochester is well, before she leaves for India. She finds Thornfield Manor burnt to the ground and learns that Mr. Rochester's wife burned it down and committed suicide. Mr. Rochester tried to rescue her, but lost his sight and right hand in the process. Jane is reunited with Mr. Rochester at his other estate and although worried she will be repulsed by him, assures him of her love. He proposes again and the live together-he recovers his eyesight just in time to see his first born son.

I know that is a very long summary, but the book was so good and there were so many interesting details I DIDN'T WANT TO FORGET ANYTHING! I really enjoyed this book. I had so many interesting discussions about it in class such as, how Jane and Mr. Rochester's wife are "the same person" or two sides of the same coin. We also discussed the theme of imperialism or colonialism throughout the book, which plays a major factor in a lot of the events that happen within the book. I would recommend this book as an interesting read, especially those who are interested in England or Victorian culture because this is a good book for that.