Jane Eyre

Awesome novel! Another winner! I am going to revise my "Top Ten" list to include this one, for sure. Apart from a couple plot devices (e.g., Jane's timely inheritance; lawyer Briggs' arrival at Jane's first wedding) and some unbelievable coincidences (e.g., Rochester's brother-in-law just happens to have the same lawyer as Jane's uncle; Jane happened across the paths of her cousins, the only living kin she has in the world), the novel was surprising and compelling. I enjoyed the way Jane analyzed the other characters and the way she attempted to manipulate them, esp. Rochester and Rivers. The death (by T.B.) of her friend Helen at Lowood was beautiful and moving in its brevity and its spare prose (You listening, Harriet Beecher Stowe, with your over-long treatment of little Eva's consumption?). I liked the division of the novel into thirds: early years, life at Thornfield, escape to Moorland. Each section encompassed its own conflict, yet it was nicely integrated to create a coherent whole. Bronte's rhetoric and pacing were brilliant--I was never bored, as I was with her sister's novel, Wuthering Heights. Jane was a strong character, but what I found most interesting about her was the fact that her strength lay in her steadfastness in following the leads of others, primarily men. She thrived on powerful, strong-minded men with wills of iron who liked to order her about. She enjoyed following these men, and even called Mr. Rochester "sir" and referred to him as "master", neither of which Rochester ever corrected her about, even after she agreed to marry him. I also like the way Bronte pulled the reader along the story, pacing herself and employing numerous, effective details to enliven the story.

Bronte was forward-thinking for her time as well. Jane, born of low parentage, rose above her situation by marrying the wealthy Mr. Rochester (never mind her inheritance). She often mused that her pupils (the farmers' daughters) were as bright, as "teachable," and as well-mannered as the children of the very wealthy. Throughout the novel, Bronte tries to blur the distinction between classes. Her "low" characters are as well-drawn as her upper class characters, and most of them are actually better people. For a woman writing in the early nineteenth century, Bronte seems to have been trying to rock the status quo.

Memorable scenes include Helen's death, Mr. Rochester's first proposal to Jane, the revelation of Rochester's first marriage, St. John's attempt to convince Jane to marry him and accompany him to India, and Jane's final reunion with Rochester at the end. I read a lot of books this year, and this was one of the best.