Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, emulates the very essence of the late Georgian early Victorian era and is exceptional in bringing the classic novel to life. Starring Mia Wasikowska, Jane Eyre follows the story of a young girl who faces the struggles of being forced into the female standard, being emotionally abandoned, accepting vs. fighting social status, and facing moral conflictions throughout the film. Scenes flicker back and forth between the past, present and early childhood of young Jane Eyre. Orphaned by her parents and shunned by her aunt, Jane was sent to an all girls school with the sole purpose of redefining her, and shaping her into being useful for teaching and being obedient. Her upbringing leads Jane to be a most suitable governess, making a living off of the only way she knows how to. In the present, however, she stays with a family of three (one brother and two sisters) all of whom took her in as she had run from her previous life on the brink of death. As the film goes on it uncovers her past and the events which led her to their home. In other words, it recounts memories of a slow-burn love which unexpectedly grew and faced unexpected twists of fortune.

Cinematically, the film is exceptional in its use of lighting to tell the story and it’s intentionality with color to signify the changes in time and Jane’s emotional state. In the dreariest of times and in the most lighthearted hope-bearing of times, the nature, the trees and the setting of it all, captures every ounce of beauty that is felt through the pain, the loss and the newfound love in Jane’s conflicted inner and outer world. Though raised to be quiet and especially unnoticeable, she is filled with love, intentionality, and creativity, ultimately seen in a famous quote of hers, 

“Do you think because I am poor, obscure, plain and little that I am soulless and heartless? I have as much soul as you and full as much heart.” 

Her quiet beauty is directly reflected in the landscapes, the simplicity of the setting and intentionality of the shots making this movie a personal top five for period dramas.

What can we learn as Christians?

 Jane Eyre, suffocated in who she is forced to be, while not being true to her talents and passions, reminds us of the expectations others may have for us in contrast to the person God has set us out to be. We cannot be less of ourselves or more of who others want us to be in order to be loved. But rather, we must honor the gifts God has given us and shape our lives around his will for us. Jane’s moral struggle later in the film with love vs dishonoring God reminds us to not to lessen our morals and shape them around what others believe is right vs what is truly wrong. We can refer back to this verse Romans 12:2 which says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” In the same way, we are called to live our lives honoring God and to not follow our hearts if it means falling away from God.