Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Rishabh | Manalapan High School, Grade 9

Rating: *****

After being bounced between the home of her cruel Aunt Reed and the impoverished Lowood school, Jane Eyre seeks independence as governess at the mysterious Thornfield Hall. Her employer, the somber Mr. Rochester, is an enigma unlike any man she has ever encountered with a past full of sorrow and a terrible secret. Jane must learn to choose between her heart and her mind in order to ultimately achieve happiness.

Jane Eyre was required reading for my AP Literature class this year. I was apprehensive at reading such an intimidating title, but Bronte's storytelling outdid my every expectation. When you think of boring classic literature, do not think of this novel: it's a thriller, it's a romance, and most importantly, it's a feminist work, one of the first of its kind.

Victoria | Allentown High School, Grade 12

Rating: ****

Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Bronte is about the protagonist Jane, an orphan raised by her abusive, wealthy aunt, Mrs. Reed, who sends her away to the Lowood School. She befriends a classmate, Helen who later dies of an epidemic, causing Jane to become sad. As she progresses through school, Jane becomes a teacher and leaves the school once she is old enough, to experience new things. She finds herself at a manor known as Thornfield, where she teaches a French girl named Adele. Jane’s employer, Rochester, takes an interest in Jane and the two fall more in love. The two get engaged and right before exchanging vows, the two are disrupted by a man who reveals a secret so shocking to Jane, that she leaves him at the altar. She leaves the manor penniless but after a while, she realizes that she cannot live knowing she still loves Rochester. Jane has to make a decision, should she go back to Thornfield and confess her love for Rochester despite the secret he kept from her, or should she move on?

Jane Eyre, although a very long book, is a very well written one. I enjoyed the imagery as well as the symbolism of colors throughout the novel. In addition, I loved the secrecy behind Rochester as it gave the book a sense of suspicion that the readers knew about, but Jane did not. I loved the development between Rochester and Jane, but I also liked Jane’s journey to finding her own identity and independence as I felt she was a very empowering character.