Jane Eyre is an Anti-Romantic Novel with a Romantic Ending

“Jane Eyre” is an anti-romantic novel with a romantic ending.

 

“Jane Eyre” (1847) is a classic novel written by Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855), which follows the life of its protagonist, Jane Eyre. The story of the novel Jane Eyre is not a story of love. This novel tells the story of Jane’s quest for autonomy and independence, focusing on her growth to adulthood. Jane is a “simple and plain” girl who does not have the extraordinary beauty of a heroine of a romantic novel. However, the novel has a romantic ending as Jane returns to her true love, Mr. Rochester. 

Struggle of Life

We know that the struggle of life is the key characteristic of an anti-romantic novel. In the same way, the life of Jane Eyre has many struggles from childhood to marriage. She lost her parents when she was ten years old. She lives with her cruel aunt, Mrs Reed, and bullying cousins. She is locked inside the Red Room as a punishment.

I was a discord in Gateshead Hall: I was like nobody there; I had nothing in harmony with Mrs. Reed or her children, or her chosen vassalage. If they did not love me, in fact, as little did I love them.

After coming to the Lowood, she faces much corruption. She lost her best friend, Helen Burns. Jane accepts a governess job at Thornfield Hall and falls in love with her employer, Mr. Rochester. However, Jane leaves Rochester sorrowfully because she discovers Rochester’s past secret, a mad wife named Bertha Mason. 

Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton?—a machine without feelings?.. Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!

Then, Jane has to struggle for her livelihood in the Reeds Family. But one day, Jane dreams that Rochester is calling her. She starts her journey to Rochester without any delay. After a long struggle, she has been able to cure Rochester mentally and physically, and finally, they get married. So, such a struggle of life is nothing but a sign of anti-romanticism.

Social and Political Condition

Through Lowood School, Bronte criticizes social and political conditions, unlike a romantic novel. The novelist has highlighted the social and political situations of contemporary society in the novel “Jane Eyre”. The school’s headmaster, Mr. Brocklehurst, is outwardly a clergyman but inwardly very corrupt. He steals from the school’s funds. A typhus outbreak brings the corruption to the light. Many students die miserably because of low facilities, including Jane’s good friend Helen.

Self-Worth and Independence

As Jane matures, she becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets and falls in love with her mysterious employer, Mr. Rochester. After discovering his dark past, Jane refuses to compromise her principles for the sake of love. She only marries Rochester after being financially independent.

Reader, I married him.

Jane’s character development is central to the story as she matures from a mistreated child into a self-assured and principled adult. Hence, “Jane Eyre” is an anti-romantic novel with a romantic ending.

In summary, Jane Eyre is an anti-romantic novel with a happy ending. Jane Eyre has to struggle from childhood for her living. Again, she has fallen in love with Rochester. At last, she returns to her true love after earning financial stability and enjoys an equal marriage with Rochester.