Topic : Jane Eyre

Main text

Jane Eyre is a timeless novel by the English novelist Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847. Read Jane Eyre novel entirely here. Preface A preface to the first edition of "Jane Eyre" being unnecessary, I gave none: this second edition demands a few words both of acknowledgment and miscellaneous remark. My thanks are due in three quarters. To the Public, for the indulgent ear it has inclined to a plain tale with few pretensions. To the Press, for the fair field its honest suffrage has opened to an obscure aspirant. To [...]

Key info

Jane Eyre is a timeless novel by the English novelist Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name “Currer Bell” on 19 October 1847. Take a look at the key facts of this novel here.

• Full Title: Jane Eyre
• Author: Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855). The novel was originially published under her pen name “Currer Bell”
• Written: 1847
• Published: 1847

Summary

At the novel's beginning, we see Jane Eyre, a 10-year-old orphan who lives in the house of her cruel, wealthy aunt, Mrs. Reed, in Gateshead. Mrs. Reed has two daughters, Georgiana and Eliza, and a son, John. Like their mother, they also hate Jane. John spends the whole day looking for opportunities to spoil Jane's life

Themes

The novel is celebrated for its strong and independent female protagonist, its exploration of social class, morality, and gender roles, and its Gothic elements. Here we will point out some dominant themes of the novel "Jane Eyre".

Independence and Autonomy

Jane Eyre's quest for independence and autonomy is one of the novel's central themes. As an orphan and a governess, Jane is initially in a position of dependency, but she consistently seeks self-respect and self-sufficiency.

Characters

Learn about the characters of Charlotte Brontë's novel "Jane Eyre" here.

Jane Eyre

The protagonist and narrator of the story, Jane, is an orphan who grows up in the unloving and abusive home of her aunt, Mrs. Reed, and her cousins. She is portrayed as a strong-willed, independent young woman with a strong sense of morality and self-worth.

Literary devices

Here, we point out some notable literary devices from the novel.

First-Person Narrative

The novel is written in the first-person point of view, with Jane Eyre as the narrator. Jane Eyre tells her story ten years after the last event of the novel. It helps readers gain deep insight into her thoughts, emotions, and experiences. It creates a solid connection between the reader and the protagonist.

Quotations

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë is a classic novel with numerous memorable quotations. Here, we discuss some selected quotes from the novel that explore themes of love, independence, social class, and morality.

You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent, mama says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen's children like us, and eat the same meals we do, and wear clothes at our mama's expense.

(John Reed, Chapter 1)