Jane Eyre: This Reader's Choice

2 Pages 602 Words

This Reader’s Choice


Throughout this semester, the class has had the pleasure of basking in literary heaven. Whether the assignment asked for the class to read a poem or a novel, it was all quite enjoyable. Yet, amongst the great works, I have chosen my personal champion. My novel of choice is Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Amidst many of the reasons this novel reigns supreme, it is the novel’s exploration of feminism that has occupied my interest.
Jane begins the novel as a young girl. Sadly, she is an orphaned child who is constantly at the mercy of her cruel relatives. But, the novel is quick to cease any pity, which may come from the reader. Even as a young child, Jane is able to defend herself from her older adversaries. While residing in Gateshead, Jane’s cousins often remind her that she is “nothing”. One of her cousins, John Reed, even attempts to revoke Jane’s only pleasure—books. Jane does not allow such abuses to get the best of her. When John strikes Jane, she physically fights back—only to be reprimanded by her act of self-defense. Already, Bronte establishes her heroine as a girl who is not willing to adhere to any opposition—despite of sex or strength.
Early on, Jane already exhibits an incredible amount of security in who she is and what she is entitled to as a person—not only defining herself as a woman. Bronte cleverly constructs an environment where Jane is almost completely surrounded by men who hold some kind of power. Thus, allowing Jane to exhibit her confidence later in life. Jane completely triumphs over her male counterparts. For example, Bronte enables Jane to indirectly surpass her cousin, John. Throughout their childhood, Jane has always been the smaller and weaker being, yet Jane is the individual who outlives her cousin. Here, Bronte successfully communicates that women appear powerless and frail; yet, physically women are capable to prevail over men.
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