Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Jane Eyre

Here is a book review I wrote for the classic, Jane Eyre.



Charlotte Bronte reached a new level of writing when she wrote Jane Eyre.  This timeless classic, loved by the thousands, is a story of love.  Jane Eyre is the story of a headstrong young woman thrust into the world at a young age.  Written in first person, the novel is written from Jane Eyre’s perspective.  Bronte brings to life the practical, down-to-earth side of romance.  She presents romance from the view point of a prudent girl who doesn’t let her emotions get the best of her when things don’t turn out as planned.  Responsibility and love mingle together to create a sweet aroma in this charming tale. 
            Bronte’s writing style in Jane Eyre is truly remarkable.  She succeeds in the difficult task of writing a novel in first person.  She takes the reader on a roller coaster of emotions.  She builds beautiful castles in the air, only to send the reader, along with her castles, plummeting into the darkness of sorrow.  She pulls her readers into embarrassment, and then swings them into the world of indignation.  She floats them to the clouds with romantic feelings, and then she drops them into the depths of disappointment when the clouds collapse; all this on account of one small girl.  Bronte brings her readers along on Jane Eyre’s trying journey.
            Bronte’s novel is near perfection.  It is difficult for the reader to find faults and errors in her writing. However, she does have weak points as with every other author.  While her development of her main characters is phenomenal, some of her supporting characters are unclear in the reader’s mind.  Characters such as Diana and Mary Rivers and Eliza and Georgiana Reed, while not undeveloped, could use more descriptions so that the reader can see them clearly in their minds.  This is the only potential fault in Bronte’s entire writing.  The rest of her characters and descriptions are faultless.  This novel could not be written any better.
            In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte also gives an excellent example of practical romance to young women.  Jane does not let her emotions get the best of her.  She can still clearly use her judgment.  This is a real life example, unlike the typical romantic classic.  The characters are easy to relate to, and Jane could even become a girl’s role model.  As a follower of Christ, she is not a naïve, vulnerable girl.  She is the perfect example of doing what is right even when your heart tells you to do the opposite thing. The world is throwing an incorrect slogan at girls today; “Follow your heart.”  If Jane had followed her heart, she would have lived with a married man.  She would have done something wrong.  Her mind was telling her to do the right thing and walk away, but her heart was screaming at her to stay.  She did the right thing, even when it hurt. This is the image girls need today.
            Jane Eyre is a timeless classic.  It is written by a truly brilliant author.  Bronte brings the reader on an adventure, and it is an amazing one.  While she could have developed some characters more, it is an outstanding book.  She provides a superb example for young girls preparing to enter into the world.  This is an amazing read for boys, girls, men and women.  Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre is definitely on a list of must-reads!

~Michaela
 

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