Hello again!
Here is one of my collections of classical books that don’t look classical at all and are super entertaining to read. I hope you enjoy it!
“Jane Eyre is an orphan girl who lives with her aunt, Mrs. Reed, and her cousins, who always mistreat her. Until tired of the forced coexistence with her deceased husband’s niece, the woman sends Jane to a girls’ school, where she grows up and becomes a teacher. Over time, the desire to expand her horizons grows. She puts an ad in the newspaper looking for work as a housekeeper. The announcement is answered by Mrs. Fairfax, and Jane leaves the school to work at Thornfield Hall. There, she meets her boss, Mr. Rochester, a blunt and gloomy man, with whom he falls in love. But a great secret from the past stands between them.”
Jane Eyre was a book that, inexplicably, I needed to read. Something attracted me to this work without being able to understand it, and time only increased my desire to read it. So, when I decided to do the Classic Week on the blog, I saw the perfect opportunity to fulfill my wish. And now I have every reason in the world to say how much this book fascinated me.
First, I must congratulate Editora Bestbolso for the translation done. The language used left the narrative very close to contemporary literature, but without losing the characteristic of classical. This made reading easier, without a doubt. However, I believe that even with another translation, the reading would have been equally engaging and charming, because Charlotte Brontë’s work is magnificent.
Right from the start, I found myself immersed in reading. However, the feelings aroused were none other than indignation and revolt. The beginning of Jane Eyre’s life was suffered, full of injustices, and such moments were perfectly described by the author. I even considered that the story would take darker directions, as in O Morro dos Ventos Wivantes, another legacy of the Brontë family. Although the book is filled with elements of Gothic literature, such as scenarios, mysteries about the characters’ past and, in many moments, supernatural airs, Charlotte took a different path from her sister, which makes her work more pleasant and, probably, more romantic, however far from being classified as “sugar water”.
It was clear, at various times, the prejudice of 19th century British society. In some of the characters’ statements, it is possible to visualize the inferior position of women in society, discrimination with lower economic classes, and even the rivalries between the British and the French.
Not only prejudice but the religious influence in Charlotte’s work was also clear.
Briefly (and without spoilers), we have: Christianity is presented in different ways through different characters. There is the character whose practices are contrary to what is preached by religion; there is another, a fervent, practicing Christian, but one who deals with distant earthly relationships, whether family or love. However, the religious practice that is most positively presented, is the closest to spiritualism, present even in the protagonist, who is based on her own intuition and her inner voice above all. It is as if this were the author’s way of showing her opinion, so divergent from most of her time.
Brontë also stood out in his time for building a character far ahead of his time. Jane Eyre had, as a goal in her life, her self-sufficiency and her independence, sought since very early in her life through work. At a time when women were basically supported by their husbands through marriage, it is to be admired the persistence of the protagonist to follow her principles, as well as to admire the courage of the author to defend her point of view, again, so different from your society.
Jane Eyre aroused the most diverse sensations in me. I started reading full of indignation, I was moved by passionate scenes, devastated by more dramatic ones, agonized by the possibilities that the story had in store, and, finally, ecstatic and touched by a novel that took my breath away. Not only did the story as a whole please me, with the most diverse surprises and twists, but the character enchanted me. Jane is one of those who follow her own principles, above all, even if it costs self-sacrifice, but that is exactly why she is so charming and so strong. The character showed me that we should not go against what we believe in any way.
There were very few moments when I found myself disconnected from history, which seemed to be taking a slower course. But, in 90% of its pages, it was an extremely enchanting reading, as only the books that become my favorites are capable of being. Jane Eyre is an unmissable classic.
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