Jane Eyer

A romantic tale shrouded with mystery and suspense is the essence of Charlotte Bronte's  novel . Jane Eyer. This is a novel for all times. I read this novel about three decades ago. Last week when I read it again, I found it as interesting as before. The  story line is such that once you start reading it, you don't feel like keeping it back till  you have read the last page. The  story of a young girl's  sufferings  right from childhood, till she grows up to be woman in search of freedom, has always kept the readers enchanted. 

                            Jane, an orphaned child is brought up in her aunt Reed's house who ill treats her. She is sent to a charity schooll. She believes that she does not have any one else in this vast world, and therefore  suffers all atrocities Once, tortured by her cousin, she leaves the house. She gets job as a governess  of  a rich man, Mr. Rochester's daughter at Thornfield. There she observes a strange sort of mysterious atmosphere.  She falls madly in love with Mr. Rochester. There are rumours that he was going to marry  a rich society girl. Something  in his actions and the way he treats her, makes her believe that  he loves her. Once when he bought pearls and  diamond jewellery, the rumour  was  sort of confirmed that he was getting married to the rich duchess.  Jane was surprised when Rochester proclaims his love for her and proposes to her,  which she readily  accepted.The lovers, madly in love, waited desperately for the day of their wedding. On the day of the marriage a  counselor from the court  submitted a court notice to Mr. Rochestor, that his marriage would be unlawful, since he was already married .This comes as a shock to her. She  discards her bridal dress and leaves Mr. Rochester's house. His  pleading that they would leave Thornfield and settle down in France as husband and wife,had no effect on her. At midnight she quietly leaves Thornfield. 
                                            She travels as far as possible away from Thornfield, with whatever she had earned ,but  unfortunately left her belongings in a carriage. She went for food from house to house but turned away mercilessly.She reached the house of Diana, Mary and John, who is a clergyman. She faints at their doorstep. They help her and she starts living with them. The two sisters leave for work. John finds about the past secret of her life. He tells her that she was the niece of a  very rich man, who was no more and had left a large wealth in the name of Jane.It also transpires that John, Diana and Mary are her cousins. John proposes to Jane and wants her to accompany him to India to help him in his missionary work.Jane treats him like a brother and refuses to be his wife.She dreams that some one is calling her, and leaves the house.
The novel depicts a patriarchal  society in which Jane maintains her own personality and does not succumb to the authority of males in her life.In this respect the novel was ahead of its times.You simply fall in love with this unassuming girl.She remains in the thoughts of  the reader much after the novel is completed.

written for Bloggers United week 8th to 14th Dec.to 21st