Jane Eyre

Author: Charlotte Bront?
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Since the publication of Jane Eyre, it has been over a hundred years and remains one of the most widely read works in British fiction. It is both classic and influential, as generations of young people around the world, including in China, often begin their appreciation of British and world literature by reading it. It is also “popular”, not only those with some knowledge of literature but also those less exposed to it, are deeply familiar with the tragic yet compelling life of the orphan Jane Eyre and her tumultuous yet tender love story with Rochester through multiple film adaptations. This novel, which chronicles the life of an ordinary woman—neither extraordinary nor particularly tragic—has such enduring artistic appeal. What is the secret behind its lasting charm? As indicated on the dust jacket of the first edition, it is a “autobiography”, or more accurately, a novel heavily influenced by autobiography. Although the author sometimes denies that the protagonist is her, a wealth of evidence shows that while the story is fictional, many of the characters, including the protagonist, their lives, the settings in which they live, the atmosphere, and even many details of their daily lives, are undeniably drawn from the author’s own experiences and those of the people around her. Incidentally, novels written in the first-person perspective are not uncommon, but it is hard to imagine Jane Eyre achieving its current powerful effect without this narrative style. Ancient Chinese scholars advocated that literature should be written with blood and tears, and modern writers, though with different expressions, agree that genuine experience with life is one of the fundamental conditions for great works. This is likely a shared belief. The immense success of Jane Eyre can probably be attributed to this first. Through Jane Eyre’s experiences, the novel exposes the hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie, criticizes the exploitation of poor children by capitalist society, reflects the charitable cause, and reflects the desire of women for freedom and equality.