“It was a fine autumn morning; the early sun shone serenely on embrowned groves and still green fields; advancing on to the lawn, I looked up and surveyed the front of the mansion…” Charlotte Brontë’’s Jane Eyre.
Jane Eyre (Brontë, 1847) tells the story of a young woman growing up and learning about love and her place in the world. The book follows Jane through her childhood as an orphan, her harsh education, and her first job as a governess. She ends up working at Thornfield Hall and teaching a young French girl named Adele. Adele’s guardian and the owner of Thornfield, Mr. Rochester is described as arrogant and mysterious. Despite his rude personality, he is the first person to really talk to and treat Jane like a real person, and throughout the book, she finds herself falling in love with him.
Jane Eyre is a great book to get you in the cozy fall vibe. This book is perfect for when the weather is stormy and you just want to sit by a window with a blanket and watch the rain pour outside. Jane Eyre takes place in Thornfield Hall, an estate in the dreary English countryside where the weather is almost always bad. Brontë’s descriptions match the weather outside, which creates an immersive experience for the reader.
Jane Eyre can also provide a much-needed escape from reality, as it takes the reader into the Victorian world, with swirling dresses, a growing romance, and the complete lack of modern-day technology.
Brontë explores themes of growth, death, decay, and change, which are all seen in the falling leaves and changing autumn weather. Jane moves many times, and learns to adapt to her new surroundings in every new place she lives. Her resilience is inspirational. Additionally, Jane experiences a lot of personal growth, as she matures from a child with little control over her life into an independent young woman. Mr. Rochester also undergoes many changes throughout the book, transforming from an rude, unlikable person into a more open and vulnerable character. His priorities also change throughout the book, and he becomes less self-centered and caring much more about the people closest to him.
Halloween is just around the corner and Jane Eyre offers many spooky elements to fit the mood. Thornfield Hall has an eerie air of mystery and suspense. From the descriptions of the dark, drafty rooms and locked doors, to the suspicious inhabitants and strange screaming in the middle of the night, the setting of much of the story has a deep sense of foreboding.
Mr. Rochester adds to the gothic vibe of this book with his secretive behavior, dark past, and shady behaviors. Jane’s internal struggles about her self-worth, abusive childhood, and feelings for Mr. Rochester add to the gloom.
Although Jane Eyre was written almost 200 years ago, it still encapsulates the thoughts and experiences many teenagers have today. Jane struggles with balancing her love for Mr. Rochester with her own ambitions, and she has conflicted ideas about right and wrong, and grapples with society’s expectations of her. She has to decide if she should give up her values and be accepted by the people around her, or follow her dreams. “I am not an angel,” I asserted; “and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself.” – Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
