Jane and I have a love/hate relationship. I have read this novel numerous times in the past ten years. I first read Jane Eyre in my AP English IV class in high school. Since this is the first year I'm teaching the same course, I thought it was an appropriate novel. This time, the novel must have spoke to me, because currently, Jane and I are kindred spirits. Or maybe the fact that my students are actually enjoying the plot made me like the novel this time.
Charlotte Bronte, who published Jane Eyre under the pen name of Currer Bell, created the character of Jane as a representation of herself. Quite often, I get so angry at Jane for some decisions that her character makes. But this time, I was cheering for Jane. I may finally fully understand her. As a bildrungsroman, Jane Eyre follows the development of a young girl at the age of ten into a young woman. By allowing the reader to begin the story with a child, Charlotte Bronte hooks her audience and forces them to become invested in this girl's life.
I was excited to share the story of an underdog with my students and hopefully teach them to truly judge people for their character and not their appearance. My students, just as I did once upon a time, identify with Jane as a student at Lowood School. Secretly we all hope that Jane rebels against the oppression of Mr. Brocklehurst, the cruel patron of the school. I feel a personal connection with Jane once she becomes a teacher and then a governess. Adele, Jane's student, constantly speaks French, which of course brought back many memories. We all watched the development of Jane's relationship with Mr. Rochester as though Jane were a dear friend. We were heartbroken through Jane's relationship with St. John. My students were so excited to see Jane get her "happy" ending.
I loved being able to track and discuss some of the universal ideas with my students. Jane Eyre is a wonderful novel to use for gender roles and social differences. The novel has several Gothic elements, including a not completely happily ever after. One day I hope to read Wide Sargasso Sea and watch the new film version. If nothing else, reading Jane Eyre has been a walk down memory lane to my own senior year of high school ten years ago.
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