Revisiting Classics: Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre

? Scores of literary works have risen (and fallen) through the ranks of the most pivotal reads. But few have managed to deftly remain relevant for centuries, and one such novel is Charlotte Brontë’s 1847 gothic masterpiece, Jane Eyre. The novel was initially published under the pseudonym Currer Bell — many women of that time took to publishing under male pseudonyms to overcome societal prejudices that limited their professional and intellectual credibility. A year later, for its third edition, Jane Eyre was republished under its rightful author’s name, but only after the novel had amassed great success.

The novel — one of the first to be narrated in first person — unfolds through the eyes of the young titular character as she reaches adulthood, and with it, its troubles. The novel begins with Jane living with her uncle’s family — abusive, prejudiced, and ostracizing. As time passes and conditions worsen, an apothecary suggests to the family that Jane be sent off to school, a decision convenient for both the abuser and the abused, as it offered Jane an escape. Yet conditions at the school were not any better, and Jane’s miserable life carried on as it was.

After several years at school, as both student and later teacher, Jane decides to take matters into her own hands, seeking life as a governess — a path that would eventually lead her to Thornfield Hall and her employer-turned-lover Edward Rochester. All goes well until Jane begins to uncover some dangerous secrets. Jane’s innermost thoughts continue to remain relevant today for women throughout the world. She writes of a desire for freedom, critiques gender-biased social structures, and champions autonomy. Despite some products of the time, it remains one of the earliest feminist works in literature.

Some 178 years since Jane Eyre saw the light of day, it remains a celebrated literary work. As far as classics are concerned, this one is an easy read, perfect for those who have been looking to lose yourself in a classic.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You can grab a paperback copy from Diwan, The Anglo-EgyptianBookshop, and Al Masriah Al Lubnaniah. You can read the e-book at no charge on the InternetArchive.