Written by Emma Myers ~ Copy Editor
Copy of Novel by Charlotte Bronte
Oftentimes, when people hear “classic literature” only one word comes to mind… boring.
And yes, perhaps the pages filled with overly-descriptive, dated details, or hard-to-read, old English can become tedious after a while; however, there are many lessons we can learn from some books we may not be initially inclined to read.
For example, Charlotte Brontë’s 1847 novel Jane Eyre is the perfect Autumnal read.
It follows the story of a young, orphaned woman as she tries to find her place in the world by escaping her abusive family. She begins working for a man named Rochester as a housekeeper. He quickly falls in love with her, and she feels the sentiment could be mutual. There is just one major problem…
And this problem (which you will have to read to find out) will throw you for a loop! It is genuinely one of the most outlandish, well done plot twists done in all of literature. It is definitely fitting with the tone of the novel: suspenseful and jarring. Readers never have a clear sense of what is going to come next.
While it is not a horror-based novel, it definitely has the aspects of a thriller implemented throughout the work; and is also a general commentary on the oppression of women, love, societal beauty standards and so much more.
There is romance featured in the novel, but it is very rarely in a traditional, cut-and-dry sense.
There are all kinds of challenges and differences between the love the characters have for each other, like examining the difference between what romance means for men, as opposed to women during that time.
Esteemed writer Virginia Woolf even commented on Brontë’s novel stating, “At the end, we are steeped through and through with the genius, the vehemence, the indignation of Charlotte Brontë.”
The novel Jane Eyre really has something for everyone, and is a must-read this spooky, October season. To read this novel, check out our library here on campus!
If you have any books you would like to see featured in Book Nook, write myerse268@lynchburg.edu with your suggestion!
Jordinson, S. (2016, April 19). Virginia Woolf in Brontë Country: Picking Apart The Genius In Jane Eyre. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/apr/19/virginia-woolf-in-bronte-country-jane-eyre#:~:text=The%20crux%20of%20Woolf’s%20argument,%2C%20’I%20suffer’.%E2%80%9D
