Title: Jane Eyre Author: Charlotte Bronte Publisher: Smith, Elder, and Co.

, Cornhill Year Published: 1847 Type of Novel: Gothic novel (utilizes the mysterious, the supernatural, the horrific, and the romantic) Romance novel (emphasizes love and passion, represents the notion of lovers destined for each other) Bildungsroman (narrates the story of a characters internal development as he or she undergoes a succession of encounters with the external world.

1. Plot

The story is all about a young orphan girl named Jane Eyre who had a miserable life when she was a kid up to her adulthood. Fortunately, life is not selfish. Jane Eyre overcame all the hardships in her life as she also found the shining gold at the end of the rainbow.

Jane Eyre was left to her cruel and wealthy aunt, Sarah Reed. She even lived with her bully cousin named John Reed. Jane was being bullied by her cousin but its Jane who has been punished as she fought back John. As a punishment, Janes aunt imprisoned her in the red-room, the room where her Uncle Reed died. Fortunate Jane that she still has a companion named Bessie, a kind servant of Reed family. While locked in the room, Jane believed that she sees her uncles ghost as she screamed and fainted. Bessie with the help of kind apothecary, Mr. Lloyd cared for Jane. Mr. Lloyd even suggested bringing Jane in school.

Jane Eyre was brought to Lowood School to study. Unfortunately, she finds that her life is far from idyllic. The schools headmaster is Mr. Brocklehurst, a cruel, hypocritical, and abusive man. Brocklehurst preaches a doctrine of poverty and privation to his students while using the schools funds to provide a wealthy and opulent lifestyle for his own family. At Lowood, Jane met and has a friend named Helen Burns whose strong, martyr-like attitude toward the schools miseries is both helpful and displeasing to Jane. Later on, Helen died due

to the spread of massive typhus epidemic. This epidemic also results in the departure of Mr. Brocklehurst by attracting attention to the insalubrious conditions at Lowood. After a group of many sympathetic gentlemen took Brocklehursts place, Janes life improved. She spent eight more years at Lowood, six as a student and two as a teacher.

After teaching for two years, Jane aimed for new experiences. She accepted and worked as a governess at a manor called Thornfield where she has a lively French girl student named Adele. Her employer is Rochester, the man whom she secretly in love with. She saved him from a fire one night which he claimed was started by a drunken servant named Grace Poole. Jane stayed at Rochesters house to watch over and help Adele to focus on her studies. With this, she suspected the girl whom Rochester brought in his house is his love and hell propose to her but surprisingly, Jane is his love. Rochester proposed to Jane. Jane accepted the proposal surprisingly and happily.

As the wedding day arrived, Mr. Mason interrupted the ceremony as he cried out that Rochester has a wife already and shes still alive. Bertha Mason is the sister of Mr. Richard Mason and wife of Rochester whom she married when he was a young man in Jamaica. She was being kept in a room located in the third story of Thornfield guarded by Grace Poole. Bertha is insane that acts like a wild animal as to be the real cause of the mysterious fire before. With this circumstance and knowing that it is impossible for her to be with Rochester, Jane fled Thornfield.

Without permanent place to go and live in, Jane was forced to sleep outdoors and beg for food. Fortunately, Jane found kind people who live in a manor alternatively called Marsh End and Moor house that take her in. Those people are Mary, Diana and St. John Rivers. Jane quickly became friend with them. St. John is a clergyman and he helped Jane to find a job teaching at a charity school in Morton. One day, he surprised Jane as he declared that her Uncle John Eyre, has died and left her a large fortune: 20,000 pounds. Unknowingly, the Rivers siblings and Jane are cousins for John Eyre is both their uncle. Jane in her generous heart, decided to share her inheritance equally with her newfound relatives.

St. John decided to travel to India as missionary and he urged Jane to accompany him as his wife. Jane agreed to go in India but not as marrying him for she doesnt love St. John and being her cousin as well. With this instance, Jane realized how she love Rochester as one night came that she heard her loves voice calling her name over the moors. Rapidly, Jane went back to Thornfield but she found out that it has burned to the ground by Bertha Mason, who lost her life in the fire. Rochester saved the servants and lost his eyesight and one of his hands. Jane fought for her love to Rochester that she followed him in his new residence, Ferndean. Jane and Rochester rebuild their relationship here and soon got married. They live happily as they have been married for ten blissful years with their first son.

2. Characters a. Jane Eyre Jane Eyre is the protagonist of the novel and the title character. The story revolves around her life. She develops her character from beginning to end. Orphaned as a baby, she struggles through her nearly loveless childhood and becomes governess at Thornfield Hall. Jane is passionate and opinionated, and values freedom and independence. She also has a strong conscience and is a determined Christian. Jane Eyre is an example of a strong woman who never failed to stand up again and again as to face the struggles.

b. Edward Rochester Edward Rochester is the master of Thornfield Manor. A Byronic hero, he is tricked into making an unfortunate first marriage to Bertha Mason many years before he meets Jane, with whom he falls madly in love.

c. Bertha Mason The violently insane first wife of Edward Rochester; moved to Thornfield and locked in the attic and eventually commits suicide by burning down Thornfield Hall.

d. Mrs. Sarah Reed Sarah Reed is Jane's aunt by marriage, who adopts Jane on her husband's wishes, but abuses and neglects her. She eventually disowns her and sends her to Lowood School.

e. Mr. Reed Mr. Reed is Jane's maternal uncle, who adopts Jane when her parents die. According to Mrs. Reed, he pitied Jane and often cared for her more than for his own children. Before his own death, he makes his wife promise to care for Jane.

f. John Reed John Reed is Jane's cousin, who as a child bullies Jane constantly, sometimes in his mother's presence. He ruins himself as an adult by drinking and gambling and is thought to have committed suicide.

g. Adle Varens Adele Varens is the excitable French child to whom Jane is governess at Thornfield.

h. Mrs. Alice Fairfax Mrs. Fairfax is an elderly widow and the housekeeper of Thornfield Manor. She cares for both Jane and Mr. Rochester.

i. Blanche Ingram Blanche Ingram is a socialite whom Mr. Rochester temporarily courts to make Jane jealous. She is described as having great beauty, but displays callous behaviour and avaricious intent.

j. Richard Mason Richard Mason is an Englishman from the West Indies, whose sister is Mr. Rochester's first wife. He took part in tricking Mr. Rochester into marrying Bertha, earning both of their anger. He still, however, cares for his sister's well-being.

k. Grace Poole Grace Poole is Bertha Mason's caretaker. Mr. Rochester pays her a very high salary to keep Bertha hidden and quiet, and she is often used as an explanation for odd happenings. She has a weakness for drink that occasionally allows Bertha to escape.

l. St. John Eyre Rivers St. John Eyre Rivers is a clergyman who befriends Jane and turns out to be her cousin. He is thoroughly practical and suppresses all his human passions and emotions in favour of piety. He is determined to go to India as a missionary, even if it means losing his love, Rosamond.

m. Diana and Mary Rivers Diana and Mary are St. John's sisters and (as it turns out) Jane's cousins. They are poor, intelligent, and kind-hearted, and want St. John to stay in England.

n.

John Eyre John Eyre is Jane's paternal uncle, who leaves her his vast fortune and wishes to adopt her at the age of 13. Mrs. Reed prevents the adoption out of spite towards Jane.

o. Mr. Lloyd Mr. Lloyd is a compassionate apothecary who recommends that Jane be sent to school. Later, he writes a letter to Miss Temple confirming Jane's account of her childhood and thereby clearing Jane of Mrs. Reed's charge of lying.

p. Mr. Brocklehurst Mr. Brockleburst is the clergyman, headmaster and treasurer of Lowood School, whose maltreatment of the students is eventually exposed. A religious traditionalist, he advocates for his charges the most harsh, plain, and disciplined possible lifestyle but not, hypocritically, for himself and his own family.

q. Miss Maria Temple Miss Temple is the kind superintendent of Lowood School, who treats the students with respect and compassion. She helps clear Jane of Mr. Brocklehurst's false accusation of deceit, and cares for Helen in her last days. Eventually she marries Reverend Naysmith.

3. Who was your favorite character? Why? My favorite character was Jane Eyre herself. I love Jane Eyre for she sets a good example to every female created here on earth. She is a strong and brave woman with humility, generous and faithful heart. She never gives up in facing challenges in her life. In fact, she is a person who pursues her passion and a woman of integrity.

4. Your personal experience a. Could you relate to any of the characters in the story? Yes! I could relate with Jane Eyre somehow. Im not an orphan but I was brought to public school when I was grade school where I felt and experienced different things. I even had encountered cruel-like people or authorities. I was being punished too for being noisy as I was hit at my ass and my hair beside my ears was being twisted or pinched too hard. There are many worse things Ive experienced but I never give up, I studied well and behaved. I became matured when I reached 4th grade though Im still playing but I have responsibilities already to take care and do during those times. I kept on treating struggles as a challenge for me to be stronger and wiser to face the reality of life.

b. Have you ever done some of the things or felt some of the same things that the characters did or felt? Yes! I felt being bullied or teased and punished for the worse experiences. I even had the chance to teach my fellow students like Jane Eyres passion. Im fond of dealing with kids that urges me to pursue the path of teaching also. I also think the way Jane Eyre thinks especially when the situation or thing is for the common good.

5. Your Opinion 6. a. What was the part of the book you like the most? Why?

The part that I like in the book is where Jane Eyre began being a governess to Adele as they had wonderful bonding moments together and as he met there her one true love. I also like the part where Jane found her relatives and received her inheritance from her uncle. With this, change occurred and started for betterment of all the characters particularly Jane. Lastly, of course the ending where Jane became matured enough and married Rochester and they live happily together. I chose those parts because those circumstances strucked me most while reading this novel. Those events signify change and betterment also as the characters developed their personalities towards different situations.

b. What part of the book did you dislike the most? Why? The part that I dislike is when Reed family except the father abuses Jane and doesnt treat her well. This is the same to other events that put Jane to violence or harm Jane. I chose those events because those are the hardest part of Janes life and the antagonist are so irritating.

c. How do you think the story has affected you or might affect others who will read it?

The story has affected me through the reactions of Jane Eyre in facing different struggles from different situation or people in her life. It made me to react and be mad to the antagonist. Though it really inspires me a lot for being a kind person no matter what happen or how bad things are coming to Jane. I think that if others will understand the story, there will be a distinct effect or impact to them also.

d. If you could change something in the book, what would it be? If I could change something in the book, I will change the proposal of St. John Rivers to Jane Eyre being his wife for it is inappropriate. He is a missionary or into legal or declared religious life then he will bring wife just to assist or accompany him. The change could be something friendly material.

7. Your recommendation

a. Would you recommend this book to another person? Yes, I would recommend this book to other people especially women.

b. What type of person would like this book? I think the type of person that would like to read this book is a person especially woman who seeks for her capabilities, love for herself and for others. This can be liked by person who honors or values women also.