Jane Eyre

Article written by Victor Onuorah

Degree in Journalism from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Amid the wildness of the 19th-century society in which she finds herself, with the fact that there’s an existing bias against women in general, ‘Jane Eyre’s’ main character stops at nothing to reach her goals, even if that means enduring a cruel aunt, going destitute for three days, and working for a mean man.

Key Facts about Jane Eyre

• Book Title: ‘Jane Eyre’
• Book Author: Charlotte Brontë
• Pen Name: Currer Bell
• Publication Date: October 16th, 1847
• Publisher: Smith, Elder, and Co.
• Page: 400 pages
• Context: Late Georgian era. Early to middle Victorian England
• Setting: Ferndean, Moor House, Lowood, Gateshead Hall, Thornfield Hall.
• Genre: Romantics. Fiction. Gothic.
• Climax: Jane turns down the marriage proposal of St. John after hearing Rochester’s voice calling out to her to return home to him.

Charlotte Brontë and Jane Eyre

It is a common practice among great authors to write books that are, in some way, based on certain emotional times of their lives. ‘Jane Eyre’ certainly isn’t very different from books of this category, as several aspects of the book’s plot are based on personal experiences encountered by Charlotte Brontë, either as a child growing up in Haworth or as a young adult seeking her true purpose in life in a foreign city of Brussels.

Much like her sister Emily Brontë’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ whose inspiration came from several real-life incidents, Charlotte Brontë’s ‘Jane Eyre’ was also written based on a similar experience. For example, Charlotte’s plot for ‘Jane Eyre’ is split into five geographical settings – starting with Jane’s childhood spent at Gateshead under her mean aunt and ending with a reunion with Mr. Rochester at Ferndean.

All five plot stages in the novel – including the times spent at Lowood School – depict Jane’s development through life, but they also include a tremendous infusion of the author’s personal life experiences. 

Books Related to Jane Eyre

Charlotte Brontë’s ‘Jane Eyre’ is one of the earliest classics in English literature and also one of the first few written by a woman, with Jane Austen being a worthy mention in this category for her numerous contributions to the body of English, and by large, global literature.

Charlotte Brontë’s ‘Jane Eyre’ is a classic book belonging to the romantic genre – having also a good dose of horror and gothic drama playing out in the right amount – and from scene to scene. There are a few books that match the energy and intensity of Charlotte Brontë’s ‘Jane Eyre,’ and if one is rolling out a list of such books, it would never be complete without including Charlotte’s sister – Emily Brontë’s eponymous book, ‘Wuthering Heights.’

Emily’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ is similar to Charlotte’s ‘Jane Eyre’ in many ways. For one thing, they both are regarded as classics. For another, they share the Victorian era as a key undercurrent event for their historical contexts. Additionally, both books were published within the same decade and featured comparable themes in terms of women’s rights deprivation and social injustice.

The Lasting Impact of Jane Eyre