"There was no possibility of taking a walk that day."
With those ten words, I'm catapulted back in time to when I was thirteen years old, reading Jane Eyre for the first time. I fell in love with the novel's heroine, at once passionate and rational, and with the eloquent way she told her story, addressing me as "Reader." I felt like she was reaching out to me through the pages, teaching me about what it means to be a strong, smart, independent woman.
Greetings, fellow readers! Today we celebrate Charlotte Bronte, born 198 years ago today. Although the literary achievements of her and her siblings are complex and manifold, I'm going to focus today on the novel I have loved since the day my mom bought me my first copy seven years ago: Jane Eyre. It's the book I have loved most consistently to this day, the one I return to when I'm in need of comfort or advice, or when I just want to wrap myself in a familiar story.
I still remember that day now--my mom and I were at a homeschool convention in my hometown of Jacksonville, and we had stopped at the Usborne publishing booth, which was selling a variety of fiction for all ages. The book that caught my eye had a picture of a woman with her hair in a bun sitting at the window, her silhouette standing out against a background of pink and grey. Slate blue calligraphy spelled out the title: Jane Eyre. I remember asking my mom to buy it for me, and I will always be grateful she said yes.
When I read the book as a child, I was captivated by the suspenseful, Gothic aspects of the story. Who was the mysterious figure laughing in the night? Why did Rochester keep so many secrets? Would Jane ever find a family of her own? These questions burned in me and kept the story going. I would stay up long past my bedtime, flipping covers under the sheets to find the answers.
I try to read the book once every year, and as I've grown older, I feel like Jane has grown with me, too. I really look up to her: she's intelligent and independent, and she survives in an indifferent, often unfriendly world. As someone who was bullied and/or shunned throughout middle school and high school, I found a much-needed friend in Jane, who stood up to her abusive cousin, John Reed, who held her ground when Mr. Brocklehurst quizzed her on her virtue, who insisted upon speaking the truth even when it meant risking the wrath of those in power. I admired her strong sense of self, her thick skin, and her adherence to an intensely personal moral code.
As I grew older, I gained a new appreciation for the way Jane handles her relationship with Rochester. When they first meet, she refuses to let him catch her off guard. By behaving as his equal, she commands his respect. When their love is threatened by the revelation of Bertha's identity (no plot spoilers here--go read the book!), Jane has to choose between happiness with him and staying true to herself, and the beautiful thing about Jane Eyre is that she refuses to sacrifice her principles, even for the man she loves more than anyone else in the world. She knows their happiness would always be tainted, and even though it breaks her heart, she would rather leave him than cause irreparable damage to their relationship. That's a woman I can look up to, someone who refuses to compromise who she is to make someone else happy.
My test of a good book is that you can always find something new each time you read it. Though my original copy of Jane Eyre fell to pieces long ago, I still carry so much of that book within myself. Each year, when I pick it up, I notice something I never marked before. With any luck, I'll continue to read this book for many years to come, each time finding some new morsel to feed my hungry imagination. So happy birthday, Charlotte Bronte: thank you for making this woman's life richer because of your book. And thank you, Jane.
Until next time, readers,
Anna
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