Jane Eyre the Movie

As our class continues with Jane Eyre, watching the movie is a delight. The only comments I had pictured Mr. Rochester a less aggressive man and a more of a joker kind of way. Nonetheless, the movie-created absence of his original " lying" character was not missed. It is easier to see Mr. Rochester more innocent than he was in the book. As for Jane, her actress portrays what I had in mind at some points in the movie, but not all the time. The skip on her childhood is what I kinda wanted to see, because seeing Bessie would confuse someone who hasn't read the book, although, most of the play is in chronological order.The exaggerated sounds of laughter and scratching on the door scared me more than ever imagined  to be. Putting more emphasis on how crazy Bertha really is, I can't wait to see her.

The Ending of Jane Eyre

The ending of Jane Eyre did not make me upset but somewhat disappointed. Charlotte Bronte has put many surprises and unpredictable situations into this novel, I think I was expecting a little more. I felt that it was safe and acceptable, but maybe just a final mystery or a different future for one of characters could have left an imprint on me. Having this happy ending becomes too cliche and reminds me of Disney movies. It bores me and it feels incomplete like its missing a final element from Bronte.

Jane Eyre-Gothic Novel

So, we just learned that Jane Eyre is a gothic novel because the elements that make one are portrayed. Jane is the lonely protagonist, Bertha is the villain, Thornefield is an example of gothic architecture, and the supernatural events that occurred all create the gothic novel. Jane is the lonely protagonist because we are told that she is an orphan but she is able to overcome that and many other challenges that come her way. Bertha is seen as the villain because of the way that she makes Mr. Rochester's life horrible, basically making it impossible for him to marry Jane since he is practically married to her, and she nearly  kills him when she burns down Thornefield causing him to lose a hand and become blind. Thornefield represents gothic architecture from the way it is described to us by Charlotte Bronte as a tall castle like edifice. And the several supernatural events that occur such as when Jane encounters a specter of what she believes is her uncle when she is locked in the "red room",and when Mr. Rochester and Jane somehow hear each other towards the end of the novel. There is know way that i would have believed this novel to be a gothic novel, but reading about the elements that create a gothic novel give me a clear perspective that it definitely is.

Jane's New Inheritance

In Chapter 33, we find out that Jane is now in possession of a large amount of money. Not only that but she finds out the St.John and the rest of them are all her long lost cousins!! This is another of Charlotte Bronte's great twist. I didn't mind that they became her cousins, but I felt very suspicious about Jane. Her character is quite clear for sure, but somehow I can't get over how easily she shared her profit. It was more than enough and it was the right thing to do, but I don't think I've ever seen Jane this giving before. This new side of Jane is questionable to me.

St. John Rivers' Calling

The proposal may be a surprise, but the impulse is good, right? Or is it? Do you think that the missionary zeal that St. John shows gives a positive view of Christianity? Is he an admirable character, a positive religious model?

Jane's Decision

As we discussed in class, Jane refused to marry Mr. Rochester when she found out that he was already married to Bertha, because she felt that she was betrayed by him, again! Most of us felt that Jane had made an appropriate decision by choosing not to marry him, because it wouldn't be fair if they got married, and she got lied to again. Or if he did the same thing to her as he did to Bertha and fell in love with another girl. The only difference was, he wasn't in love with Bertha. Mr. Rochester said that even if she was mad and crazy like Bertha, that he would be willing to stay with her, because he is actually in love with her, and wants to marry her. This was a different feeling for him since the marriage that he had with Bertha was an arranged marriage, and HE was lied to by her, kind of the way that he lied to Jane, but his lies were more to protect her rather than harm her.

Jane Eyre and The Romantic Movement

Chapter 27 is a great one in many ways. I'm sure you'll want to blog about the moral dilemma Jane faces and the "debate". However, please also take a few minutes to comment on how this chapter adds to our view of Bronte as a writer of the Romantic Movement. Imagination, nature, symbolism, myth, emotion, individualism, the everyday and the exotic - what shows up here?