A review by mmefish
Jane Eyre (Collins Classics), by Charlotte Brontë
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
I mostly love reading classics; the romanticism, the drama and the struggles—combined with beautiful prose—usually enchant me. But then there's classics like Jane Eyre.
I'm not judging this book bases on how progressive it was at the time, since I'm not informed enough on the topic. I'm judging it based on how interesting the plot, the characters and the setting are. Sadly, not at all.
Jane is the most developed character in the book (naturally) but I don't feel a thing for her. It seems to me she exist solely so the plot would move around someone. She is numb. She is quiet. She is boring. And so is the plot. We are moved from place to place, where a small number of anything exciting happens —just to be quickly forgotten—without a clear goal. Jane is abused in her aunt's house, Jane is sent to a boarding school, Jane skips 8 years of her life and moves on to be a governess in someone else's house. Meanwhile side characters come and go, adding very little to the story. So when Jane loves or hates someone, I can't feel the same, because ultimately nothing really matters. We follow Jane around, and that's just it: follow.
And so, "Jane Eyre" is not entertaining, not exciting, not intriguing, not new (to the modern reader) or informative. It just is.
I'm not judging this book bases on how progressive it was at the time, since I'm not informed enough on the topic. I'm judging it based on how interesting the plot, the characters and the setting are. Sadly, not at all.
Jane is the most developed character in the book (naturally) but I don't feel a thing for her. It seems to me she exist solely so the plot would move around someone. She is numb. She is quiet. She is boring. And so is the plot. We are moved from place to place, where a small number of anything exciting happens —just to be quickly forgotten—without a clear goal. Jane is abused in her aunt's house, Jane is sent to a boarding school, Jane skips 8 years of her life and moves on to be a governess in someone else's house. Meanwhile side characters come and go, adding very little to the story. So when Jane loves or hates someone, I can't feel the same, because ultimately nothing really matters. We follow Jane around, and that's just it: follow.
And so, "Jane Eyre" is not entertaining, not exciting, not intriguing, not new (to the modern reader) or informative. It just is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse