What book could you read over and over again?
I would read Jane Eyre over and over again. Why?
Characters
Jane Eyre has great characters that give the plot so many twists and turns. Jane Eyre, the main character, opens the novel as a victim of relentless bullying by her Aunt and her cousin John. The narrative opens with Jane hiding behind a curtain with a book. She is attempting to avoid confrontation only to be brutally physically assaulted when John throws a book at her head. Instead of accepting behaviour, she fights back verbally and physically, and the reader can immediately see she will challenge authority.
This challenge to authority moves to her Aunt Reid, who has Jane thrown into the Red Room room, she believes is haunted. Mrs Reed reminds her daily that she is an orphan and inferior to her cousins, and when she cries out in terror to be rescued from this place, her aunt heartlessly threw her back into the room. The confrontation between Mrs. Reed and Jane is a great piece of writing. She tells her about the unjust treatment she has received from John. She also tells her that she does not love her and she will tell others about the way she has been treated. A child addressing an adult in this way was unheard of at the time of writing. The victory Jane felt was short-lived. The taste vengeance soon tasted bitter and self-defeating.
I first read Jane Eyre when I was 13 years old. I loved the young female protagonist making that journey from innocence to experience. The autobiographical style not only helped the reader to empathise with Jane’s character but also the plot unfolds for the reader at the same time as the character.
The relationship between Jane and Rochester brings humour, but it also introduces Gothic horror through descriptions of Thornfield and unexplained events. Jane Eyre is a well-rounded character aware of her faults but fiercely independent in her views despite powerful pressure to conform and accept a life beneath her high standards of living.
Just writing this blog has made me want to reread it. I can’t wait to discover more layers to this fantastic novel.
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