Jane Eyre /ˈɛər/ is a novel by English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published in London, England, in 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. with the title Jane Eyre. An Autobiography under the pen name "Currer Bell." The first American edition was released the following year by Harper & Brothers of New York. Writing for the Penguin edition, Stevie Davies describes it as an "influential feminist text" because of its in-depth exploration of a strong female character's feelings.
Primarily of the bildungsroman genre, Jane Eyre follows the emotions and experiences of eponymous Jane Eyre, her growth to adulthood, and her love for Mr. Rochester, the byronic master of Thornfield Hall. The novel contains elements of social criticism, with a strong sense of morality at its core, but is nonetheless a novel many consider ahead of its time given the individualistic character of Jane and the novel's exploration of sexuality, religion, and proto-feminism.
Jane Eyre is a first-person narrative of the title character. The novel goes through five distinct stages: Jane's childhood at Gateshead, where she is emotionally and physically abused by her aunt and cousins; her education at Lowood School, where she acquires friends and role models but also suffers privations and oppression; her time as the governess of Thornfield Hall, where she falls in love with her Byronic employer, Edward Rochester; her time with the Rivers family during which her earnest but cold clergyman cousin, St John Rivers, proposes to her; and the finale with her reunion with, and marriage to, her beloved Rochester.
Plot
The Last of Robin Hood is the true story of Beverly Aadland, a teen starlet who became the last girlfriend of legendary swashbuckler Errol Flynn. In 1957, Beverly was working at Warner Brothers studios with a fake birth certificate saying she was 18 -- she was in fact, only 15 -- when she encountered the former matinée idol. After a bumpy start, the two undertook a relationship that was ultimately embraced by Beverly's Hollywood mother Florence, who became a willing third wheel. The affair took them from L.A. to New York to Africa, then to Cuba where Flynn pitched in with the rebels to make a pro-Castro propaganda movie starring Beverly. It all came crashing to an end in Vancouver, however, when Flynn died in Beverly's arms, causing an avalanche of publicity; Florence finally achieved the attention she sought in the form of tabloid notoriety but the chaos drove Beverly to the edge of sanity. The Last of Robin Hood is a poignant yet darkly comic coming-of-age tale about the desire for fame and the price it exacts.
Because one bread roll is never enough.
Plot
Small, plain and poor, Jane Eyre comes to Thornfield Hall as governess to the young ward of Edward Rochester. Denied love all her life, Jane can't help but be attracted to the intelligent, vibrant, energetic Mr. Rochester, a man twice her age. But just when Mr. Rochester seems to be returning the attention, he invites the beautiful and wealthy Blanche Ingram and her party to stay at his estate. Meanwhile, the secret of Thornfield Hall could ruin all their chances for happiness.
Keywords: 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 19th-century, arson, aunt, ballet, based-on-novel, battered-child, blindness
A Love Story Every Woman Would Die a Thousand Deaths to Live!
[first lines]::Jane Eyre: [narrating] My name is Jane Eyre... I was born in 1820, a harsh time of change in England. Money and position seemed all that mattered. Charity was a cold and disagreeable word. Religion too often wore a mask of bigotry and cruelty. There was no proper place for the poor or the unfortunate. I had no father or mother, brother or sister. As a child I lived with my aunt, Mrs. Reed of Gateshead Hall. I do not remember that she ever spoke one kind word to me.
[last lines]::Jane Eyre: [narrating] As the months went past, he came to see the light once more as well as to feel its warmth; to see first the glory of the sun, and then the mild splendour of the moon, and at last the evening star. And then one day, when our firstborn was put into his arms, he could see that the boy had inherited his own eyes as they once were... large, brilliant and black.
Jane Eyre: I should never mistake informality for insolence. One, I rather like; the other, no free-born person would submit to, even for a salary.::Edward Rochester: Humbug! Most free-born people would submit to anything for a salary.
Mrs. Reed: [introducing Jane] This, Mr. Brocklehurst, is the child in question. She is the daughter of my late sister's husband by an unfortunate union which we in the family prefer to forget. For some years she's lived in this house.
Dr. Rivers: You keep your schoolroom uncommonly cold, Mr. Brocklehurst.::Henry Brocklehurst: A matter of principle, Dr. Rivers. Our aim is not to pamper the body but strengthen the soul.::Dr. Rivers: I should not have thought that a bad cough was any aid to salvation, but then I'm not a theologian. Good day, sir.
Edward Rochester: I put my requests in an absurd way. The fact is once and for all, I do not wish to treat you as an inferior, but I've baffled through varied experiences with many men of many nations and roved over the globe while you've spent your whole life with one set of people in one house. Don't you agree it gives me the right to be masterful and abrupt?::Jane Eyre: Do as you please, sir. You pay me 30 pounds a year for receiving your orders.
Edward Rochester: Are you always drawn to the loveless and unfriended?::Jane Eyre: When it's deserved.
Blanche Ingram: [as she and Rochester emerge from the house into the garden:] It is a beautiful place, your Thornfield.::Edward Rochester: As a dungeon, it serves its purpose.::Blanche Ingram: Dungeon? Why, it's a paradise! [Rochester grunts. Blanche goes on:] Though of course, if one lived here, one would really have to have a house in London, wouldn't one?::Edward Rochester: [dry:] Unquestionably. And a little apartment in Paris, perhaps a villa on the Mediterranean.::Blanche Ingram: How delightful that would be! But Thornfield would always be there, as a retreat from the world. A green haven of peace and... and love.::Edward Rochester: Love? Who's talking of love? All a fellow needs is a bit of distraction. A houseful of beautiful women every now and then to keep him from brooding on his woes - [chuckling:] peering too closely into the mysteries of his heart.::Blanche Ingram: That is, if he has a heart. And sometimes I wonder, Edward, if you really do have one.::Edward Rochester: [unperturbed:] Have I ever done or said anything to make you believe that I have? If so, I assure you it was quite unintentional.::Blanche Ingram: Are you never serious?::Edward Rochester: Never more than at this moment, except perhaps when I'm eating my dinner.::Blanche Ingram: Really, Edward, you can be revoltingly coarse sometimes.::Edward Rochester: [not as a question:] Can I ever be anything else.::Blanche Ingram: Can you? [She lays a hand on his arm and draws him around to look at her] Would I have come to Thornfield if you couldn't?::Edward Rochester: Ha, that's a very nice point, Blanche. Would you, or would you not? We'll begin by considering the significant facts of the case. Mr. Rochester is revoltingly coarse, and as ugly as sin...::Blanche Ingram: [interrupting:] Edward! I...::Edward Rochester: [light and cheerful, all through:] Allow me, my dear Blanche - I repeat, as ugly as sin. Secondly, he flirts sometimes, but is careful never to talk about love or marriage. However - this is the third point - Lady Ingram is somewhat impoverished, [she gives him a sharp look] whereas the revolting Mr. Rochester has an assured income of eight thousand a year. Now in view of all this, what is the attitude that Miss Blanche may be expected to take? From my experience of the world, I'd surmise that she would ignore the coarseness, et cetera, until such time as Mr. R is safely...::Blanche Ingram: How dare you!::Edward Rochester: [laughing outright] Now now now, no horseplay!::Blanche Ingram: I've never been so grossly insulted in all my...::Edward Rochester: [quite cheerful] Insulted? My dear Blanche, I merely paid you the enormous compliment of being completely honest!::Blanche Ingram: Mr. Rochester, you are a boor and a cur! [He watches as she stalks off. Fade to black. Fade up: the Ingram party is riding away from Thornfield]
Jane Eyre: Do you think I can stay here become nothing to you? Do you think because I'm poor and obscure and plain that I'm soulless and heartless? I have as much soul is you and fully as much heart. But if God had gifted me with wealth and beauty, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me as it is now for me to leave you. There, I've spoken my heart, now let me go...::Edward Rochester: Jane, Jane... you strange, almost unearthly thing. You that I love as my own flesh.::Jane Eyre: Don't mock me now.
Plot
Jane Eyre is an orphan who was raised by her aunt until she came to Thornfield Hall as governess to the young ward of Edward Rochester. But Jane is attracted by the intelligent and energetic Sir Rochester, a man of almost twice her age. But just when Sir Rochester seems to pay attention to her, he invites the beautiful and wealthy Blanche Ingram to stay at his house.
Keywords: 19th-century, adoption, annulment, arson, aunt-niece-relationship, ball, based-on-novel, blind, blindness, bully