A Tale of Strength, Self-Worth, and Timeless Lessons

I was only eight years old at then. My father gave me a book, one that seemed far too big and complex for a child my age. He told me to read that and see how that girl survived through many difficult situations that life threw at her. Being eight years old I was capable of understanding that life was not always fair, that sometimes, self- respect is more important than your emotions and what you feel and that if something is meant to happen it will.

You may be wondering which novel this is. Let me give you a hint: it’s a literary masterpiece by the brilliant Charlotte Brontë. Yes, you guessed it right, Jane Eyre.

What makes this novel extraordinary to me? Before this, every heroine I had encountered in books was portrayed so attractively and beautifully. But here in this masterpiece, this lady was different.  Jane Eyre was neither that much attractive nor that much beautiful. After we reach the end of the book, what we remember about Jane Eyre is not her looks. It is her honesty, her resilience, and her unwavering goodness. One of the specialties that I see in this book is that it's one of the first novels that explore a woman’s personal growth, independence, and inner strength in depth.

What's even more interesting about this book is that Charlotte Bronte has used her and her own sisters’ experience when developing the plot. Especially when developing the character, Helen.

Oh! I have a bad habit of starting a story from the middle of that. I should begin properly; otherwise, you might be wondering, who is Helen?

Let me tell you the story in brief.

Jane Eyre is a story about an orphan girl raised by her cruel Aunt. She became arrogant and short tempered because of her aunt’s and her cousins’ mistreatment and eventually she was sent off to boarding school named Lowood. There she meets her best friend called Helen, optimistic, kindhearted little girl who later along the story tragically dies at a young age.

Despite the hardships, she continues her education and become a teacher. Later, she accepts a position as a governess at Thornfield Hall, looking after a young girl named Adèle. There she falls in love with the owner of that house, Mr. Rochester. However, after discovering that he is a married man on her wedding day she decides to leave that place.

After many incidents, Jane finds refuge with a kind family, only to later realize they are her cousins. Along the way, one of her cousins St. John Riverse shows a love interest in her, but she rejects him asserting that a woman must be strong enough to stand independently with or without a man by her side.

She succeeds in her journey as a teacher and eventually reunites with Mr. Rochester, who has been left blind after a tragic accident. Their emotional reunion was described in such a way that it brings tears to readers’ eyes. Finally, they build a life together and are blessed with a child, marking the end of Jane’s journey.

Because of its strong themes, incredibly sympathetic protagonist, and everlasting lessons about independence, love, and self-worth, Jane Eyre is more than just a love story, it's a testament to her resilience, self-respect, and unwavering strength.

In contrast to other novels where the heroine gives up all she have gained or lived for, for the love of her life, Jane Eyre chooses herself by initially rejecting Mr. Rochester and St. John Riverse when their love demands that she compromise her principles. Jane does not simply accept fate; she contests and creates her own fate.

Throughout the novel, Jane is always torn between doing what is right and what she wants, her desires. I believe that her decisions serve as a reminder to readers that having true integrity entails sticking to our convictions, even in the face of difficulty. Jane’s fight for equality continues to resonate today reminding us to prioritize self-worth over others’ expectations. It proves that love should never mean sacrificing who we are.

Lastly, I would like to extract something from Jane Eyre, one that I often remind myself of in life.

“Now I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements, awaited those who had the courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst its perils”. So keep this in your mind too…