"Above All, Jane Eyre Is a Love Story" - How Far and in What Ways Do You Agree with This View?

‘Above all, Jane Eyre is a love story’ – How far and in what ways do you agree with this view?

I feel that the novel Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, is loosely a love story between the protagonist – Jane and Edward Rochester; therefore I agree with this statement to a small degree. During her time spent at Thornfield Hall, Jane finds herself to be unexpectedly “overwhelmed” by Mr Rochester, ignoring factors such as his wealth and social status, she falls for him helplessly. The reader realises Rochester’s sympathy and admiration for Jane before she does as he regularly asks for her company: “entertain me, Jane.” Rochester and Eyre’s relationship particularly blossoms after the ‘gypsy fortune teller’ visits all of the women staying at Thornfield Hall; including Blanche Ingram and Jane. Rochester is then able to confirm his conspiracy of Jane’s soft spot for him as the gypsy woman devises Eyre’s upset at the thought of Edward marrying Blanche.

I believe that the theme of ‘a love story’ is a small section of a more prominent theme of the novel: Family. The main quest in Jane Eyre is Jane's search for family, for a sense of belonging. On the contrary, this search is constantly tempered by Jane’s need for independence. She begins the novel as an unloved orphan who is almost obsessed with finding love as a way to establish her own identity and achieve happiness. Although she does not receive any parental love from Mrs Reed, Jane finds surrogate maternal figures throughout the rest of the novel. Bessie, Miss Temple, and even Mrs Fairfax care for Jane, giving her the love and guidance that she needs. Jane returns the favour by caring for Adèle and the students at her school. Still, Jane does not feel as though she has found her true family until she falls in love with Mr. Rochester at Thornfield; he becomes more of a kindred spirit to her than any of her biological relatives could be. However, she is unable to accept Mr. Rochester’s first marriage proposal because she realizes that their marriage - one based on unequal social standing - would compromise her autonomy. Jane similarly denies St. John's marriage proposal, as it would be one of duty, not of passion. Only when she gains financial and emotional autonomy, after having received her inheritance and the familial love of her cousins, can Jane accept Rochester's offer. In fact, the blinded Rochester is more dependent on her (at least until he regains his sight). Within her marriage to Rochester, Jane finally feels completely liberated, bringing her dual quests for family and independence to a satisfying conclusion.

Another strong theme in Jane Eyre is Gender Inequality. Alongside Brontë's critique of Victorian class, hierarchy is a subtler condemnation of the gender inequalities during the time period. The novel begins with Jane's imprisonment in the ‘red-room’ at Gateshead, and later in Bertha's imprisonment in the attic at Thornfield is revealed. The connection implies that Jane's imprisonment is symbolic of her lower social class, while Bertha's containment is symbolic of Victorian marriage: all women, if they marry under unequal circumstances as Bertha did, will eventually be confined and oppressed by their husbands in some manner. Significantly, Jane is consciously aware of the problems associated with unequal marriages. Thus, even though she loves Mr Rochester, she refuses to marry him until she has her own fortune and can enter into the marriage contract as his equal.

While it is difficult to separate Jane's economic and gender obstacles, it is clear that her position as a woman also prevents her from venturing out into the world as many of the male characters do – Mr Rochester, her Uncle John, and St. John, for instance. Indeed, her desire for worldly experience makes her last name ironic, as ‘Eyre’ derives from an Old French word meaning ‘to travel.’ If Jane were a man, Brontë suggests, she would not be forced to submit to so much economic hardship; she could actively attempt to make her fortune. As it is, however, Jane must work as a governess, the only legitimate position open for a woman of her station, and simply wait for her uncle to leave her his fortune.

Earth Versus Heaven is also a dominant theme throughout the novel. Jane is presented with the dilemma of how reconcile fulfilment in this life with a future in heaven. The early chapters of Jane Eyre give a clear impression of the intimidating way religion was taught in the nineteenth century. After Jane’s passionate outburst, Miss Abbot tells Bessie: “God will punish her: He might strike her dead in the midst of her tantrums”, and to Jane she says: “if you don’t repent, something bad might be permitted to come down the chimney and fetch you away”. Jane has been well indoctrinated; she tells Mr Brocklehurst that hell is a “pit full of fire” into which the wicked fall and where they burn forever. The rigidities of institutionalised religion are satirised in the inflexible Mr Brocklehurst and criticised in St John Rivers, whose sermons are bitter and harsh. St John has rejected happiness in his life in favour of the next. He represses his natural instinct because he is convinced that he has to choose between religion and earthly love. St John’s certainty that he will win “his incorruptible crown” leads to his early death. A religion that excludes human affections is fit for heroes but Brontё demonstrates that it is not the creed to live by.

Although I feel as though Jane Eyre has a more in-depth plot than just a ‘love story’, I believe that the other themes have a tendency to refer back to Jane’s yearning for love and how determined she is to seek her ‘equal’. Jane Eyre is an independent young woman who constantly struggles for her rights - as a woman. The novel follows the recollection of the early events in Miss Jane Eyre’s life, some unfortunate however some incredible, until she conquers the battle against injustice and finds love and compassion.