Jane Eyre: Problematic or Empowering?

 "It is vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it."

At face value, Jane Eyre is a bit questionable. The eponymous protagonist is an orphaned 19-year-old girl who marries a wealthy man 20 years her senior (who also happens to be her boss). For understandable reasons, it's not a great look. And yet I, like many others, really enjoyed this book. Why, you may ask?

For starters, the plot is genuinely intriguing. I knew absolutely nothing about this book before reading it, aside from the fact that it's a classic piece of literature, and I had no idea where the story was going. Charlotte Brontë masterfully weaves tragedy, mystery, and romance into a story spanning decades, and I was fully invested from cover to cover. 

Beyond the plot (of which I will try to reveal little), is the compelling main character: Jane Eyre. She is a true underdog, forced to live with abusive relatives as a child and later leaves the only community she's ever known to work as a private tutor in an austere and bizarre household. Her life is full of loss, and yet one cannot help but admire her determined and at times fiery spirit. Though she exists at a societal disadvantage, she boldly fights to make her own way in the world. 

Which leads me to why I love this novel so much. At its core, Jane Eyre, is a story about free will and the underestimated agency of those on the margins of society. Even though Jane's life circumstances are often less than ideal, it is ultimately her own decisions that shape her journey, rather than the desires or choices of those in authority. 

Even the aforementioned marriage to an older man is none other than Jane's own choice, and this relationship too subverts societal norms by uniquely positioning her to be a protector and provider. Jane Eyre is a staunch dismissal of cultural norms at the time, as a poor young woman with no familial support or spouse comes to shape her own destiny and rebel against expectations. 

This novel was a delightful read and a celebration of those who, like Jane Eyre, unabashedly choose to follow the callings of their heart even in the face of adversity. At a time when those on the margins continue to be dismissed, may we similarly find the courage to voice our opinions and pursue our passions as we navigate a hostile and uncertain world. 

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