Jane Eyre - an Analysis

The Oxford dictionary states that a classic is of lasting importance; typical, and famous because it is long-established. But this only hints at what makes a classic. Yes it is true that most classics have been around for a long time but this is not purely what makes then a classic. It is the reasons why they have lasted so long that make something a classic. These reasons can be condensed into four broad aspects. These aspects are: raise the level of human consciousness, influences many people’s lives or minds, influences future texts, and in some way being able to contribute to the search for the eternal truth. A brilliant example of a literary classic is “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte. This book is considered a classic because of all of these aspects.

Firstly, the search for human consciousness is an aspect widely explored throughout “Jane Eyre”. This can be seen through the ideals of Romanticism that Bronte incorporates and develops in her story and characters. The Romantics believed that the ability to feel love is what defines us as humans and this ideal is embraced by Bronte. The character of Jane Eyre is the one who represents these ideals. She embodies passion and does what is right for her. She believes that to marry someone you should feel love for that person. It should never be based purely on convenience, companionship, status or stability. This is expressed through her relationship with St John Rivers. He represents marrying not for love but companionship and to marry him would mean sacrificing passion for principal. The fact that Jane does not marry St. John Rivers portrays to the viewer Bronte’s own beliefs; being that to marry the relationship must be based on love. Despite Jane’s belief of love and passion being of upmost importance, she put morality ahead of it. This is seen in the novel when it is revealed that Mr Rochester is already married, Jane’s choice to not marry him shows that she puts morality above love. This ideal is displayed when Jane states, “and Conscience, turned tyrant, held Passion by the throat.” In this representation Bronte is positioning us to believe that you must be a moral person.

Romantics also celebrated that it was the natural birthright of every human to experience love, no matter how ugly, or plain the person is. This is also clearly seen through the character of Jane, as she had always been told that she is plain, but ultimately in the end she does marry her true love. This idea is also portrayed through the character of Edward Rochester. He, as Jane often stated, is not “handsome” but he and Jane find happiness with each other. And as they say “love is blind”.

A classic should also influence many people’s lives or minds, and this idea becomes clearly evident while reading “Jane Eyre”. Looking back through the past and how ideas, morals and opinions have progressed over time it is clear that Bronte’s ideas were well before her time.