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Jane Eyre is my BFF this week. Mr. Rochester has fully entered the scene and I must say I love how believable are Jane's feelings for him. At first I really didn't like the idea of an eighteen-year-old heroine falling for a man almost twice her age, but this isn't some swoon worthy love-at-first-sight vampire crush. Jane even explicitly tells Rochester that she does not find him handsome (I think I actually laughed out loud at that part). As they spend more time together though, Jane develops admiration and respect for him and her feelings are borne out of this companionship rather than girlish idealism. I don't want to go into the mystery that's unfolding at Thornfield Hall, as I don't want to spoil the surprises for those that are unfamiliar with the story, but I'm definitely settling in to the camp of readers that adore this book! Here's my progress update as well as some quotes I've highlighted thus far:
"If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their own way: they would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but would grow worse and worse. When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard - so as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again." (1013)
"Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs." (1033)
"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 courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst its perils." (1520)
"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." (1997)
I was hoping to pass the halfway mark in the book today, so I'm still a bit behind where I'd like to be to finish by Friday, but even if this is an eight day read, I'm definitely enjoying the journey!
March 15, 2011 at 10:34 PM
You are on your way with finishing up this wonderful classic... that I also should really pick up.
Mad Scientist
http://madsteampunkery.blogspot.com
March 16, 2011 at 2:32 AM
+JMJ+
As I said in your earlier post, Jane Eyre is my favourite novel in the world . . . and yet I can't place the first quote. Where does it come in the book? When Jane is at Lowood?
The last quote you share is part of one of my favourite passages. When I last reread Jane Eyre, I was at a very tranquil point in my life--which was, given the big picture, really nothing to complain about--but it seemed that only Jane understood all my frustration and desperate desire for action.
March 16, 2011 at 5:54 AM
So glad that you are loving it. I too struggled a little bit with Jane falling for such an older man but you're right, the romance does develop out of friendship and companionship.
I do like the quotes that you picked out too! The "life's too short" one seems a little anachronistic because we think of it as such a modern saying, but I guess people have been thinking it for at least 200 years!
March 18, 2011 at 9:32 AM
Mad Scientist - Thanks for the vote of confidence! Based on books we've both enjoyed, I think you'd like Jane Eyre, too!
Enbrethilliel - The first quote is from Jane's time at Lowood and is a remark she makes in a conversation with Helen Burns. And I think the quote about desiring action speaks to many of us - it's such a stirring quote to reflect on!
Yvann - I didn't really think about that as anachronistic but you're quite right on the observation! I'm so used to reading historical fiction that I often forget that Jane Eyre was written over a hundred fifty years ago!