Synopsis
Of all Charlotte Brontë's novels, Jane Eyre is undoubtedly the most successful. One of the best-loved novels of all time, its heroine, poor plain Jane Eyre, has become one of the most memorable characters in the English language, not to mention a feminist icon!
Raised as a penniless dependent in the home of her Aunt Reed, Jane's early years are cold and joyless. Provoked by Jane's intelligent and passionate nature, Mrs Reed sends her away to school at Lowood Institution, a harsh brutal regime run by a cruel man of God, Mr Brocklehurst. Jane spends several years at Lowood, first as a pupil and then a teacher, before leaving to take up a position as governess to a young French girl at Thornfield Hall.
Jane finds a kindred spirit in the brooding, sarcastic master of Thornfield, Edward Fairfax Rochester. His proud manner and noble intelligence attracts Jane, whilst Mr Rochester in turn is drawn by her quiet dignity and strength. After provoking Jane's jealousy by playing at courtship with Blanche Ingram, a local beauty, Mr Rochester asks Jane to marry him. She accepts, but on the day of their marriage it is revealed that Mr Rochester is already married, to a madwoman kept under supervision on the forbidden third floor of Thornfield Hall.
Jane flees Thornfield Hall and Mr Rochester and, after wandering for days on the moors, is taken in by a vicar preparing for missionary work in India, St John Rivers, and his two sisters, Diana and Mary. In due course it is revealed that Jane and the Rivers siblings are in fact cousins and Jane inherits a fortune from an uncle in Madeira, which she shares with her newfound family.
St John proposes to Jane, seeing her as the ideal wife for his missionary work. Repulsed by his practicality and lack of passion and love for her, Jane at first refuses him. She is almost persuaded by his arguments, however, until she hears Mr Rochester's voice calling to her on the wind. She rushes back to Thornfield Hall, only to find it a burned and abandoned ruin after a fire in which the mad Mrs Rochester died and Mr Rochester was blinded and crippled.
Jane and Mr Rochester reconcile and are soon married. They have a son and Mr Rochester's sight partly returns at the time of his birth. St John Rivers dies a missionary in India.