Jane Eyre
Tags: romantic

Plot synopsis:
=== Introduction ===
The novel is a first-person narrative from the perspective of the title character. The novel's setting is somewhere in the north of England, late in the reign of George III (1760–1820). It goes through five distinct stages: Jane's childhood at Gateshead Hall, where she is emotionally and physically abused by her aunt and cousins; her education at Lowood School, where she gains friends and role models but suffers privations and oppression; her time as governess at Thornfield Hall, where she falls in love with her Byronic employer, Edward Rochester; her time with the Rivers family, during which her earnest but cold clergyman cousin, St. John Rivers, proposes to her; and her reunion with, and marriage to, her beloved Rochester. During these sections the novel provides perspectives on a number of important social issues and ideas, many of which are critical of the status quo (see the Themes section below). Literary critic Jerome Beaty opines that the close first person perspective leaves the reader "too uncritically accepting of her worldview", and often leads reading and conversation about the novel towards supporting Jane, regardless of how irregular her ideas or perspectives are.
Jane Eyre is divided into 38 chapters, and most editions are at least 400 pages long. The original publication was in three volumes, comprising chapters 1 to 15, 16 to 27, and 28 to 38; this was a common publishing format during the 19th century (see three-volume novel).
Brontë dedicated the novel's second edition to William Makepeace Thackeray.
=== Jane's childhood ===
The novel begins with the titular character, Jane Eyre, aged 10, living with her maternal uncle's family, the Reeds, as a result of her uncle's dying wish. It is several years after her parents died of typhus. Mr. Reed, Jane's uncle, was the only person in the Reed family who was ever kind to Jane. Jane's aunt, Sarah Reed, dislikes her, treats her as a burden, and discourages her children from associating with Jane. Mrs. Reed and her three children are abusive to Jane, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The nursemaid Bessie proves to be Jane's only ally in the household, even though Bessie sometimes harshly scolds Jane. Excluded from the family activities, Jane is incredibly unhappy, with only a doll and books for comfort.
One day, after her cousin John Reed knocks her down and she attempts to defend herself, Jane is locked in the red room where her uncle died; there, she faints from panic after she thinks she has seen his ghost. She is subsequently attended to by the kindly apothecary, Mr. Lloyd, to whom Jane reveals how unhappy she is living at Gateshead Hall. He recommends to Mrs. Reed that Jane should be sent to school, an idea Mrs. Reed happily supports. Mrs. Reed then enlists the aid of the harsh Mr. Brocklehurst, director of Lowood Institution, a charity school for girls. Mrs. Reed cautions Mr. Brocklehurst that Jane has a "tendency for deceit", which he interprets as her being a "liar". Before Jane leaves, however, she confronts Mrs. Reed and declares that she'll never call her "aunt" again, that Mrs. Reed and her daughter, Georgiana, are the ones who are deceitful, and that she shall tell everyone at Lowood how cruelly Mrs. Reed treated her.
=== Lowood ===
At Lowood Institution, a school for poor and orphaned girls, Jane soon finds that life is harsh, but she attempts to fit in and befriends an older girl, Helen Burns, who is able to accept her punishment philosophically. During a school inspection by Mr. Brocklehurst, Jane accidentally breaks her slate, thereby drawing attention to herself. He then stands her on a stool, brands her a liar, and shames her before the entire assembly. Jane is later comforted by her friend, Helen. Miss Temple, the caring superintendent, facilitates Jane's self-defence and writes to Mr. Lloyd, whose reply agrees with Jane's. Jane is then publicly cleared of Mr. Brocklehurst's accusations.
The 80 pupils at Lowood are subjected to cold rooms, poor meals, and thin clothing. Many students fall ill when a typhus epidemic strikes, and Jane's friend Helen dies of consumption in her arms. When Mr. Brocklehurst's maltreatment of the students is discovered, several benefactors erect a new building and install a sympathetic management committee to moderate Mr. Brocklehurst's harsh rule. Conditions at the school then improve dramatically.
The name Lowood symbolizes the "low" point in Jane's life where she was maltreated. Helen Burns is a representation of Charlotte's elder sister Maria, who died of tuberculosis after spending time at a school where the children were mistreated.
=== Thornfield Hall ===
After six years as a student and two as a teacher at Lowood, Jane decides to leave, like her friend and confidante Miss Temple, who recently married. She advertises her services as a governess and receives one reply, from Alice Fairfax, housekeeper at Thornfield Hall. Jane takes the position, teaching Adèle Varens, a young French girl.
One night, while Jane is walking to a nearby town, a horseman passes her. The horse slips on ice and throws the rider. Despite the rider's surliness, Jane helps him to get back onto his horse. Later, back at Thornfield, she learns that this man is Edward Rochester, master of the house. Adèle is his ward, left in his care when her mother abandoned her.
At Jane's first meeting with him within Thornfield, Mr. Rochester teases her, accusing her of bewitching his horse to make him fall. He also talks strangely in other ways, but Jane is able to give as good as she gets. Mr. Rochester and Jane soon come to enjoy each other's company, and spend many evenings together.
Odd things start to happen at the house, such as a strange laugh, a mysterious fire in Mr. Rochester's room (from which Jane saves Rochester by rousing him and throwing water on him and the fire), and an attack on a house guest named Mr. Mason. Then Jane receives word that her aunt Mrs. Reed is calling for her, because she suffered a stroke after her son John died. Jane returns to Gateshead and remains there for a month, attending to her dying aunt. Mrs. Reed confesses to Jane that she wronged her, giving Jane a letter from Jane's paternal uncle, Mr. John Eyre, in which he asks for her to live with him and be his heir. Mrs. Reed admits to telling Mr. Eyre that Jane had died of fever at Lowood. Soon afterward, Mrs. Reed dies, and Jane helps her cousins after the funeral before returning to Thornfield.
Back at Thornfield, Jane broods over Mr. Rochester's rumoured impending marriage to the beautiful and talented, but snobbish and heartless, Blanche Ingram. However, one midsummer evening, Rochester baits Jane by saying how much he will miss her after getting married, but how she will soon forget him. The normally self-controlled Jane reveals her feelings for him. Rochester is then sure that Jane is sincerely in love with him, and he proposes marriage. Jane is at first sceptical of his sincerity, but eventually believes him and gladly agrees to marry him. She then writes to her Uncle John, telling him of her happy news.
As she prepares for her wedding, Jane's forebodings arise when a strange woman sneaks into her room one night and rips her wedding veil in two. As with the previous mysterious events, Mr. Rochester attributes the incident to Grace Poole, one of his servants. During the wedding ceremony, Mr. Mason and a lawyer declare that Mr. Rochester cannot marry because he is already married to Mr. Mason's sister, Bertha. Mr. Rochester admits this is true but explains that his father tricked him into the marriage for her money. Once they were united, he discovered that she was rapidly descending into madness, and so he eventually locked her away in Thornfield, hiring Grace Poole as a nurse to look after her. When Grace gets drunk, Rochester's wife escapes and causes the strange happenings at Thornfield.
It turns out that Jane's uncle, Mr. John Eyre, is a friend of Mr. Mason's and was visited by him soon after Mr. Eyre received Jane's letter about her impending marriage. After the marriage ceremony is broken off, Mr. Rochester asks Jane to go with him to the south of France, and live with him as husband and wife, even though they cannot be married. Refusing to go against her principles, and despite her love for him, Jane leaves Thornfield in the middle of the night.
=== Other employment ===
Jane travels as far from Thornfield as she can using the little money she had previously saved. She accidentally leaves her bundle of possessions on the coach and has to sleep on the moor, and unsuccessfully attempts to trade her handkerchief and gloves for food. Exhausted and hungry, she eventually makes her way to the home of Diana and Mary Rivers, but is turned away by the housekeeper. She collapses on the doorstep, preparing for her death. St. John Rivers -- Diana and Mary's brother -- and a clergyman save her. After she regains her health, St. John finds Jane a teaching position at a nearby village school. Jane becomes good friends with the sisters, but St. John remains aloof.
The sisters leave for governess jobs, and St. John becomes somewhat closer to Jane. St. John learns Jane's true identity and astounds her by telling her that her uncle, John Eyre, has died and left her his entire fortune of 20,000 pounds (equivalent to over £1.3 million in 2011). When Jane questions him further, St. John reveals that John Eyre is also his and his sisters' uncle. They had once hoped for a share of the inheritance but were left virtually nothing. Jane, overjoyed by finding that she has living and friendly family members, insists on sharing the money equally with her cousins, and Diana and Mary come back to live at Moor House.
=== Proposals ===
Thinking Jane will make a suitable missionary's wife, St. John asks her to marry him and to go with him to India, not out of love, but out of duty. Jane initially accepts going to India but rejects the marriage proposal, suggesting they travel as brother and sister. As soon as Jane's resolve against marriage to St. John begins to weaken, she mysteriously hears Mr. Rochester's voice calling her name. Jane then returns to Thornfield to find only blackened ruins. She learns that Mr. Rochester's wife set the house on fire and committed suicide by jumping from the roof. In his rescue attempts, Mr. Rochester lost a hand and his eyesight. Jane reunites with him, but he fears that she will be repulsed by his condition. "Am I hideous, Jane?", he asks. "Very, sir: you always were, you know", she replies. When Jane assures him of her love and tells him that she will never leave him, Mr. Rochester again proposes, and they are married. He eventually recovers enough sight to see their first-born son.

Review: I felt duty bound to watch the 1983 Timothy Dalton / Zelah Clarke adaptation of "Jane Eyre," because I'd just written an article about the 2006 BBC "Jane Eyre" for TheScreamOnline.So, I approached watching this the way I'd approach doing homework.I was irritated at first.
There's a reason it has lasted 150 years plus, while other, slicker, sexier and easier texts, have disappeared.As a long time "Jane Eyre" fan, I was prejudiced against Timothy Dalton as Rochester.
That isn't made fully clear here.In any case, Charlotte Bronte wrote an excellent, complex, rich novel, and this adaptation of it, of all the ones I've seen, mines and honors the novel best of any adaptation I've seen, and that says a lot.Other versions, that don't fully honor the book, end up being a chore to watch in many places.
If you don't care about what Charlotte Bronte has to say about child abuse, or the hypocrisy of a culture built on looks and money, your adaptation of much of the book will be something people fast forward through to get to the kissing scenes between Jane and Rochester.This version, like Bronte's novel, realizes that everything Bronte wrote -- about Jane's experiences at Lowood, and her relationship to St. John -- are part of what makes Jane's relationship to Rochester as explosive and unforgettable as it is..
Yes, this production is long (good news for Bronte fans!) and it has a somewhat dated feel, but both the casting and acting are so brilliant that you won't want to watch any other versions!Timothy Dalton IS Edward Rochester...
I've read the book many times and I never felt that Rochester was meant to be perceived as a nonstop snarling beast.)When I reread the novel, I always see Zelah Clarke as Jane.
Nevertheless, if you read the book - to which this production stays amazingly close - you can clearly see the small struggles Zelah-as-Jane endures as she subdues her emotions in order to remain mild and even-tempered.The chemistry between Dalton and Clarke is just right, I think.
And for a woman like Jane, who never presumed to have *any* love come her way, it is a minor miracle.The rest of the casting is terrific, and I love the fact that nearly every character from the book is present here.
In particular, the mutual teasing between the lead characters comes straight from the book and is so delightful!Jane Eyre was, in many ways, one of the first novelized feminists.
Those who love the book Jane Eyre as I do (it's my all time favorite, and I re read it at least once a year) will love this version.
Zelah Clarke may have been just a little too old to play the 18 year old Jane, but when I watch this movie, I don't think about the ages of the characters.
Sure, this film might seem a little long, but it's the only version I've seen that includes part 3 of the story.I wish the people who made this film had been involved in the newer Zeferelli version, as it would have helped that mess of a film.I also realized the last time I watched this video that Judy Cornwell plays "Aunt Reed"!
This is the best version of Jane Eyre to ever appear on film.I read the book later and was amazed at how closely this miniseries followed Charolette Bronte's writing.
This wonderful 1983 BBC television production (not a movie, as others have written here) of the classic love story "Jane Eyre", starring Timothy Dalton as Rochester, and Zelah Clarke as Jane, is the finest version that has been made to date, since it is the most faithful to the novel by Charlotte Bronte in both concept and dialogue.
This is definitely the best adaptation of Bronte's novel with brilliant performances from Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke.
I have watched the movie with the book in hand to help answer any questions I may have had.The dashing Timothy Dalton fits the part of Edward Fairfax Rochester, almost too well, except for one thing; he is FAR too handsome for the Rochester spoken of in the novel!
:)Yes, I could go on forever talking about him, but, now I must move on to Zelah Clarke, who although may seem too old to play the part of Jane Eyre, shared a great chemistry with her co-star.
Love knows no age limits.In conclusion, this truly is an old-fashioned romance movie, and the settings and supporting characters add to the incredible adaptation from the novel to the movie.
If a more masterful adaptation than this one even existed, you need not look for it; you will find all and more in this near-perfect presentation of Charlotte Brontë's masterpiece.Rarely have I seen a film that would urge me to read the novel on which it was based, but I admit to that here.
Every atom of might and magic that has reared Jane Eyre as a popular classic of English literature has successfully been captured in this film.What Brontë did not bring herself, Clarke and Dalton managed to translate in the limelight with stupendous intensity.
The movie's success is, no doubt, due in no small part to their acting prowess.Love Jane Eyre or hate her, but appreciate the richness, the vitality, the truth of the story; love the characters; love the actors; all just as you would love what is great in cinema..
Having never actually read the book I wasn't sure what I would make of the production, which had been recommended to me because of me being a fan of Timothy Dalton, who plays the role of Mister Edward Rochester.
Both Sian Pattenden (as the child) and Zelah Clarke (as the grown-up) both give fine performances in the title role of Jane Eyre, both are believable in their roles and come across as strong willed but all too human characters, which is especially true of Clarke as her relationship with her employer Mr. Rochester grows throughout the story.
I've seen them all and have come to the conclusion (although, as some other commentors pointed out, yes Rochester played by Timothy Dalton, is too goodlooking for the intended character) that this is the most detailed and best layout for what Bronte had initially written.
His brooding good looks (combined with that deep, manly voice) makes people argue that he is far too handsome for Rochester as he's described in the book; but it's his acting that makes him so suitable for the role.I knew Dalton is a serious and capable actor and that he's the best Bond in cinema history; but his Rochester is simply touching and mesmerizing that makes even his vice seems excusable.
I am a Jane Eyre lover and a purist, and this version includes almost all of the important details of the book, and the characters are portrayed as I imagined them.
The 2006 version with Toby Stephens (aged 37 years) is in progress on BBC1 and is very good indeed, so I will decide whether that is my favourite when it is completed.On viewing this series again, after watching the 2006 version, I have decided that this version with Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clark is the best!
This version has an excellent cast - Zelah Clark is tiny and the difference in height between her and Rochester is important; Timothy Dalton has real presence and is an amazing actor.
And Zelah Clarke's Jane is no wallflower; she conveys the emotions of a woman who habitually represses her sense of humour and her passionate nature very successfully, allowing her rare outbursts to show to more dramatic effect.Not so long ago the BBC aired an excellent dramatisation of Jean Rhys' enlightened and most unsettling riposte to Bronte, "Wide Sargasso Sea", imagining the back-story of the first Mrs Rochester.
Director: Julian Amyes Stars: Zelah Clarke, Timothy DaltonJane Eyre is a great love story of a couple who meet and soon feel an attraction for each other.
Dalton/Clarke are an excellent Rochester/Jane (I have seen the 1943 version and all versions from 1973 to the present).Additionally this a very coherent and complete version of Jane Eyre, along with the superb 1973 version.
Of course the main actor and actress' acting is very well matched too and one can feel the chemistry between the young and unearthly Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester right out of the screen!
This version was very accurate and followed Charlotte Bronte's novel greater than any other Jane Eyre movie.
Timothy Dalton was great as Mr. Rochester and Zelah Clarke was perfect as Jane..
But if it's not, read on, because the similarities end there.1983 The more emotionally charged '83 adaptation (which clocks in at 5 hrs.18 min.), staring Zelah Clark and Timothy Dalton, not only beats out '73, but in my opinion, trumps all the others by deftly balancing all the story's components the best.Here Jane's bleak childhood is given it's weight.
Dalton's 'Mr. Rochester' was very good but I absolutely loved Zelah's 'Jane Eyre'.
Last night I finished re-watching "Jane Eyre" (1983), the BBC mini-series adapted from Charlotte Bronte's Gothic romance novel which is deservingly a classic of English literature with Timothy Dalton (my favorite James Bond) as Mr. Edward Rochester and Zelah Clarke, as Jane Eyre, a poor orphaned 18-year-old girl, a governess at Mr. Rochester's estate, Thornfield.
Of all these films I've only seen one, 300 minutes long BBC version from 1983 that follows the novel closely and where Timothy Dalton who frequently plays dark, brooding characters did not just play Edward Rochester brilliantly and with class, he WAS Mr. Rochester - sardonic, vibrant, the force of nature, powerful, passionate, sexy, and tormented master of Thornfield.
Zelah Clarke was also convincing as sweet, gentle, intelligent and strong Jane who feels deeply and is full of passion mixed with clear reasoning, and quiet but firm willpower.Added on September 17, 2007: During the last two weeks, I've seen five "Jane Eyre" movies and it was a wonderful experience.
The 1983 BBC production of "Jane Eyre" starring Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton (LOVE HIM) has always been and will always be my favorite Jane Eyre.
If you watch any other version of Jane Eyre without reading the book, it will be like watching some regular movie which you will forget the next day.
After that I fell in love with This "Jane Eyre" even more because it includes all the important scenes of the book and it just tells the whole story( the other versions don't, if you haven't read the book).
No matter who plays Jane and Rochester in other movies, the real Jane and Rochester (for me at least) will always be Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton!.
Pride and Prejudice is more enjoyable only because it is a lighter, more cheerful film, but Jane Eyre was so amazingly beautiful that one cannot help but love it - if, that is, one has read the novel by Charlotte Bronte.
Using Timothy Dalton as Rochester was a brainwave of casting, and Zelah Clarke as Jane was also fantastic.
The movie "Jane Eyre" is great because the director used many good actors and actress.
I have loved the Bronte novel Jane Eyre since I was a little girl and have read it many times.
Clarke and Dalton are the ultimate Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester for me, that's how I pictured them, when I read the book for the first time at the age of 11.
As a Jane Eyre addict (the book) since childhood I'm still catching up with the tv and film versions I haven't seen.
However, this one was the second I ever saw (after the 40s film) and in Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton we've got a brilliant Jane and Rochester.
The scene where Jane walks out after the wedding hasn't happened is the best version of it I've seen, and Zelah Clarke, a frail girl playing Jane as a demure quiet thing with hidden fires (not as sparky as Susannah York or Charlotte Gainsbourg but not as wet as Joan Fontaine), really didn't deserve to fall into obscurity as she was a fine actress.
The two best scenes in the book, from my point of view, were somewhat ruined in the television version of Jane Eyre.
My favorite character is Timothy Dalton as "Mr Rochester." I like his strong personality because people could not figure out by looking at his face if he was angry, sad, happy, or nervous.
In all of the other versions of the story I have seen, this section was either omitted entirely or it was given short shrift.I highly recommend this version of Jane Eyre, particularly to those who know and love the book, as I do.
Dalton's and Clarke's Rochester (yes, he's so good looking, but it's not that distracting, it just makes the character all the more appealing!) and Jane have genuine chemistry and the script's faithfulness to the book is welcome.Make the effort to get this version (not yet available on DVD), certainly over the 1996 William Hurt as Rochester (that version is awful and dreary).
Zelah Clark does her best but there is no real chemistry between her and Dalton, it just doesn't sizzle like the 1973 version.
Zelah  Clark and Timothy Dalton the protagonists did a good job, playing Jane and Mr. Rochester respectively.
I like how Zelah Clarke acted as Jane Eyre for she was good.
The part of the movie that I like the most is when Mr. Rochester declares his love for Jane.
Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke have both fulfilled the mental images I had of Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre when I first read the book.
In short Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke may not be the most accomplished actors, but simply by following the description within the book they give the performances needed to portray the couple effectively.For sure this version has many faults though.
"Jane Eyre" is a great movie, which bring people new expression the old novel.
the two main actors, Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke, give performances which lead people to feel the hearts of the characters.
Or do I not?" Jane never knows which version of Rochester to expect and neither does the viewer.When I was younger and first read the book and then saw this mini-series, I did not like Zelah Clarke's portrayal of Jane.
Hands down, a great production.After reading many of the commentaries about the characters, I would like to add my opinion on the casting of Jane and Rochester.
despite the very typical BBC film quality - yes it does look cheesy, Timothy Dalton looks handsome (perhaps too handsome for Rochester, but what the heck!) no matter what quality you film him in!This movie may be long for some viewers, but to hardcore fans who will watch all of Pride and Prejudice or LOTR in one sitting, what's a short little film like Jane Eyre?!
Timothy Dalton is the best Rochester Yet ( maybe a bit too good looking ) and Zelah Clarke is great as Jane.
I have seen most screen versions of Jane Eyre and believe that the BBC version with Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton pretty much stands alone at the top of the heap.
Jane (Clarke) is small, especially when seen beside Rochester (Dalton), which is the way it should be.
But Timothy Dalton, like Zelah Clarke as Jane, simply becomes Rochester.
This is the second adaption of the classic book 'Jane Eyre' that I've seen, and though this one is better than the last, it is still missing the essential chemistry between the two main characters that I think is poignant to the story.
Yes, Timothy Dalton is too handsome but he plays Rochester impeccably and Zelah Clarke is almost a twin of what I always saw in my head while reading the book!
I wish to disagree, when I read the novel now or watch another adaptation, Zelah Clarke is who I compare all the other versions to..
I felt that Zelah Clark and Timothy Dalton were Jane and Mr. Rochester.
Zelah Clarke portrays Jane Eyre and Timothy Dalton stars as Mr. Rochester.As we expect from the BBC, production values are high, and all of the supporting players do very well.
As another viewer has written, "Only Zelah Clark has ever brought the level of fervor, innocence, and intelligence to the role of Jane that makes it believable that Rochester would fall in love with her." Absolutely correct.Because this movie was made for television, it works well on the small screen.
Zelah Clarke is playing Jane Eyre and she looks simple and classic like Mr. Rochester (Timothy Dalton) described her.
I like most parts of "Jane Eyre." The view of movie was my favorite.
Zelah Clarke, who played Jane, and Timothy Dalton, who played Mr.Rochester, were effective even though they're not the most famous movie stars.
Zelah Clarke (Jane Eyre) and Timothy Dalton (Mr Rochester)really feel their lines when they are acting.
A romantic, well directed and well acted movie, "Jane Eyre" is based on the novel written by Charlotte Bronte.
The movie "Jane Eyre" was very well-directed and acted, for the characters fully fit the story.
The good part of this movie that I was interested in was Timothy Dalton who acted as Mr. Rochester cried to Zelah Clarke's Jane about his love for her.
Timothy Dalton is very good as Rochester, but the actress playing Jane is much too old.
Yet the movie has very good parts, like Jane Eyre as governess, and the setting in "Thornfield" is really beautiful, and when Mr. Rochester makes the theater in his house.
`Jane Eyre' was a realistic movie full of interesting people and well acted in a beautiful setting.
The movie "Jane Eyre" made a good job in the kind of settings they used because it seems that it is in the 1800's, and that's when the story occurs.