"I am not an angel… and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself.”
Oh, the woman our beloved Jane Eyre is. The feminist icon from the Victorian Era, written exquisitely by the English Novelist and Poet, Charlotte Brontë, embodies self-respect like no other. Jane, noted for her individualism, had to overcome numerous adversities ever since her childhood. Her journey from an orphan to becoming a woman of integrity who is self-sufficient, intellectual and inspiring makes a wonderful read.
“I can live alone, if self-respect, and circumstances require me so to do. I need not sell my soul to buy bliss."
Jane Eyre, orphaned young and raised in her Aunt Reed's household, was sent to the Lowood school, after an incident in the red room, the room where her uncle had died. At Lowood, she spent six years as a student and two as a teacher. And then she accepts a governess position at the Thornfield manner, teaching Adele. There she meets Mr. Rochester, her employer and the soon-to-be love of her life. But her love story didn't come without challenges like everything in her life. On the day they were to be wed, she comes to find that Mr. Rochester had been married before to Bertha- a woman who now scurries around on all fours, growling and in general, being a menace. Jane flees and after begging for food and sleeping outdoors, she soon finds residence with Mary, Diana and St. John. And when she comes to know that they had been relatives all along, she shares her new inheritance equally with them. And then St. John asks for Jane's hand and to go with him for missionary work to India. Jane agreed to the latter but refused to marry him. But Jane comes to her senses and realizes her love for Mr. Rochester before it was too late. She comes to find out that Thornfield had been burnt and ruined by Bertha. And that Mr. Rochester had lost a hand and his eyesight in the process of saving all the servants. Jane goes to his new residence, and finally the pair finally gets the happy ending it deserves. On a broader look, we realise that the most important relationship in the book was that of Jane with herself, which is definitely not short of struggles which provide hope and inspiration even today.
Jane is an outspoken, passionate woman, who is in the most different ways, kind and selfless to those around her. She was always active in defending herself and speaking her mind ever since her childhood at Gateshead. She refuses to be treated as an inferior, and does not play when it comes to her moral integrity, which is apparent when she refuses to become Mr. Rochester’s mistress. And most importantly she's a woman of principle, which can be clearly seen when she comes to know about Mr. Rochester's marriage to Bertha, she forces her emotions away just to do what was actually right in the situation. The protagonist loves deeply and is most gracious in making sacrifices, not just in the emotional sphere. She isn’t hesitant to share and be fair and generous, whenever she gets the chance. While at the same time being, judgmental of not only everyone else, but also herself, always the harshest there. Self-awareness goes a long way when combined with righteousness and a cool temperament. She always thinks that she's the most unlikable person in the room, accepts it, moves on and decides that if not anyone else, she'll respect herself. She believes to be respected for the simple virtue of being a human, and doesn't think that it's only for those who possess the culturally acceptable virtues of their sex.
"I do not think, sir, you have any right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience."
A rational being who asserts her independence truly serves as a good role model. And the fact that this self-valuing protagonist comes from a time, where only women with a charm made the headlines, makes it all even more monumental.
"If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends."
Truly a woman of a righteous conscience, who speaks self-love like none other. Reading Jane Eyre just made me realise exactly the kind of woman I would like to be. The kind of woman who's not afraid to speak her mind, doesn't give into people's wishes or even hers all the time, is not afraid to sacrifice for her dear ones, refuses to compromise on her principles, is kind yet not a pushover and keeps intellect, independence and her dignity above all. Jane Eyre truly embodies the characteristics and principles that a woman in the modern world needs to SURVIVE. So, if I had to share what I learned from the persevering and passionate character of Jane Eyre, I'd tell all that follows:
Maintaining self respect even when you don't feel like it, is necessary even if it's only for your own conscience. Value principles over passion. Love yourself even in times that no one else does. Stay self aware, but not dismal . Find intellectual companionship in a romantic interest and base the relationship on a very strong foundation of mutual respect. Rejecting traditional gender norms, one no at a time is vital for not just you, but all those who are oppressed by the society and their futile expectations.
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me...”
The protagonist's refusal to be controlled by societal expectations and love is remarkable, and rightly serves a reminder for all the women out there today, that you, my dear woman, are a free human being of free will and must not give into what the society tells you, the right to choose of what's important and what's not lies with you and it isn't going to stay with you if you don't go out there, assert your aspirations and make them come true. If Jane Eyre could be a total girl boss with her self-respect, self-love, and moral integrity back then, then why not let her inspire us to do the same today?