Not a god love story but a beautifully written story. Every man is horrible. 

I'm glad I finally got around to reading this. Jane Eyre is a gothic classic for a reason. 
The atmosphere and writing style were both fantasic. 
I might need to do some reading about why we as the reader were being addressed. But I did like her little asides. 

That was terrifying! She's so very obviously has daddy issues (parent issues in general), abandonment issues, everything issues! She meets her boss for two minutes and suddenly she's in love? He says to her he's old enough to be her dad and they still "fall in love"??? No one told me this was a horror story! A cautionary tale to all young women! She's not even 20!!! Every girl should have an adventure when they're 19 but don't be locked down to a man in his 40s!!!! R U N

One thing I did kind of a little bit like was the many, many, many literature and bible references. Only because it made me realize what I think of now as brainrot has always existed. If they had phones they'd be obsessed with vine / tiktok / twitter / tumblr references. If all I had was books and gossip and the daily newspaper or whatever I'd be randomly making bible references too. We're not so different past humans and I, except I'm not racist. So actually we are different.

“Jane Eyre” is a beautiful and impactful novel that I first read in 8th grade. Back then, my reading comprehension wasn’t as well developed as it is now, and my tastes have changed quite a bit. I didn’t and still don’t love romance, but I gave it a shot because of its classic status. I didn’t love it, but I think that’s mostly just me. I plan on re-reading it one day.

At its core, the story explores Jane’s relentless quest for home and belonging. Each segment of her life brings her closer to understanding what it means to be true to oneself, despite societal pressures and personal challenges. Brontë’s storytelling is gripping, and her execution of Jane’s character development is superb, showcasing Jane’s strength and moral integrity.

Rochester and Jane’s romance and dynamic are… interesting. I think they are good together. Jane and Rochester are each other’s intellectual equals. They are both smart, and despite the initial power dynamic (with Rochester being older and of a higher social status), they grow to care for each other deeply. Their relationship is fraught with tension, especially after the revelation of Rochester’s existing marriage to Bertha Mason. This twist showcases Jane’s moral fortitude as she refuses to become his mistress, choosing dignity and independence over passion.

While I understand why the twist made sense at the time, I find the addition of Bertha Mason to be a bit strange, especially in the context of current times. The treatment of mental illness and the racial component of her character don’t age well. Bertha Mason, also known as the madwoman in the attic, is Mr. Rochester’s first wife, whom he keeps locked in a room on the third floor of Thornfield Hall. She is a woman from the West Indies of mixed racial ancestry and is, according to Mr. Rochester, a lunatic. Rochester’s narrative of events reveals his initial allure to her beauty and wealth, only to discover her supposed madness post-marriage. His descriptions of her as having “a violent and unreasonable temper” play into the stereotype of the “other” as exotic, mysterious, and ultimately threatening. Since Bertha lacks a voice in the novel, it’s impossible to know if she truly has a mental illness or if Rochester’s biased version distorts her true character.

Jane only marries Rochester after she becomes financially independent and has a sense of family. Rochester, now weakened, tips the balance, making their relationship more equal. This can be seen as Brontë’s way of giving Jane more autonomy, which I appreciate.

The juxtaposition between St. John and Rochester is also interesting. Rochester is passionate, while St. John is driven by principles and morality. Jane’s decision to not choose St. John but still remain financially independent and follow her moral compass shows she values both passion and integrity. She won’t be in a relationship that goes against her principles, which is compelling.

Helen Burns is another intriguing character with her differing views on religion compared to the school’s doctrine. Her submissive and soft nature contrasts with Jane’s tough-willed character, who strives for a better life instead of relying on blind faith. Yet, Jane’s belief in God to guide her makes sense within her journey.

Overall, “Jane Eyre” is a novel worth revisiting for its rich themes and character depth, even if the romance aspect isn’t my preferred genre.

The prose is magical and extremely quotable, the story telling is brilliant with it's constant plot twists and developed characters. There are also some beautiful messages about sticking by your principles despite even the hardest of trials, I found Jane's character extremely strong for that, and she's not yet 20! 
If it were for that I'd give it 5 stars, however the 2nd half is heavily racist, ableist, xenophobic, and classist. Themes of colonialism and religious missions, institutionalisation, grooming (Jane is sadly very much groomed by the men in her life), etc. There is no condemnation of any of this, no revolt against bigotry in the narrative. Therefore, I can't give it a pass for being "of its time", as there are many classics which either resist against or refuse to entertain such bigotry. 

Loved this book as a reread aswell, it was nice to know the story beforehand and catch glimpses of Mr. Rochesters shady behaviour and St John's robotic plans for the future. 

Also, I didn't realise how many red flags poor Jane is surrounded by. I begrudged her choice to go back to Rochester, but he was so much better than her cousin. 

The story provides keen insight into what could happen to a poor and helpless woman in a patriarchal society. It seems so easy for the men in her life to push her around and even order her to marry them, it makes me so uncomfortable. 

Also, as an Indian woman, I find St. Johns mission to rid the hindu heathens of their beliefs so ridiculous and disturbing. I don't know how people can go around claiming they have the greatest thing and try to fear monger people into a religion, its baffling.