The novel "Jane Air" was created by Charlotte Bronte in 1847. For over 100 years, he is on the list of masterpieces of world literature. The best work of the writer was rejected by many publishers until she was in the hands of a man who managed to appreciate his originality. The passion and sincerity with which the story is written about a nondescript governess who experienced all-consuming love and managed to come to happiness allows the novel not to lose its charm in our days.
Aunt's life
Talking about the novel "Jane Air", the summary is difficult to put into a few words, the story of a simple governess is so eventful. In the first chapter, the reader gets acquainted with an orphan girl who early lost her beloved parents. Her guardian was the widow of her mother's brother, Mrs. Reed. Parents of mother Jane were wealthy and respected people, but she abandoned the family for the sake of a poor priest.
Aunt Reed sincerely despised the sister of her late husband for her act, transferring her attitude to little Jane. All the inhabitants of the house, from the aunt and her children to the servants, treated her badly. The girl was unfairly called a spoiled and vicious liar, they emphasized that she was allowed to live in the Gateshead Hall estate solely out of mercy.
Especially the heroine of Bronte, Jane Eyre suffered from the tricks of her cousin John. The nasty boy constantly provoked her into conflict to declare guilty. After another fight with young Reed, the orphan was sent to the creepy Red Room. It was there that Mrs. Reed's husband passed away, and it was believed that his ghost would sometimes return.
Moving to Lovud
The imprisonment in a terrible room turned into a serious illness for the unfortunate girl. Aunt, not eager to spend time on a bad child, sent her niece to school. The school Mrs. Reed had chosen was called Lovud. At first, the little captive dreamed about school, thinking that she could find freedom. But it soon became clear that Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre was immersed in a real orphanage.
Slim-fit hairstyles, poor dresses - every pupil of Lovud looked exactly like everyone else. The girls with whom the orphan was to study were embittered, afraid of everything in the world. Jane was forced to eat disgusting food every day, endure the rude attacks of teachers and a terrible cold, live in strict accordance with the schedule, which every minute at school obeyed.
For those who are starting to get acquainted with the book, it may seem that Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre is going to torment literally on every page. However, in “Lovud” something good happens with the main character. The girl makes friends for the first time in her life. Her friend becomes one of Helene Berne's pupils, who managed to teach her love and patience. The orphan is also close to the headmistress of Miss Temple, a friendly, different woman from the other teachers.
Thornfield Invitation
The girl’s life in “Lovud” lasts 8 years, two of them she works as a teacher at school. A boring measured existence causes an energetic Englishwoman disgust. The only solution to her problem is moving, so Miss Air is looking for a governess's place. In the end, efforts are crowned with success. The author sends Jane Eyre to Thornfield Manor.
The governess escaped from the imprisonment of the tragic Lovuda is ready to begin new duties. Mrs. Fairfax - Thornfield's housekeeper - warmly greets the girl and introduces her to the future student. Little Adele is a graduate of Edward Rochester, her employer. Subsequently, Jane finds out that the child is the abandoned daughter of a French songwriter, who was once Rochester's mistress. The owner himself mainly lives on the continent, visiting his possessions extremely rarely.
The life of the newly-made governess in Thornfield could be called pleasant. She likes Adele, Mrs. Fairfax - the embodiment of friendliness. However, a huge atmosphere of mystery hung in a huge house. At night, Jane is woken up by laughter, which simply cannot belong to a person.
Meet Rochester
Almost in the middle of the life story of Jane Eyre (a brief summary of the work is presented here), Rochester appears spectacularly. The estate owner can hardly be called a handsome man. He has irregular facial features, dark skin, and strong physique. However, the governess instantly gets sympathy for her employer and receives the same attitude in response.
Of course, in the best traditions of the English novels of Jane Eyre, the author makes you stay with cool courtesy. Edward adheres to a good-naturedly rude tone.
Arrival of guests
Rochester's estate is suddenly filled with guests, which does not please Jane Eyre. The content of the novel becomes even sadder, the main character is immersed in suffering, experiencing the pangs of jealousy. She is concerned about the attention that the object of her passion devotes to one of her visitors - the beautiful Miss Blanche. All the inhabitants of the house are confident that the wedding day is about to be announced. Jane gives herself up to gloomy thoughts about her future, thinks about finding a new job.
Rochester does make a marriage proposal, but not the beautiful Blanche at all. He asks the governess to become his wife, and she responds with happy consent, since it has been burned for more than a month by love. The bride and groom are determined with the wedding day. However, those who at this moment are counting on a happy outcome of the Jane Eyre story will not be pleased with the summary.
Failed wedding
According to the law of the genre, all the plans of lovers collapse right in front of the altar, almost a minute before the priest was to witness their union before God. A stranger bursts into the church, loudly declaring a protest. Marriage is not possible, since Edward is married to his sister. Rochester, crushed by grief, does not protest, the guests disperse.
Mystery of edward
Of course, the failed husband is forced to speak with Jane Eyre. The summary of his story is this: he is really married. Many years ago, his father deprived young Edward of his hopes for a fortune, having made a will in favor of his older brother. Rochester himself is recommended to marry a wealthy heiress from the West Indies. He practically had no opportunity to talk with the bride, and he did not know about her secret.
The young wife, in whose pedigree the insane were already listed, almost immediately ceases to resemble a person. Berta turns into a cruel indifferent animal, completely unable to live in society. Rochester locks it in a family nest that passed to it from a deceased brother, and gets the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a rich bachelor.
Escape from Thornfield
The deceived bride ignores her beloved's requests to stay in his house. She quickly leaves Thornfield. Of course, this does not end the story of Jane Eyre. The summary only opens the next chapter. The governess leaves the estate in a hurry, she does not even have money. The coachman of the stagecoach drops her in a completely unfamiliar place penniless.
Jane's misadventures continue, she wanders through the wild, at the risk of losing her life from starvation. In the end, the heroine faints at the door of a random house, which the vigilant maid did not allow her to enter.
Meeting with St. John
To help Jane comes a local priest and his sisters Mary and Diana. The governess quickly suffers sympathy for educated, friendly people, but does not tell them her real name and does not initiate them into events of a past life. The priest St. John is very handsome and determined to devote his life to missionary work. He is loved by the local beauty Rosamund, the daughter of wealthy parents. Her feeling is mutual, but the young man chooses what he considers his destiny - the enlightenment of the pagans in India.
St. John needs a faithful companion and partner in life who will help him without distracting him from the sacred mission. According to him, the best-looking stranger to this post is the one he picked up on the street, Jane Eyre. Reviews about this novel do not lie; it is really rich in unexpected twists.
Miss Air is well aware that the person proposing to her is completely indifferent to her. She categorically refuses to marry, but agrees to join him on a trip in the role of assistant and sister. But the priest considers this decision unacceptable.
Unexpected legacy
Jane continues to live in the house of people who sheltered her, works in a rural school, in the opening of which St. John helped her. This continues until it suddenly turns out that the poor teacher is actually a wealthy heiress. It turns out that the girl is the cousin of the priest and his sisters, their mother was the sister of his father. The unexpectedly found relatives also had another uncle, John Eyre.
This man, who once made a fortune in Madeira, spent many years searching for the missing niece. Dying, he bequeathed to Jane never found by him a huge fortune - 20 thousand pounds. The magnanimous heroine of the work of Charlotte Bronte, of course, could not take all the money herself. Miss Air insists on dividing the inheritance into four.
Return to Rochester
Of course, the story of Jane Eyre, whose adaptations have about 10 paintings, does not end with the acquisition of an inheritance. The girl can not stop suffering, remembering the rejected Rochester. In the end, she decides to visit the inhabitants of Thornfield. Arriving, the girl sees the ruins in front of her. It turns out that as a result of a fire organized by a crazy wife, Rochester becomes an invalid. Trying to save Bert, he loses sight and his right hand. The widowed Edward moves to a nearby estate. Hearing about this, Jane rushes to him.
Just looking at a loved one is enough for the former governess to realize that she is no longer able to part with him. The girl turns into the hands and eyes of her dear Rochester. This story, fortunately, has a happy ending. Sight is gradually returning to the beloved Miss Air, they are getting married.
Director works
The novel "Jane Air" was moved to the screen about 10 times. One of the best is the creation of Joan Kraft, which concentrated during the filming of the film on maximum reliability. The script for the mini-series included almost all the monologues available in the work. There is also a voiceover clarifying incomprehensible moments.
And this is not the only time that cinema turned to the story of Jane Eyre (not all are worthy of adaptation). Among them, the film in which the role of Mr. Rochester was played by Timothy Dalton, and Zila Clark became his partner, became quite famous . The picture also clearly adheres to the original, all monologues and dialogues are preserved, the plot lines are not broken.
If someone wants to watch the latest series about the life of an English governess, you should pay attention to the picture of 2006, which received high marks from the public.