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Why Every Modern Woman Should Read Jane Eyre

 


This is not the first time that a book that was written almost 200 years ago still manages to inspire people in the 21st century. The book I’ve picked up today is Jane Eyre. A classic piece of literature, Jane Eyre is a tale of sorrow, solitude, and love. There is something quite out worldly about reading classic literature. Little pieces of history centuries old, these literary pieces provide insight into the lives and the society of the past, unlike the history chapters we study in school. Jane Eyre too is a novel of such sorts.

Written in 1847, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is the story of an orphan girl who gets by life as an unwanted, unloved, and uncared for bag of blood and bones. Through every phase of her life, Jane Eyre persists. After being sent to school for girls on account of being wicked and evil, Jane Eyre receives education and becomes a governess. The story ahead is full of love and pain, and I won’t spoil it for you. But, like every piece of literature, Jane Eyre leaves behind a few lessons and I’ll tell you what they are.

We have already established that Jane Eyre had a troubled childhood and her stay at her school wasn’t a merry-go-ride either. All things were against her making it and achieving something in life, yet she proves everything and everyone wrong by being one of the best teachers in the very same school. She grows up to become a governess, keeps up her hobby of painting, and never shies away from owning up to her talents. In the 21st century, the influence of media and the constant pressure from society force women to be something they’re not. The constant racing mind makes women of today so worked up and exhausted that they forget their true selves. The pressure to succeed and the competitive nature of work we today live in have cause extreme issues of self-esteem and trust in oneself. So this is definitely one lesson women can take from Jane Eyre. No matter how hard life gets, no matter what life throws at you, believe in yourself. Trust yourself to do what is best for you.

As the story progresses, Jane eventually falls for a man. I won’t get into the details, but like every other love story, her's isn’t easy as well. One thing leads to another and it becomes impossible for her to stay where she is. And so she leaves. Women, for centuries, are expected to stay where they are, despite their surroundings being toxic, unbearable, and unjust. Be it a relationship, or workplace, women are expected to understand and mold themselves accordingly. The concept of free will did not and still does not exist in places. This is the second and last lesson we can take from Jane Eyre. No matter how hard it is, sometimes it is better to let go. If staying somewhere is against what you believe, against your principles, and seems wrong to you, then nothing can and should stop you from letting go.

Final Words- Why Every Modern Woman Should Read Jane Eyre

A classic as rich and inspiring as Jane Eyre cannot be found every other say. There are many reasons why one should read Classic Literature, the one's I mentioned above can be the ones that inspire you to start reading. Charlotte wrote a piece of art almost 2 centuries ago and it still finds its way into the hands and bookshelves of millions all over the world. There are so many other things to be learned from authors like Bronte and characters like Jane Eyre, but for today we’ll stick with these two.

About the Author

Sharon is the Content and Social Media Head at Binge Mad, an entertainment media company. 

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