Jane Eyre is not the usual sort of book that I would choose to read, and 4 chapters into it I am still finding it difficult to read. This does not mean however, that I do not find it to be good literature. Bronte starts the book giving a melancholy view over Jane Eyre’s current situation. What is interesting about this is that this is the view of Jane herself therefore creating a sense of empathy in the reader. This is down to many things: the words and writing techniques Bronte has chosen to use; the way Bronte has portrayed Jane in the things that she does; and the way that the other characters treat her. Bronte introduces many characters in these first few chapters; there are for example John Reed, Mrs Reed and Bessie. None of whom seem to have many kind feelings towards the orphan child whom is living in the Reeds house. However this slowly subsides for the character Bessie, who does seem to have a slight soft spot for the child.
I do not seem to find the plot in these chapters very readable. This I think is due to the long way Bronte has of getting her point across, and telling this story. It is almost a style of writing I have never read before therefore taking sometime to get used to it. I think my point is emphasized in the fact of now trying to recall much of what has happened I fail to do so easily. The mood of the story changes quite a lot during these chapters. Jane seems to go through momentary period of happiness, or at least you, the reader can assume she has. This seems to occur most often when she is on her own and can imagine her own world away from confined and excluded lifestyle she is forced to live.
I found the most interesting and readable parts of these chapters to be when Jane was locked in the red room, and when she left for school. These parts to me contained the most interest for me as this is when Bronte changes her writing style, and the sentences become shorter to allow action in the reading. Or quite simply when the plot begins to move faster and something seems to happen.
1 comment:
It will get easier once you get into Kayte (after all, you've got to read up to ch 16 in the next few days). Your comment about pace is interesting, so you are beginning to get a feel for her writing. Aim to give some examples of what strikes you about how she describes things i.e. make some references to the text.
Fine so far but use the Reading Journal headings to focus on characters and themes.
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