'Jane Eyre' is subject of Clionian Society program

The Clionian Society met on April 11 at the home of Pat Ochs with 17 members in attendance. Dee McCarty served as assistant hostess. After a brief business meeting, Lynn Taylor presented the program on “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte.

Jane Eyre is a Victorian novel written by Charlotte Bronte in 1847. Charlotte was the third of six children born to the Rev. Patrick Bronte and Maria Branwell Bronte. She lived most of her life in Yorkshire in northern England. Her mother died when Charlotte was 5, leaving the six children to be raised by their father. The mother's sister assisted with the rearing and then some of the children were sent off to a boarding school. Due to poor conditions at the school, Charlotte's two older sisters died of tuberculosis. The other children returned home, where the aunt held classes for the girls and her father taught her brother.

At various times, Charlotte studied at other schools, tutored her younger sisters at home and was a governess. Her parents had “bookish” leanings. Charlotte and her siblings were encouraged to read and to explore their imaginations. Charlotte had keen academic abilities along with an honest, dutiful character. She earned prizes at school for scholarship.

Charlotte rejected two offers of marriage when she was younger. She had a one-sided romantic attachment to a married headmaster while she was studying in Brussels. Later, she married a cleric, the Rev. Arthur Bell Nichols, in 1854.

Charlotte was not a physically strong girl/woman. Her 4-foot-9 body was thin and weak. She suffered various ailments over the years, including nearsightedness, liver disease, and in the end, tuberculosis, of which it is thought that she died of in 1855 at the age of 39. Another source states that Charlotte probably died of hyperemesis gravidarum, a complication of pregnancy which causes excessive nausea and vomiting. She had been married less than one year at the time of her death.

Charlotte began writing “Jane Eyre” in 1847 and it was published under the pen name of Currer Bell in October of that year. Charlotte wrote three other books — “Shirley,” “Vilette” and “The Professor.”

“Jane Eyre” is a first-person narration describing the life of Jane, from the age of 10 through the first 10 years of her marriage. The settings include Gateshead Hall, where she suffers the humiliation of living as a penniless, unwelcome relative; Lowood School, where she received her education; Thornfield, where she is governess for a young girl; and Moor House, where she finds refuge during a tumultuous time in her life.

The book has elements of both a romantic novel and a gothic novel. The two main characters are Jane Eyre, the orphaned daughter of a poor parson and his disinherited wife, and Edward Fairfax Rochester, the strong-willed second son of a wealthy landowner.

Jane completes her education, stays on to teach for two years at Lowood and then goes on to a governess position at Thornfield where she is to teach the master's foster child, Adele Varens, who speaks mainly French with small amounts of English. Jane was hired by the housekeeper, Mrs. Fairfax, because the master, Edwin Rochester, travels extensively and is gone for long periods of time.

Upon a chance encounter where Jane helps Mr. Rochester from a fall on the ice, she suddenly realizes that he is her employer. She describes him as a man in his late 30s who seems somewhat mysterious and fascinating and appealing in his appearance. As she continues her stay at Lowood, she finds herself falling in love with Edwin.

Jane is called away to visit her aunt, Sarah Reed, on her deathbed. Before she dies, Mrs. reed tells Jane that her uncle, John Eyre in the West Indies, has been trying to locate her, whereas before, she had discouraged the uncle from finding Jane. Jane later learns that she has inherited 20,000 pounds from her uncle.

Upon Jane's return to Thornfield, Mr. Rochester proposes to her and although skeptical of his seriousness, she accepts, insisting that they have to wait a month. In the meantime, Jane sends a letter to her uncle to tell him of her upcoming marriage.

The wedding day arrives, and Jane and Rochester proceed to the church. As the ceremony begins, a solicitor stops the wedding, stating that Mr. Rochester is already married and that his wife was seen in Rochester's house by her brother, Richard Mason. Rochester takes Jane and the minister to the third floor of his home where Bertha Mason Rochester has been locked away as she is a raving madwoman.

Jane flees to Moor House and is befriended by St. John Rivers, a local minister. He, and his two sisters, extend care to Jane and eventually she is offered a job as school mistress in a girls' school. St. John makes plans to become a missionary in India. Jane informs the family of her inheritance after learning that she is a cousin and makes a decision to share her wealth with the and refurbish the house. St. John proposes marriage, wanting her to go to India with him, but she has decided to go back to Thornfield. At the end of the 36-hour journey, she finds a burned out shell that the innkeeper tells her was started by Bertha Rochester who died in the fire, Rochester, her husband, suffered a mangled hand which was later amputated, and he was also blinded.

Jane hires a ride to Ferndean where Rochester currently lives. She finds him attempting to walk outdoors. She carries a tray to him and reveals her identity. As they discuss what happened in the past year, Rochester realizes that Jane is still willing to marry him. In three days, they marry and settle at Ferndean.

As the book concludes, Jane describes her contented life 10 years later. Adele visits when she has vacations from boarding school. Rochester has recovered vision in one eye and is able to see their newborn son. Jane continues her friendship with cousins and maintains correspondence with St. John Rivers.

The next meeting of the Clionian Society will be held at Back Street meeting room on May 9. Hostesses are Nanette Marx and Jan Ameday. The program will be given by Carol Flessner.

Clionian Society

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: 'Jane Eyre' is subject of Clionian Society program for April