newmoonstar (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
newmoonstar) wrote2008-05-13 04:59 pm
newmoonstar) wrote2008-05-13 04:59 pm
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Finished Jane Eyre. Total love. I'm a repentant convert. (Just don't remind me of this when years from now I'm going on about how much I love Wuthering Heights! Or, god forbid, something by Thomas Hardy! *shudder*)
It reminded me, actually, of a cross between Emily of New Moon and Persuasion a little bit. And those are two of my favorite books by my favorite authors; I'm invoking the big guns here. Jane Eyre is seriously one of the best books I've ever read. In the beginning reading about Jane's childhood at Gateshead seriously depressed me, because it reminded me so forcefully of me and my own experiences, but in a way, I think that was a good thing, because I identified with it right away, and felt like I was on familiar ground, and reassured me that the author was (to put it in Anne of Green Gables terms) a kindred spirit. I was commited to it from then on, and never once disappointed. The storytelling is obviously first rate, it's just terribly exciting the whole way; you have to know what happens next, which is really saying something, since I obviously already knew very well what happened next! But really, the most important part of the whole book is HOW things happen, not WHAT happens. I think JE gets weighted down by it's own mythology in the popular imagination; everyone knows about the madwoman in the attic, but that's not the point of the story at all. It's actually a very subtle, very intimate story, but the more sensational elements tend to overshadow it in a lot of people's minds, and I think that's why most of the adaptations I've seen till this newest BBC one were so bad, because people were reducing it to it's lowest common denominator and ignoring the more basic human qualities it has in such abundance. It's not a gothic thriller, not even primarily a romance, it's Jane's life story first and foremost. It's her thoughts, her feelings, her choices, that are central. And that's why the romance works so well, because it's a naturally integrated part of her life. It grows quietly out of the circumstances of her life, you kind of don't even notice it happen, it just... is. They're friends who become more, which is much more romantic and interesting to watch develop than all the 'love at first sight' crap that you get in most stories, which isn't actually based on any foundation at all. With most fictional couples, you really do wonder whether if they weren't 'madly in love' with one another, whether they would have anything in common or even care to be in eachother's company, but Jane and Rochester are very alike, and they're in love because their best happiness is to be in eachother's company. I think it's great how they're not 'beautiful' in the conventional sense, because so many supposed love stories (in fiction and life) are so shallow, people being attracted to people because they're 'beautiful' (i.e. shaggable). I don't know why you always hear how Jane makes some great sacrifice to marry Rochester when he's blind and missing a hand, what the heck does that have to do with it? He's still the same person, and it's the person she loves. She says so in the book, and I don't see how anybody could misconstrue that. Are people really that shallow? (Probably!)
But I really do adore the whole thing. Jane is like the awesome supergirl we all wish we could be. She's so brave, to go out in the world and make her own way, and stick by her principles, even if she has no support from anyone else, even in the face of downright opposition, she always values and believes in herself. One of the best parts of the book, to me, was after the almost wedding, when Rochester is so desperate he wants her to go way with him even though they can't be married, and poor Jane still loves him of course, but knows she couldn't do it. Rochester rationalizes by saying 'why not? You have no family who would be hurt by it'. But Jane says to herself 'But I would be hurt by it, I would know. And my self-respect, my principles, are the most important thing, and if I am totally alone in the world, all the more so." That, to me, was just utterly staggering, not only because this is a novel written in the 19th century, but because you rarely hear that even today. Her objection wasn't outraged Christian piety (which you would expect it to be even more then than now) but because she would not sacrifice her own independence, her own ability to own herself and her own destiny (which you would totally sacrifice if you lived with a man you weren't married to in the 19th century) even for the sake of being with, or not causing pain to, the person you most love in the whole world. A female character who actually said, "I value myself for myself, I am the most important person in my own life, and I will not sacrifice myself for anyone." That is so completely awesome I can't believe it. Who knew one of the most feminist passages in English literature was in Jane Eyre? (Of course, point aside here that it was a bad idea in general she was revolting against, and would have made them both very unhappy in the end, but still, she said it and she meant it.) And of course, she did go and do a very stupid thing afterwards, when she left without any money or food and nearly died, but we'll just chalk that up to being despondant over her loss. Even awesome people can and do make stupid mistakes. In fact, I think it makes me respect her even more, because she's not perfect. Perfect people make me sick!)
There's about a zillion things in this book I could go on about loving desperately, but I think I've reached my limit for how much I can type before I get carpel-tunnel or something. Must get off computer. Maybe I'll go watch TV. Ooh, I could watch the DVD of the new BBC Jane Eyre again!!!! *squee* Love love love!
It reminded me, actually, of a cross between Emily of New Moon and Persuasion a little bit. And those are two of my favorite books by my favorite authors; I'm invoking the big guns here. Jane Eyre is seriously one of the best books I've ever read. In the beginning reading about Jane's childhood at Gateshead seriously depressed me, because it reminded me so forcefully of me and my own experiences, but in a way, I think that was a good thing, because I identified with it right away, and felt like I was on familiar ground, and reassured me that the author was (to put it in Anne of Green Gables terms) a kindred spirit. I was commited to it from then on, and never once disappointed. The storytelling is obviously first rate, it's just terribly exciting the whole way; you have to know what happens next, which is really saying something, since I obviously already knew very well what happened next! But really, the most important part of the whole book is HOW things happen, not WHAT happens. I think JE gets weighted down by it's own mythology in the popular imagination; everyone knows about the madwoman in the attic, but that's not the point of the story at all. It's actually a very subtle, very intimate story, but the more sensational elements tend to overshadow it in a lot of people's minds, and I think that's why most of the adaptations I've seen till this newest BBC one were so bad, because people were reducing it to it's lowest common denominator and ignoring the more basic human qualities it has in such abundance. It's not a gothic thriller, not even primarily a romance, it's Jane's life story first and foremost. It's her thoughts, her feelings, her choices, that are central. And that's why the romance works so well, because it's a naturally integrated part of her life. It grows quietly out of the circumstances of her life, you kind of don't even notice it happen, it just... is. They're friends who become more, which is much more romantic and interesting to watch develop than all the 'love at first sight' crap that you get in most stories, which isn't actually based on any foundation at all. With most fictional couples, you really do wonder whether if they weren't 'madly in love' with one another, whether they would have anything in common or even care to be in eachother's company, but Jane and Rochester are very alike, and they're in love because their best happiness is to be in eachother's company. I think it's great how they're not 'beautiful' in the conventional sense, because so many supposed love stories (in fiction and life) are so shallow, people being attracted to people because they're 'beautiful' (i.e. shaggable). I don't know why you always hear how Jane makes some great sacrifice to marry Rochester when he's blind and missing a hand, what the heck does that have to do with it? He's still the same person, and it's the person she loves. She says so in the book, and I don't see how anybody could misconstrue that. Are people really that shallow? (Probably!)
But I really do adore the whole thing. Jane is like the awesome supergirl we all wish we could be. She's so brave, to go out in the world and make her own way, and stick by her principles, even if she has no support from anyone else, even in the face of downright opposition, she always values and believes in herself. One of the best parts of the book, to me, was after the almost wedding, when Rochester is so desperate he wants her to go way with him even though they can't be married, and poor Jane still loves him of course, but knows she couldn't do it. Rochester rationalizes by saying 'why not? You have no family who would be hurt by it'. But Jane says to herself 'But I would be hurt by it, I would know. And my self-respect, my principles, are the most important thing, and if I am totally alone in the world, all the more so." That, to me, was just utterly staggering, not only because this is a novel written in the 19th century, but because you rarely hear that even today. Her objection wasn't outraged Christian piety (which you would expect it to be even more then than now) but because she would not sacrifice her own independence, her own ability to own herself and her own destiny (which you would totally sacrifice if you lived with a man you weren't married to in the 19th century) even for the sake of being with, or not causing pain to, the person you most love in the whole world. A female character who actually said, "I value myself for myself, I am the most important person in my own life, and I will not sacrifice myself for anyone." That is so completely awesome I can't believe it. Who knew one of the most feminist passages in English literature was in Jane Eyre? (Of course, point aside here that it was a bad idea in general she was revolting against, and would have made them both very unhappy in the end, but still, she said it and she meant it.) And of course, she did go and do a very stupid thing afterwards, when she left without any money or food and nearly died, but we'll just chalk that up to being despondant over her loss. Even awesome people can and do make stupid mistakes. In fact, I think it makes me respect her even more, because she's not perfect. Perfect people make me sick!)
There's about a zillion things in this book I could go on about loving desperately, but I think I've reached my limit for how much I can type before I get carpel-tunnel or something. Must get off computer. Maybe I'll go watch TV. Ooh, I could watch the DVD of the new BBC Jane Eyre again!!!! *squee* Love love love!
no subject
I've been meaning to read the Scarlet Pimpernel for ages, but until I get to it, I've got the adaptations. There ARE two newer ones than the 35 film, a mini-series from the 80's starring Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour, which I've heard people swear by, but my favorite by far is the A&E mini-series from the 90's starring Richard E. Grant and Elizabeth McGovern. The two leads have really great chemistry and bring such attitude to the roles, and the whole thing is so gorgeous to look at, beautifully shot, beautiful costumes. Not having read the books, I have no idea which mini-series is closer to the books, but as a stand alone work I recommend the Richard E. Grant version.
no subject
i agree with the 'love at first sight' thing. and to think of all the kids out there who think that's how it all works.
no subject