For most people, reading a novel that takes place in 1800’s England does not spark much excitement. However, from murder to secret affairs to strong desire, novels like Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen are the opposite of boring. These timeless stories have remained popular for over 150 years and are cultural icons. They are uniquely focused on strong female characters that lived in a time where marriage and manners were all that mattered for women.
If you are looking for a novel with a darker twist, then Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë, is a great read. The book begins by introducing Jane Eyre, a ten-year-old orphan, who is living with her distant, abusive relatives. After she is sent away to receive an education, Jane becomes a governess for the daughter of Mr. Rochester, the Byronic master of Thornfield Hall. She eventually falls in love with Mr. Rochester. This story line exhibits the classic love story—a common thread in 1800 British women’s literature. The novel comes to life in the film Jane Eyre, recently released in March 2011, starring Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) and Michael Fassbender (300). The movie perfectly expresses the darkness of the book, yet overemphasizes the love story between Jane and Mr. Rochester.
A lighter contrast to Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, offers a more comedic tale about the witty Elizabeth. She is the second of five girls in the prominent Bennet family. The story takes place in 18th century England, in the town of Hertfordshire, and follows the girls as they are urged by their desperate mother to marry. The story gets interesting with the arrival of Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, two wealthy bachelors. Throughout the rest of the novel, Elizabeth Bennet and some of her sisters flirt and fall in love with the two gentlemen. To see fantastic representations of the novel, watch either the BBC miniseries or the movie starring Keira Knightley (Bend it Like Beckham) and Matthew McFadyen (Frost Nixon).
Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice are some of the best examples of early 19th century literature. Though it can be hard to understand the Old English at times, these classics have characters and conflicts that are relatable to high school students today. Not only are Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre both our age, but they also have to come to terms with their approaching adulthood. Drop your prejudice about such literature, and remember, as Jane Austen wrote, “There is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book!”
