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This past Sunday I had a Jane Eyre Screening (of the 2011 version) and Tea Party at my home. So much fun! I'll be posting about the tea-party and giving a delicous scone recipe next-time, I'm going to talk about the movie.
I had not seen the film before, since Theo was only a few weeks old when it played in the theaters (though I've seen other versions and read the book). But it it is definitely worth watching! Beautiful cinematography! I enjoyed the way the story is shown through Jane's memories, which helped it move a bit more quickly than some of the other versions. I also thought that the torment of Jane's childhood was displayed very effectively. I think that this version did a good job of keeping the story about Jane, and not Rochester& Jane... Even the above movie poster shows that it is all about her... It is not just a love story.
After the other guests left, my sister stayed longer and we discussed at length thoughts about Rochester and Jane... We mostly talked about whether Jane was a weak woman, too submissive in her relationships. Is she the classic abused lover who keeps going back to her abusive spouse? Or was she strong?
I think that Jane was strong throughout her life: strong enough to stand up to her cousin, to her aunt, to Rochester; strong enough to plan to leave Rochester if he got married and to finally leave Rochester when he asked her to stay as his mistress because, as she said, she had to respect herself. She was also strong enough to demand to go to India on her own terms with St. John. My sister thought that Jane's biggest instance of weakness was returning to Rochester at the end, but I think that she returned just to find out what was wrong and help if she could, but that she did not plan to stay. She only stayed when she found he was widowed. I think Jane is one of the most realistically strong literary heroines I've read or watched.
My one disappointment with the film is that at the end Rochester is only bearded, not burned... and he has not lost his hand. Hollywood chose to keep him handsome instead of real.
Other than that, I can only say, love love love!
-J.L.
1 comment:
Jenn, I said she had some strength. I said she had strength enough to leave, but I didn't know why she returned. I compared her to Elizabeth Bennet, but I said that I knew her life was different so her strengths were different. But the Brontes were messed up and it is reflected in their stories.
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