Charlotte Brontë JANE EYRE novel reading | PREFACE to Jane Eyre | 19th Century Literature ANALYSIS

[@DrOctaviaCox]

Do you think that Charlotte Brontë successfully defends Jane Eyre?

[@krishanu-d1k]

Yes, for sure.

[@miranda8598]

Yes. And She still used the pseudonym Currer Bell here?!

[@DrOctaviaCox]

Yes, she was still writing as "Currer Bell". It wasn't until the 1850 editions of Emily's _Wuthering Heights_ and Anne's _Agnes Grey_ (when both Emily and Anne had died) that she attached a 'Biographical Notice' about her sisters (the first public confirmation of the their real identities & gender).

[@63Speed63]

Yes, but ... Two weeks ago I picked up JE to reread for the fifth time. This time I decided to read first the Introduction of Sally Shuttleworth in the Oxford World's Classics edition. Then I read its Preface that you presented here. Then I put it down and I've not picked it up again. The reason begins with Charlotte's genius in displaying Jane's "selfhood," connected with a point I took from Shuttleworth's introduction where she mentions Elizabeth Rigby's infamous review in the Christian Remembrancer: "Social inferiority becomes an expression of moral superiority." As Shuttleworth showed, Rigby correctly identified the "spirit' of JE and that spirit has enormous power: "The drama of the human heart giving expression to some of the major social issues of the day." And then the US Capitol was invaded. What is virtue and what is vice? What is the true good? These questions require deep probing, and not taking that look creates a division that's still prevalent 174 years later: ignorance determining who is right and who is wrong. After I put down JE, I picked up Vanity Fair. I did so because Charlotte dedicated the second edition to Thackery and I wanted to explore this idea of "moral virtue." Well, I'm almost to page 300 ... and it's a novel of "angry virtue." Isn't that interesting, Dr Cox?

[@DrOctaviaCox]

Thackeray's _Vanity Fair_ is a fascinating novel, which is - as you say - expressly concerned with morality, and how we define and circumscribe morality. The title "Vanity Fair" comes from John Bunyan's highly religious text _Pilgrim's Progress_ (1678): "...they presently saw a town before them, and the name of that town is Vanity; and at the town there is a fair kept, called Vanity Fair. It is kept all the year long. It beareth the name of Vanity Fair, because the town where it is kept is lighter than vanity, and also because all that is there sold, or that cometh thither, is vanity; as is the saying of the Wise, "All that cometh is vanity." This is no newly begun business, but a thing of ancient standing. I will show you the original of it. Almost five thousand years ago, there were pilgrims walking to the Celestial City, as these two honest persons are; and Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Legion, with their companions, perceiving by the path that the pilgrims made that their way to the city lay through this town of Vanity, they contrived here to set up a fair; a fair wherein should be sold all sorts of vanity, and that it should last all the year long. Therefore at this fair are all such things sold as houses, lands, trades, places, honours, preferments, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, and delights of all sorts, as wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and what not. And, moreover, at this fair there are at all times to be seen jugglings, cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, knaves, and rogues, and that of every kind. Here are to be seen, too, and that for nothing, thefts, murders, false swearers, and that of a blood-red colour..." The subtitle of Thackeray's novel _Vanity Fair_ is "A Novel without a Hero". Prompting readers to consider what we consider the 'Heroic' to be. Brontë alludes to Thackeray's questioning of the moral status quo in the preface, explaining why she dedicated _Jane Eyre_ to him: "Why have I alluded to this man? I have alluded to him, Reader, because I think I see in him an intellect profounder and more unique than his contemporaries have yet recognised; because I regard him as the first social regenerator of the day - as the very master of that working corps who would restore to rectitude the warped system of things..." Brontë makes the case for novels' importance in redefining and rebalancing society's moral compass. Incidentally, Thackeray was very complimentary about _JE_ too. He wrote (in a letter of 23 October 1847): “It interested me so much that I have lost (or won if you like) a whole day in reading it ... Give my respects and thanks to the author - whose novel is the first English one...that I’ve been able to read for many a day.” I do love a day lost/won in reading a good thought-provoking novel!

[@elisabethb.131]

"Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion." I feel like putting this on a t-shirt.

[@DrOctaviaCox]

A wonderful quotation

[@jmarie9997]

I love Jane Eyre because she's not content with what the world gives her. She's MAD when people abuse her. She's not one of those meek heroines the Victorians loved so much. "I'm plain and poor, I deserve nothing." She takes action.

[@paganpoetprophet6441]

I wish I had been formally educated , literature to me , is one of humankinds' better contribution to our existence in this enigma of life , I am but an industrial blue-collar worker , who in my passing years ,traversed the majestic worlds of good literature and prose , it took me away, I very much enjoy , your readings , and the comments that follow , an Oasis of sorts if but only for moment, thank you all ,for being here and to the doctor, michael

[@DrOctaviaCox]

Thank you Michael - very kind words indeed. I honesty think that reading good literature, and thinking about it, and feeling what it does to your heart and mind, is one of the best ways humanity has to learn and develop. Octavia

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

It’s never too late to go to university :) and there are plenty of classes to study literature less formally as well if you feel like it, online and in places like ones that teach languages and crafts.

[@paganpoetprophet6441]

@@sarasamaletdin4574 your right ,I read solitary now , miss the verbal discussion a class environment might offer

[@parkviewmo]

The Preface is wonderful! Just as true and shining today as when she wrote it!

[@carlabythelake8162]

I'm new to your channel. It's wonderful. You have selected some of my favorite, often read books and shown me new ways to look at them. What a gift! Thank you so very much.

[@DrOctaviaCox]

It's absolutely my pleasure. Welcome to the channel. Thank you very much for watching my videos - I'm always happy to help others see even more in their favourite texts!

[@pamelahall517]

Charlotte Bronte defended herself well and admirably. I whole heartedly agree with her. She wrote truths in that preface and about those who are nominal Christians in her novel, cruel, as in Brocklehurst and cold as in St. John. Those who said her book’s heroine was amoral have very small support of that in the novel. Maybe they objected to her character not wanting to confine herself to making puddings or embroidering bags? The moral core in Jane Eyre is shown in several passages. This is especially true in Jane’s internal dialog during Rochester’s unsuccessful attempt to get her to stay with him after the aborted wedding: “I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man. I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad-as I am now. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this... If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?” In addition, even Rochester has a great reconciliation with his faith at the novel’s end. His famous “Jane! Jane! Jane!” was said after a prayer admitting he was wrong in his first proposal to Jane. And after his second proposal he says: "I thank my Maker, that, in the midst of judgment, he has remembered mercy. I humbly entreat my Redeemer to give me strength to lead henceforth a purer life than I have done hitherto!" How anyone, even then, could insinuate this is book is morally deficient in its tone is beyond my comprehension. That’s like saying the Bible is promoting immorality by recording King David and Bathsheba! There was a moral lesson in that Bible story, but some miss it. Some critics of JE in her time seemed to overlook her moral lessons as well! One last thought: At the novel’s end Adel taken out of a strict school Rochester put her in when his house burned down, taken home by Jane, and then placed in a better school where she was happy as Jane had her hands full with her disabled husband. Adel was certainly not scorned or unloved. She is described as a docile, good tempered and pleasing companion. Ok, saying school got rid of her “French defects” is not so great but imagine Adele’s life without Rochester or Jane, a grim life indeed. (I guess you can tell I’m a big fan of this novel and its author and probably defend it a little too strongly!) Thank you for your wonderful reading.

[@DrOctaviaCox]

Well indeed - Jane Eyre is a deeply moral character!

[@sandraaugustine6255]

The summer of fourth grade, I read all the biographies of women they had in the juvenile section of our little public library, and when I had finished them all, I found a copy of Jane Eyre -- the one with the amazing woodcut illustrations -- on my parents' shelf. I read it, my first grown-up book, and while I was more captivated by her childhood and by Adele than some of the more romantic parts, it became and remains one of my favorite books ever.

[@DrOctaviaCox]

We studied Jane Eyre in secondary school and the class stopped reading beyond the Lowood section! Perhaps it was for the best at that age.

[@paganpoetprophet6441]

The library was my paradise from elementary school thru high school., I traveled the world and beyond.

[@effie358]

I don't know who wrote that article but their description of Rochester is a work of art ahahaha

[@kitsolo9]

Dearest fans of Jane Eyre, if you want to experience an even more wonderful work of Charlotte Bronte's, then read Villette. I am on a one woman mission to encourage the reading and analysis of this masterpiece so please give it a shot. Trust me. You won't regret it! Or you might regret it. But you'll never forget it!

[@nidhird]

Thank you for sharing this Dr Cox. I love this book but had not come across this preface before. I do think that Charlotte Bronte defends her work admirably. For me, one line stood out, that is, Conventionality is not morality. To accept something as good or moral just because it has been done or accepted for countless years and disregard or thwart anything as bad/wrong because it is unconventional is the biggest mistake of society. For me personally, Jane Eyre is a story of a young woman who overcomes great adversity to live her life with independence, dignity and fortitude. She always lives on her own terms and maybe people have a problem with that. And the language through out the book is just so beautiful, whether they are descriptions of nature, Jane’s internal dialogue or conversations between Jane and Mr Rochester, readers feel everything as keenly as Jane herself. Jane Eyre is a classic masterpiece and literary experts have commented on it countless times. But your channel has given ordinary readers like me a chance to voice our opinions. So thanks again for sharing this.

[@DrOctaviaCox]

Yes, a beautiful line nidhird - conventionality is not morality. So true. And yet so often they are confused with one another! As you say, the novel _Jane Eyre_ articulates the notion that each individual person should act according to a moral code that they have really thought about, and not just accept one given to them by others. In the famous lines Jane exclaims "I am a free human being with an independent will" who does not think "through the medium of custom [and] conventionalities" (ch.23).

[@DrOctaviaCox]

Thank you. It's absolutely my pleasure to share these brilliant texts with anyone who wants to read, listen, & engage with them!

[@lindsayfriedrich4117]

To me (a Christian) This book explores the truth about honoring ones narrow way. That is probably because I read it through my own lens. It just makes me laugh a little that someone went out of their way to declare it unchristian. More likely they didn’t like seeing true Christianity walked out. Jane being confronted with a fleshy desire but exercising her own free will to choose something hard, yet honorable. They were wanting a Christianity set by Pharisees not Jesus. perfection not humanity.

[@DrOctaviaCox]

I like your point about the struggle between perfection & humanity. Surely this is exactly what Charlotte Brontë was examining in the figure of St John Rivers

[@tonyausten2168]

That is very beautiful Dr. Cox. I always wondered why Jane Eyre is popular? Its heroine is plain. The story plot is also plain. But looking at it in the lens of contemporary critic and review, you can see why it is good.

[@krishanu-d1k]

I am currently reading Jane Eyre Dr. 😁😁 I'm in the third chapter now. What a coincidence! 😎

[@DrOctaviaCox]

Enjoy! - a fabulous treat you have in store.

[@krishanu-d1k]

@@DrOctaviaCox Yes.. 😋😋

[@eric2500]

"Timorous and Carping Few"!!!!!!! Thus to all trolls, in whatever century! Yes, she has defended herself and her heroine.

[@agnieszkabeatamagdalenaroj9520]

[I am not an Assangist, I'm a traditionalist under siege!] Much appreciation. Due to critical physical conditions I cannot do all I would be able to do otherwise, so sometimes I pass something on for consideration. How about the Preface to "The Revolt of Islam" by P.B. Shelley? Strongly recommended, a powerful view of the French Revolution that takes us out of the Romantic stereotype promoted nowadays.

[@MS-tf8vh]

At what point does currer bell become known to the world as Charlotte Bronte? Was she still alive when her identity revealed?

[@marynoonan1663]

Why does Jane Eyre defend St.John? He is abusive to her yet she speaks so highly of him and admires him. Am I missing something?

[@eric2500]

He's a devotee of a noble cause, as they saw missionary work at the time. He does not know how to be warm, he's all about the truth of his Word, I personally hope the native folks cook him up for dinner, but he is true to his ideas.

[@wizkhalifaa2012]

Hello Dr Octavia Cox, do you think the Bronte sisters have always tried to present religion as a good deed in their works? Was that one of the intentions of their works?

[@MMC-jp1gl]

L.O.V.E. Jane Eyre...love her, love her, love her:+) This is my FAVORITE novel. A mistreated orphan who takes the opportunity to use education to be free one day and yet stays firm to God even when the tempting fruit of false peace and love are offered her. Then gives away most of her inherited monies and returns to her disabled true love. Love her to bits:+) God bless~

[@Dawghome]

Hear! Hear!

[@DrOctaviaCox]

Indeed

[@TexanWineAunt]

I consider Jane Eyre’s callous treatment of little Adele (after the latter is sent away to school) to be a bit of a classist blind spot on the part of Bronte. She didn’t think Adele was worthy to be part of the family because of her immoral foreign mother.

[@mmcgoverne]

I agree! Jane's classism/sexism really mars my reading of Jane Eyre, one of my favourite novels, as she is the victim of exactly the same prejudices herself that she must overcome by formulating her own individual values. These obviously don't extend to those she considers immoral or flawed in some way (but Mr Rochester gets a pass!) I often wonder if it's just a reflection of Charlotte Bronte's own outlook or if we need to consider if Jane isn't herself just as flawed as Mr Rochester in her own way.

[@DrOctaviaCox]

Beautifully observed point.

[@effie358]

If the critics were so few, as Charlotte kindly informs us, I wonder why bother answering at all, when the majority supposedly gets her. And now that I have been petty, I can move on with a proper comment ahah. I do wonder what the major accusations where based on though, in detail, because by Charlotte's answer it almost seems as if the critics had a problem with the way she describes some religious characters. Which I find quite odd. The main one that comes to mind appears and is dismissed right at the beginning, and I can't see why anyone would attack her for exposing the behaviour of self righteous and abusive monsters who wrongly call themselves men of God (who in this case caused the death of several children, among whom two of Charlotte's sisters). Even if that part of the story being based on true events was not common knowledge at the time, man like that were clearly known, and exposing and condemning such behaviour is logically the only acceptable course of action, so that must (I hope) not be what she was criticised for? If people didn't like the romance part I get them, dude is creepy, and the paring is not a healthy one at all, though this doesn't seem to be what people didn't like about it. I am just quite confused by it all. But Charlotte did do a good job in criticising her critics and making them sound completely illogical in their accusations, I don't know if they truly were, I'll have to check out more of what they said before forming any opinion.

[@DrOctaviaCox]

The reviews of the first edition were largely complimentary. But Brontë was stung by the review in the _Mirror of Literature, Amusement and Instruction_ (December 1847), which I mention in the video. You can read the whole review here: www.bl.uk/collection-items/anonymous-review-of-jane-eyre Later, in December 1848, in her famously excoriating review, Elizabeth Rigby called the novel "anti-Christian". Rigby called it "pre-eminently an anti-Christian composition … We do not hesitate to say that the tone of mind and thought which has overthrown authority and violated every code human and divine abroad, and fostered Chartism and rebellion at home, is the same which has also written Jane Eyre" (Rigby in _The Quarterly Review_ December 1848).

[@effie358]

​@@DrOctaviaCox that's all? I thought there had to be more, to justify such a response. That said "The heroine herself is a specimen of the bold daring young ladies who delight in overstepping conventional rules" where is the lie? Can't Charlotte just own it? I think many people love it for this very reason. Now all I can say is that Charlotte was in some severe place of denial. Or had some severe inability in dealing with people not liking her. Her book is not a christian one, far from it. Which is fine, but why deny it? It points out fair examples of "christian" hypocrisy, which is good, but that doesn't make it a christian novel with christian values. The male protagonist is a whiny man who locked his mentally ill wife, he married for money, in an attic and tries to remarry while she's still alive and blames everybody and their grandparents just to avoid taking responsibility for his own life. It doesn't make the book bad (I would never call Jane Eyre a bad book), but it sure doesn't make it christian either. I mean, Jane doubts God's existence when Helen is dying (in contradiction to Helen's words). And doesn't Jane talk to the moon at some point or something? Do I remember it wrong? Still, there was some supernatural aspect both in her leaving and her coming back to Rochester. Which is fine, but it's not christian. Couldn't she just own the truth and be honest about it? I understand her defence even less now that I did before.

[@effie358]

@@DrOctaviaCox ok, I've finished reading now. I stand my case, it would have been better for Charlotte not to reply at all. Other lines of thought were getting more and more popular at that time, Shelley's The Necessity of Atheism was printed when? 40 years before? Why couldn't she just own her views instead of making unfounded accusations towards the ONE article who called her out? I don't get it.

[@bogi18]

@@effie358 As far as I know, because those weren't her views. She was deeply religious and believed sincerely. That doesn't mean she couldn't be critical of hypocrisy.