# Jane Eyre

> 1847 novel by Charlotte Brontë

**Wikidata**: [Q182961](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q182961)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jane-eyre

## Summary
*Jane Eyre* is an 1847 novel by Charlotte Brontë, a Gothic-bildungsroman that follows the eponymous orphan from her harsh childhood to her role as a governess at Thornfield Hall. The novel is notable for its exploration of female independence, morality, and social critique, featuring one of literature’s most iconic heroines.

## Key Facts
- **Author**: Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855), British novelist and poet.
- **Publication Date**: October 16, 1847, by Smith, Elder & Co. in London.
- **Genre**: Gothic fiction, romance, bildungsroman.
- **Country of Origin**: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922).
- **Pseudonym**: Published under the pseudonym *Currer Bell*.
- **Publisher**: Smith, Elder & Co. (British) and Harper (American).
- **Classification**: Literary work, work of art, written work.
- **Notable Features**: First-person narrative, feminist themes, Gothic elements.
- **Inspiration**: Based on Brontë’s experiences as a governess and teacher.
- **Legacy**: Considered a cornerstone of Victorian literature and feminist criticism.

## FAQs
### What is the genre of *Jane Eyre*?
*Jane Eyre* is a Gothic-bildungsroman, blending elements of Gothic fiction, romance, and coming-of-age storytelling. It features supernatural elements, moral dilemmas, and a protagonist’s psychological and emotional growth.

### What pseudonym did Charlotte Brontë use for *Jane Eyre*?
Charlotte Brontë published *Jane Eyre* under the pseudonym *Currer Bell*, along with her sisters Emily (*Ellis Bell*) and Anne (*Acton Bell*), to navigate the male-dominated publishing industry of the time.

### How does *Jane Eyre* explore themes of female independence?
The novel centers on Jane Eyre’s defiance of societal expectations, her refusal of marriage to Mr. Rochester for love rather than convenience, and her eventual assertion of autonomy as a governess and later as a landowner.

### What is the significance of *Jane Eyre* in Gothic literature?
*Jane Eyre* is a key example of Gothic fiction, featuring elements like Bertha Mason’s madness, Thornfield Hall’s eerie atmosphere, and the novel’s exploration of fear, death, and haunting, which are central to the Gothic genre.

### How did *Jane Eyre* influence feminist literature?
The novel’s protagonist, Jane Eyre, became a symbol of female resilience and autonomy, challenging Victorian ideals of femininity. It inspired later feminist writers and remains a touchstone for discussions of gender and power.

### What is the plot of *Jane Eyre*?
The novel follows Jane Eyre, an orphan raised by her cruel aunt, as she becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she falls in love with the brooding Mr. Rochester. The story explores themes of morality, class, and identity, culminating in Jane’s eventual escape and independence.

## Why It Matters
*Jane Eyre* is a foundational work of Victorian literature that reshaped the novel’s form and content. Its exploration of female agency, moral complexity, and psychological depth made it a landmark in Gothic fiction and feminist literature. The novel’s protagonist, Jane Eyre, became an archetype of resilience and independence, influencing generations of readers and writers. Additionally, *Jane Eyre*’s use of the first-person narrative and its critique of social injustices laid the groundwork for modernist and feminist literary movements. The novel’s enduring popularity and critical acclaim attest to its lasting impact on English literature and culture.

## Notable For
- Being one of the most widely read and analyzed novels in English literature.
- Pioneering the use of the first-person female narrator in Gothic and realist fiction.
- Challenging Victorian gender norms through its portrayal of Jane Eyre’s defiance and autonomy.
- Influencing later feminist literature, including works by Sylvia Plath and Jean Rhys.
- Serving as a cornerstone of Gothic fiction, with its exploration of fear, death, and haunting.
- Being adapted into numerous films, plays, and operas, cementing its status as a cultural touchstone.
- Having its protagonist, Jane Eyre, become an iconic symbol of female resilience and independence.

## Body

### Author and Publication
Charlotte Brontë, born in 1816 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, wrote *Jane Eyre* under the pseudonym *Currer Bell*. The novel was published on October 16, 1847, by Smith, Elder & Co. in London, and later by Harper in the United States. Brontë’s use of pseudonyms was a strategy to navigate the gender bias in Victorian publishing, where female authors were often dismissed or misattributed.

### Genre and Themes
*Jane Eyre* is classified as a Gothic-bildungsroman, blending elements of Gothic fiction, romance, and coming-of-age storytelling. The novel explores themes of female independence, morality, and social critique. Its Gothic elements include Bertha Mason’s madness, Thornfield Hall’s eerie atmosphere, and the novel’s exploration of fear, death, and haunting. The bildungsroman aspect focuses on Jane Eyre’s psychological and emotional growth from her harsh childhood to her eventual independence.

### Plot and Characters
The novel follows Jane Eyre, an orphan raised by her cruel aunt, as she becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she falls in love with the brooding Mr. Rochester, who is secretly married to his cousin, Bertha Mason. The story explores themes of morality, class, and identity, culminating in Jane’s eventual escape and independence. Key characters include Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester, Bertha Mason, and Mrs. Reed, who serves as Jane’s aunt and a symbol of her harsh upbringing.

### Influences and Legacy
*Jane Eyre* was influenced by Brontë’s experiences as a governess and teacher, as well as her time in Brussels, where she studied and fell in love with a married professor. The novel’s protagonist, Jane Eyre, became an archetype of female resilience and independence, challenging Victorian ideals of femininity. The novel’s use of the first-person narrative and its critique of social injustices laid the groundwork for modernist and feminist literary movements.

### Adaptations and Cultural Impact
*Jane Eyre* has been adapted into numerous films, plays, and operas, cementing its status as a cultural touchstone. Notable adaptations include the 1934 film starring Joan Fontaine, the 1970 BBC miniseries starring Susannah York, and the 1996 film starring Charlotte Gainsbourg. The novel’s enduring popularity and critical acclaim attest to its lasting impact on English literature and culture.

### Related Works and Influences
*Jane Eyre* is preceded by *Shirley* (1849) and followed by *Villette* (1853), other novels by Charlotte Brontë. The novel’s themes and characters have influenced later feminist literature, including works by Sylvia Plath and Jean Rhys. Additionally, *Jane Eyre* has been studied and analyzed in academic contexts, contributing to its status as a foundational work of Victorian literature.

### Technical Identifiers and Standards
*Jane Eyre* is associated with various technical identifiers and standards, including:
- **ISBN**: 179440401 (British edition), 02918035X (American edition).
- **Library of Congress Control Number**: 940099920.
- **Open Library ID**: OL1095427W.
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /m/0fdt5.
- **Standard Ebooks URL**: https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/charlotte-bronte/jane-eyre.
- **Victorian Research URL**: http://www.victorianresearch.org/atcl/show_title.php?tid=3129&aid=1115.
- **Wikidata QID**: Q7725634.
- **Wikipedia Title**: Jane Eyre.

## References

1. Internet Speculative Fiction Database
2. [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/title/jane-eyre-an-autobiography/oclc/940099920?referer=di&ht=edition)
3. [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/books/OL14015946M/Jane_Eyre)
4. MusicBrainz
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. [Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1095427W/Jane_Eyre?edition=key%3A/books/OL717044M)
7. Open Library
8. BBC Things
9. [Jane Eyre MBTI Personality Type - Literature](https://www.personality-database.com/profile?pid=2&cid=12&sub_cat_id=602)
10. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute