Finished Jane Eyre today, amazing classic with all my favourite theme(s), i.e. feminism. I absolutely admire her calm and composed nature - nothing can derail her or extract more expressive countenances from her usual phlegmatic state. I wished I could be less easily excitable myself sometimes (and also less foul-mouthed as a result) ;)
Jane rejects the marriage proposal of master of Thornfield Hall, Mr Rochester, because he was already married to a lunatic which he keeps locked up. I couldn't for the life of me understand why Jane would leave him because they obviously were so in love. But then again it wouldn't make a good story, would it? And she is admirable because she stood for her independence, rather than be fussed over and be forced in a subordinate position, even to the love of her life. She wanted to be an equal to her husband, who isn't good-looking but has an excellent mind.
Also, her ability to look past physical appearances and appreciate the spirit living in the shell of a human body is noteworthy. (But then again maybe she taught as such, because she wasn't much of a beauty herself.)
Moving on to 1984 :)
