At first
brush one is very much impressed that a young woman at the time - Charlotte
Bronte - could have written such a
powerful book of hundreds of pages throbbing with so many rich characters and
dialogue, startling emotions, disparate philosophies etc...but as an African
reviewer, I realise that quite a number of our own writers have produced remarkable
works at fairly young ages too. Like Ben Okri who was even much younger when he
began writing his superb novels. And others like Achebe, Ngugi, Dangarembga,
Ayi Armah, Ama Aidoo Soyinka, Emecheta, Marechera, were in their twenties when
they produced excellent or at least creditable first works.
Yet having
said that, Jane Eyre is a magnificent novel and one can appreciate its great
success over the decades and centuries. The trajectory of the young
protagonist's life is interesting and absorbing as she endures a torrid, sad
childhood and much of her schooldays is tinged with tragedy too.
As she
starts to earn her keep as a governess, we appreciate the eccentric character
of Rochester though it is clear enough that he has affection for Jane. We
surmise that Jane must have felt a great deal of jealousy seeing her master
cavorting with other women, yet her life is serene enough at this stage. But
love takes its toll on us all!
There are many other interesting elements in this work as countless pundits have pointed out, with the Gothic ambience; mystery is integral to this as Jane’s heart is tentatively broken. We are reminded many times that she is no refulgent beauty, but apart from Rochester, St John also wants her as a wife. And he is not particularly romantic about it!
But Jane is a woman of integrity and can not
be coerced. Anyway, she and Rochester get together in the end, after he is
ravaged and diminished. One can imagine the glee of Rochester when "his
Jane" is restored to him, to bring companionship and delight into his life
when all seems lost. Dear Reader, it brings tears to my African eyes!
- Henry Ozogula
