Fate And Fate In Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre

Written in 1847, Jane Eyre (by Charlotte Bronte) tells the story of a young woman with harsh upbringings, who then becomes a governess for a wealthy family in the

English countryside and begins a complicated romantic relationship with Mr.

Rochester, a resident of the manor. Today this novel is considered a classic of the

Victorian era, but at the time the book was considered extremely controversial since it explored unconventional theories of religion, fate and free will through the eyes of the title character. Jane’s life largely mirrors that of Bronte, whether it was the death of family members, their strict schooling, or even the unusual love found in strange scenarios. But Bronte also used the character of Jane to be able to give voice to her opinons and offer an alternative to the stereotype of the classic female heroine. As she explained to her sisters, Bronte wanted a character “as plain and as small as

[herself]”. She hid behind the mask of Jane, an opinionated young woman, to tell her story, describe her life and share her unorthodox views. What makes this book timeless, even if the ideas themselves, of fate and free will, are no longer controversial, is that it urges the reader to question whatever is the conventional wisdom of their own time.

A clear example of Bronte’s skepticism towards fate and religion appears in Chapter

9 when Jane is having a final conversation with her dying friend Helen. Helen explains that she “had not qualities or talents to make [her]