Charlotte Brontë published Jane Eyre, a three-volume novel, in 1847 and till this day it is one of the greatest English nineteenth century novels. The novel tells the story of a young woman who, orphaned as a child, must first become a teacher and then a governess to survive. Accentuating one of the most unforgettable and independent female characters of all time, this novel constructs its plot and characters in terms of hypocrisy verses honesty, with Jane herself systematically on the side of righteousness.
During the first volume of the novel, Jane is sent as a misfortunate orphan to "Lowood", a religion based public establishment in which the tyrannical Mr. Brocklehurst attempts to purify the girls by means of brutality and victimization. He dresses his daughters and wife in finery, whereas he makes the girls at Lowood cut their hair and practically starves them to death. Jane's best friend, Helen Burns, becomes a target of brutality in the novel and her mistreatment contributes to the advance of her severe case of tuberculosis. This portion of the novel distinctly depicts Jane as immune and resistant towards the hypocrisy of a world that can kill a young girl for her own good. Jane shows defiance again a few years later when Mr. Brocklehurst invites her to stay as an adult teacher at Lowood and she refuses to. Jane's rebelliousness and independence are represented as positives here, as the reader is expected to detest the casual cruelty Mr. Brocklehurst brings forth to the novel.
Jane leaves Lowood behind and goes on to become a governess at the Thornfield Manor and tutors a French girl, Adele. Jane's boss, Mr. Rochester speaks to Jane with irony and brutal honesty, telling her that she is plain- to which she replies that he is not handsome. Later on in the novel, Rochester and Jane fall in love and he claims to have fallen for her because she is different than the rest. Rochester shows how hypocritical he is when he tries to dress up Jane in fancy clothes and jewels, for he had already claimed he fell in love with her because of her plain appearance. Jane does not make Rochester look bad in the reader's eyes at all throughout the novel, showing how honest she continues to remain while she is surrounded with hypocritical people.
While Jane Eyre is clearly a romantic novel, it is also an early illustration of a feminist novel. The issue of honesty is at the center of the story. Those who are dishonest are clearly intended to earn the disapproval of the reader, and those who are honest are expected to win the reader's admiration. The reader respects Jane for the genuine nature of her virtues- she may be plain visually, but she is wise and has a compassionate heart, as well as a burning desire to do the right thing. Desire is evidently a theme in the novel, but a powerful moral code as well, one that captures the heart of fairness in social relations, not just one that focuses on soul-less rule making. The theme of righteousness verses hypocrisy further develops the character of Jane Eyre in this novel, and she also helps to establish the theme.
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