Why I Picked Up Jane Eyre

When I first encountered Jane Eyre, I was at a point in my life where I felt uncertain about myself. I was attempting to figure out where I fit in, how to express myself, and what my voice was. I remember feeling overwhelmed by expectations — both from others and from myself — and I was constantly measuring my worth against how others saw me. I felt apprehensive, like I was going through life without fully showing up.

And then, by chance, I picked up Jane Eyre. Initially, I wasn’t expecting much. I thought it would be an old classic filled with complicated language and characters I couldn’t connect with. But what I found instead was a story of resilience, defiance, and a self-empowerment that hit home on a personal level. Jane’s voice was something I didn’t realize I had been waiting for.

Relating to Jane’s Struggles

From the very beginning of the novel, Jane is mistreated and overlooked — yet, despite everything, she holds onto her sense of self. She becomes an orphan, suffers abuse, and endures constant rejection from a society that doesn’t value her. But, somehow, she never allows those experiences to define her. There was something remarkable in her quiet, but powerful resistance to being shaped by the world’s expectations.

One of the moments that struck me the hardest was when Jane says, “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.”

At that point, it felt like a door opened in my mind. Jane was not loud, or assertive in the traditional sense, but she knew her worth, and she refused to be confined by anyone else’s idea of who she should be. I began to realize that I had spent so much time trying to fit in or meet expectations, that I had not allowed myself to be. It was a revelation — one that sparked a shift in the way I viewed myself.

Finding My Voice Through Jane’s

But it wasn’t just Jane’s story that inspired me — it was the way she used her voice. She spoke up for herself when it mattered the most. I’ll never forget the scene where she confronts Mr. Rochester and finally demands to be seen as his equal. She tells him, “Do you think I am an automaton? — a machine without feelings? … Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!”

Reading those lines, I felt a knot in my throat. Jane wasn’t just demanding respect from Mr. Rochester was speaking for herself, asserting her right to be treated as an equal, regardless of what society thought of her. In many ways, it was a call for all of us to recognize our own worth, no matter how the world sees us.

For the first time, I realized that I had the right to speak up, to express myself fully, without diminishing to fit someone else’s mold. Jane’s strength in standing up for herself helped me recognize my ability to do the same. It was not about being the loudest or most confident person in the room; it was about knowing that my voice mattered, regardless of the size I felt.

Lessons I Carry Forward

What Jane Eyre gave me wasn’t just a temporary burst of inspiration — it’s something I carry with me every day. Jane’s resilience and unwavering sense of self have influenced the way I navigate my own challenges. I have learned that rejection, whether in life or in my writing, is not a reflection of my worth. And this book reminded me that it’s okay to stand by your truth, even when it’s hard.

This realization has been particularly important in my writing. For a long time, I struggled with self-doubt, fearing that my ideas were not unique enough or that my writing didn’t measure up. But Jane taught me that what makes your voice powerful is your own truth, not how polished or perfect it is. I stopped trying to write what others wanted to hear, and instead, I focused on writing from a place of honesty.

And you know what? It made all the difference. My writing became stronger, not because I suddenly became more talented, but because I was finally writing with conviction — writing in my own voice.

Right now

To this day, Jane Eyre remains more than just a novel to me. It’s been a guide, a mentor, and a constant reminder that who I am is enough. It taught me the importance of resilience and self-worth, and it gave me the courage to express myself — both in writing and in life.

If you haven’t yet read Jane Eyre, I highly recommend it — not just for the beautiful prose or the compelling story, but for the lessons it carries. You may find that it gives you the ability to embrace your own voice and speak your own truth.