"A loving eye is all the charm needed" ~ Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte's Heroine Jane Eyre, may not have been graced with
beauty or money, but she had a spirit of fire and that is what makes
us admire her. In the theatrical adaptations we get to see two
interpretations per show or movie. The one of a young actress who
takes on the role of young Jane, and the one of a grown actress
who takes on from childhood. The mix of these two actresses is what
gives flavor to the performance. Not to many movies or plays have two
people playing the title role.
Many actresses have played Jane or Young Jane. Joan Fontiane kept
Jane's grace and dignity, but added a pretty, but nervous school
teacher side to her. Someone actually flirted with her in the movie.
Charlotte Gainsburg stuck to Charlotte Bronte's vision, but made Jane
rather harsh and sharp. Samantha Morton gave Jane a sense of humor,
while sticking closely to the novel. Marla Schaffel brought Jane to
life through music. Young Jane's have also been well known.
Sara Farb keeps to Charlotte Bronte's image of little Jane, but
sweeps through our hearts with her musical talents. Also, Anna Paquin
and Peggy Ann Garner both did remarkable jobs as young Jane.
"I should keep myself in good health and never die"
~ Jane Eyre
"There is no happiness like that of being loved by your
fellow creatures, and feeling that your presence is an addition to
their comfort." ~ Jane Eyre
A Short Biography of Jane Eyre
Jane was born to a poor family. When her parents died, she was sent
to her Uncle and Aunt Reed. Her Uncle cared for her and loved her as
one of his own, but his wife, Mrs. Reed, did not care for Jane. After
Mr. Reed died, Mrs. Reed neglected the poor child. Meanwhile, she
pampered her own children. After much thought, Mrs. Reed sent Jane off
to Lowood. A school run by Mr. Brocklehurst, who believed that
suffering made grand people, and neglected all the children. At
Lowood, Jane met Helen Burns, who guided her with vision and light
for the rest of her life. Helen died from a fever with Jane in her
arms. Jane stayed at Lowood for ten years, eight as a student and two
as a teacher. Tired with her meager surroundings, Jane decides to apply
as a governess elsewhere.
Jane found employment at Thornfield, which was owned by Edward
Fairfax Rochester. She taught his ward, Adele, a child that he had
with a French Mistress. Rochester confides in her and becomes her
friend. Jane falls in love with him. Unfortunately, it seems to her that
he is going to marry Blanche Ingram, a rich and beautiful woman. She
falls into disappear and makes plans to leave Thornfield when Rochester
proposes to her. They live as a happy couple for a month. Then, on
their wedding day, it is revealed that Edward already has a wife
living. Bertha Mason is his wife, a mad woman who was living in the
closed off areas of Thornfield. Jane runs from Thornfield. She suffers
through three days of starving until she comes to Moor House. There
Mary and Diana Rivers take her in. They have a brother, St. John, who
finds Jane a job as a school teacher. During this time, Jane finds
out that her Uncle who lived in Madeira left her 20,000 pounds. She
also finds out that St. John, Mary, and Diana are her cousins. Being
the kind soul she is, Jane distributes the 20,000 pounds between
herself and her cousins, keeping 5,000 pounds. St. John proposes to
her because he thinks Jane would make a good missionary's wife. She
is about to accept when she hears Edward Rochester's voice cry out her
name three times from nowhere. She replies, "Where are you! I am
coming!" A few days later she shows up at Thornfield to find out that
it is a ruined place. From an old man she finds out that Bertha Mason
had started the fire that ruined the house. She also was killed. In an
attempt to save her, Mr. Rochester lost his vision as well as his hand.
She finds him, they express their love for each other, and are
married.
Jane Eyre Speaks
Here are some wav files linked off a Chicago Page. (Don't ask me. They
are from Jane Eyre the musical though.) Sometime I am going to
make some of my own wavs and use them instead, but until then, listen
to Marla Schaffel as Jane Eyre.
Painting Her Portrait --This is Jane singing about Blanche
Ingram
Secret Soul -- Jane and Rochester admit thier love for each other.
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