Written in 1847, Jane Eyre is a literary masterpiece that continues to enthrall readers not only because it is a beautifully told romantic tale with a brilliant plot but also because of the honesty, dignity, and emotional strength of its central character, Jane Eyre. Jane, an unhappy young orphan being raised by Mrs. Reed, her cruel wealthy aunt, is sent off to Lowood School where she is subjected to further deprivation and hardship. She feels very strongly about the injustice and her friendship with Helen Burns and Miss Temple give her some solace. She becomes a teacher at Lowood and after two years leaves to accept the position of a governess at Thornfield. She finds herself falling in love with her employer Mr Rochester, but a shocking revelation on their wedding day compels her to leave. The happy ending finally arrives but not before Jane has had to grapple with and resolve her own conflict between passion and duty.
