Although I have read “Jane Eyre”, which was written by Charlotte Bronte, quite a long time ago, but it still remained, remains and will remain one of my favourite book. It is not just simple love story, it is thought provoking. Moreover I like the books, in which author combines two absolutely different, and even contrary, currents – romanticism and realism. And after reading this book, I decided to watch the film. Except that there were several silent film adaptations entitled Jane Eyre were released; one in 1910, two in 1914, plus there were 17 adaptations of this novel since 1915 till 2011. I chose a new one. The film “Jane Eyre”, directed by Cary Fukunaga, starring Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre, Michael Fassbender as Rochester and Judi Dench as Mrs. Fairfax.
Briefly about plot of book/film:
The story is of a young orphaned girl who is sent off to a school, where she then becomes a teacher. She then moves onto Thornfield house to become Governess to young Adele and, having never even conversed with a man, meets the bitter and abrasive Mr. Rochester.
Very often is mattered to me, that after reading book, watching the film brought only unpleasant emotions and broken hopes. But this adaptation of Jane Eyre is worth seeing. I would like to emphasize, that “Jane Eyre” the movie (2011) is a faithful, clever adaptation of Jane Eyre, the classic novel (1847).
And it pleased that the filmmakers follow the basic storyline closely. Nevertheless there is some “innovation”, which was brought by filmmakers.
The Essay on Jane Eyre 11
Jane Eyre Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is the one of the best pieces of British and world literature. This book is a tremendous source of themes and ideas. Bronte has made it an extremely full and interesting novel, which brings new experiences to the readers. Some of the major issues of the book are class relations, religion and human nature. Charlotte Bronte expresses a strong sympathy for the ...
The most remarkable changes in film (2011) in comparison with the book:
a flashback technique
at the beginning of the story we see Jane Eyre wandering in the rain, penniless and homeless, fleeing from something, but in book the story begins with the childhood of the heroine;
at the beginning of the film we meet her relatives Rivers, though in books it matters almost at the end of the book;
scene with Edward Rochester disguising himself as a female gypsy fortuneteller is omitted;
in my opinion, Mr. Rochester was quite handsome in the film adaptation, though he was to be not good-looking, as had been mentioned in the book;
at the end of the film Rochester only became blind, but in the book he also lost his hand;
a lot of event were taken directly from the book, we can see a great number of conformities (common):
• the characters are completely identical;
• the meeting Jane and Rochester;
• Jane Eyre’s discovery of the fire, and rescue of Edward Rochester;
• also in film, as well as in the book, Edward Rochester will marry Blanche Ingram;
• Edward Rochester’s proposal to Jane Eyre;
• “St. John” does propose to Jane Eyre, wanting her to go to India as a missionary’s wife. As in the book, she’s willing to go as a “sister” or “friend,” but she rejects the marriage proposal;
• the mad wife of Rochester is also present in a film.
Thus, I think, the most right thing – is to perceive the film against the “background” of book. I mean, for better perception of the visual adaptation of the book, one should first read the original source, and only then to watch the film, which is worth seeing, because it gives a complete idea about the story of Jane Eyre. Of course there differences between the book and film as well as the common features but they, as I have already said, help to understand the whole story and they supplement each other.
