Jane Eyre...A balm for the heart of a hopeless romantic!!!

I have been reading Jane Eyre, a classic written by Charlotte Bronte. I have found myself utterly captivated by the language that Bronte uses. The character Jane, is an orphan who would appear to be "meaningless". She is however feisty and a character of integrity and strength. Perhaps this is why I like this novel so much.

I have read the book in high school and did not enjoy it which is due to the fact that I had no recollection of any scenes. This time around however, I have devoured it and found myself sacrificing sleep as my eyes have been glued to the pages. Here are some of my favorite phrases:

Rochester to Jane: "Yet, for a long time, I treated you distantly, and sought your company rarely. I was an intellectual epicure, and wished to prolong the gratification of making this novel and piquant acquaintance: besides, I was for a while troubled with a haunting fear that if I handled the flower freely its bloom would fade-the sweet charm of freshness would leave it. I did not then know that it was no transitory blossom, but rather the radiant resemblance of one, cut in an indestructible gem." (339)

Jane to Rochester: "Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automan?-a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think because I am poor, obscure, plain and little that I am soulless and heartless?" (272, Bronte)

 

The Valley of Vision


From Arthur Bennett's "Valley of Vision"

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

Thou has brought me to the valley of vision,

where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;

hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold

thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox

that the way down is the way up,

that to be low is to be high,

that the broken heart is the healed heart,

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

that to have nothing is to possess all,

that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

that to give is to receive,

that the valley is the place of vision.



Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,

deepest wells,

and the deeper the wells the brighter

thy stars shine;

Let me find thy light in my darkness,

Thy life in my death,

that every good work or thought found in me

thy joy in my sorrow,

thy grace in my sin,

thy riches in my poverty

thy glory in my valley.

By Valley of Vision

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