1934, 1943, 1970, 1973, 1983, 1996, 1997, 2006, and 2011.
These are the years when major film and television productions of Jane Eyre debuted. There has been a new version of Jane Eyre in almost every decade (roughly) so I feel like we are about overdue for a new one!
Deadline came out with the news that a new TV adaptation of Jane Eyre is in the works, with Aimee Lou Wood attached to play Jane Eyre. She was recently in The White Lotus, and is also set to play Pattie Boyd (George Harrison's wife) in the upcoming Beatles biopic (which I am very excited for!). I'm not familiar with her work, but I look forward to exploring it - much like I did when Mia Wasikowska was cast as Jane in the 2011 film.
This new version will have a screenplay written by Miriam Battye who has written for the TV show Succession. Deadline also points out that 2027 will be the 180th anniversary of the publication of Jane Eyre.
I do wonder how soon this adaptation will come out. I seem to remember that for the 2011 film, it was in 2009 when Mia Wasikowska was first announced as attached to the project. I'm already eager to watch a new adaptation of Jane Eyre, and 2-3 years feels so long! If this project goes forward at all, as new projects don't come to fruition all the time unfortunately.
But with the renewed interest in the Brontës due to the new Wuthering Heights, and of course the ever present love for Jane Eyre, I think something should come of this and hopefully we will have more news about it this year.
I feel like with every post about this project I see online, there is a comment along the lines of "Why do we need another adaptation of Jane Eyre?" and honestly we don't need it, but I am the Jane Eyre Enthusiast, and I for sure always want it! Even if this version takes the modern sensibility approach that the recent Wuthering Heights film seems to have taken, I will still be excited to see what the approach will be and to dissect it's every choice. Aimee Lou Wood seems like a great choice for Jane, although she is a little bit older than Jane's 18 years, but I like her look, and she seems to be an excellent actress. Of course, I am also very interested in who may be cast as Mr. Rochester.
It will be fascinating to follow this production as it develops - even in 2011, there weren't as many sources of possible information as there is now, so I'm sure there will be peeks of the set from cast or crew, and other ways the production will get the word out there. Social media is such a different place now!
What If ...? Jane Eyre Edition - Marriage to St. John
Inspired by the Marvel series on Disney+, I’m starting a blog series of “What If” - that explores alternate timelines within the world of Jane Eyre. Throughout this series, I will discuss the possibilities of how different scenarios might have unfolded by grounding my assumptions in the characters’ original motivations as written by Charlotte Brontë, while occasionally allowing for a bit of personal wish fulfillment in my speculation.
The eleventh and last scenario:
What if Jane married St. John?
“Could you decide now?” asked the missionary. The inquiry was put in gentle tones: he drew me to him as gently. Oh, that gentleness! how far more potent is it than force! I could resist St. John’s wrath: I grew pliant as a reed under his kindness. Yet I knew all the time, if I yielded now, I should not the less be made to repent, some day, of my former rebellion. His nature was not changed by one hour of solemn prayer: it was only elevated.
“I could decide if I were but certain,” I answered: “were I but convinced that it is God’s will I should marry you, I could vow to marry you here and now—come afterwards what would!”
I think how this scenario would play out is pretty clear if you have read the novel. Jane has a pretty good idea of what marriage to St. John would look like:
“And then,” I continued, “though I have only sisterly affection for him now, yet, if forced to be his wife, I can imagine the possibility of conceiving an inevitable, strange, torturing kind of love for him, because he is so talented; and there is often a certain heroic grandeur in his look, manner, and conversation. In that case, my lot would become unspeakably wretched. He would not want me to love him; and if I showed the feeling, he would make me sensible that it was a superfluity, unrequired by him, unbecoming in me. I know he would.”
St. John and perhaps Jane would feel that they were doing meaningful work, that helps people spiritually as well as physically (by introducing new medical techniques and technology), and with that, even while Jane might grow to feel a strange love for him, perhaps St. John would also feel a kind of fondness for her that he might never have felt before. They could have a kind of happiness in that they are fulfilled by their work, and working alongside someone they respect and admire. Of course, it would be better for Jane if she did not know what real passion feels like, but they might have gotten along pretty well if Jane forgets about her expectations for how a husband and wife should live.
But there is also the aspect that if Jane is a missionary's wife, she would be living a very hard existence with many privations. I read this on a site detailing the 19th century Missionary Movement about the missionary Dr. David Livingstone:
Despite the crushing losses of his fourth child, Elizabeth, and his wife, Mary, to diseases in the field, and many debilitating illnesses, attacks by wild animals and Muslim slave raiders, criticism from home, and the physical strain of hacking his way through dense tropical jungles and walking from coast to coast across Africa, Livingstone persevered: "These privations, I beg you to observe, are not sacrifices. I think that word ought never to be mentioned in reference to anything we can do for Him Who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes become poor." (source)
I do find it interesting how well known it was that missionaries abroad die quickly. From the same site about the Missionary Movement: "On average, missionaries to Africa served only eight years before dying there. Most of the missionaries in the last century, particularly the wives, died young."
Jane makes a point to say that her becoming a missionary would mean she would die young, and of course St. John also is soon to succumb at the end of the novel. The idea that Jane would marry St. John and die soon after is such a dispiriting way for Jane's story to end. Even if I were to entertain that Jane and St. John might have a content life together, what a way for this story to end - with privation and a sparse kind of love - a situation similar to how Jane started at Gateshead and Lowood. Narratively speaking, this would be such a backwards step for Jane in terms of character growth. Jane is "tenacious of life" as Mr. Rochester says and luckily she receives all the love, independence, and opportunity she deserves by deciding to go to Rochester instead of marrying St. John.
Inspired by the Marvel series on Disney+, I’m starting a blog series of “What If” - that explores alternate timelines within the world of Jane Eyre. Throughout this series, I will discuss the possibilities of how different scenarios might have unfolded by grounding my assumptions in the characters’ original motivations as written by Charlotte Brontë, while occasionally allowing for a bit of personal wish fulfillment in my speculation.
The tenth scenario:
What if ... Bertha didn't die in a fire?
And then they called out to him that she was on the roof, where she was standing, waving her arms, above the battlements, and shouting out till they could hear her a mile off: I saw her and heard her with my own eyes. She was a big woman, and had long black hair: we could see it streaming against the flames as she stood. I witnessed, and several more witnessed, Mr. Rochester ascend through the sky-light on to the roof; we heard him call ‘Bertha!’ We saw him approach her; and then, ma’am, she yelled and gave a spring, and the next minute she lay smashed on the pavement.”
There are two sides to this "what if" - how would Jane be affected, and how would Mr. Rochester be affected. For Jane, going back to Thornfield to see what has happened to Mr. Rochester was mostly to satisfy her curiosity. But even she didn't know how she would react if she saw him, knowing that his wife was still in the picture. As she prepares for her journey to Thornfield she thinks:
“In a few more hours I shall succeed you in that track, cousin,” thought I: “I too have a coach to meet at Whitcross. I too have some to see and ask after in England, before I depart for ever.”
I feel like she will leave England in that case - if she finds Rochester lonely and sad but still married at Thornfield. To get away from the painful memories, and to try and find some new purpose in life now that she has some money to be independent. It might have been a good situation for Jane - to travel and perhaps meet someone new.
As for Mr. Rochester, I fear he would not have shaken off his depression. He would have remained at Thornfield, almost entirely a hermit, and he might have become broken as a man. When Jane finds out that Mr. Rochester was blinded in the fire, she has this thought:
"I had dreaded worse. I had dreaded he was mad."
It seems to me very possible that Mr. Rochester would lose his mind in his utter despair. I can only imagine a very sad future for Mr. Rochester if Bertha stayed alive as long as he did.
What are your thoughts on how Jane and Rochester's lives would have continued if Bertha had lived?
Inspired by the Marvel series on Disney+, I'm starting a blog series of "What If" - that explores alternate timelines within the world of Jane Eyre. Throughout this series, I will discuss the possibilities of how different scenarios might have unfolded by grounding my assumptions in the characters' original motivations as written by Charlotte Brontë, while occasionally allowing for a bit of personal wish fulfillment in my speculation.
The ninth scenario:
What if... Jane never stayed with the Rivers?
“Can you tell me where I could get employment of any kind?” I continued. “I am a stranger, without acquaintance in this place. I want some work: no matter what.”
But it was not her business to think for me, or to seek a place for me: besides, in her eyes, how doubtful must have appeared my character, position, tale. She shook her head, she “was sorry she could give me no information,” and the white door closed, quite gently and civilly: but it shut me out.
Jane does seek help at the parsonage before she happens upon Moor House, but the clergyman is not in (St. John) so she is turned away. But what if she did receive some aid from St. John - and not in the form of staying in his home? Or what if someone did take pity on her and give her some employment when she asked?
Jane would not have dropped at the door of Moor House, and not been taken in as sick and possibly close to death. If someone at a farm decided to take her on for some work needed - some cleaning or care of animals - I wonder if they could have given her some space at the hearth to sleep. She would have some food and shelter, but not a whole lot else.
Or, she could have found some charity at the parsonage, however I am not sure what that would have entailed. Maybe some food and advice of where she could find employment. I wonder if St. John would have recommended her to take on the schoolmistress position when he barely knew her, but he might have seen that she had some education.
At any rate, Jane was very lucky to meet the Rivers. The alternative would have been more hardship, and potentially she would never know she had cousins that lived nearby. The solicitor might never have found her, so that she could inherit her Uncle John's money, and they might have gone on searching for her for years.
I know that it is often remarked upon on what a coincidence it is that Jane meets a family while she is wandering the moors, and that family happens to be related to her, but it really does tie up the potential issues of how Jane can survive on her own after leaving Thornfield very nicely. In reality, Jane made a hasty decision leaving the house with no plans, and then losing all her money on the coach. Even with money, I'm not sure what she could have done.
Thinking through this scenario now I am appreciating, for the first time, how neatly Charlotte Brontë plotted this part of the story - introducing family to Jane, as well as as ensuring she gets aid through the kindness of a parson (inspired by kindness shown by her father to someone in a similar situation?). This also enables the solicitor to find Jane so that she can receive her inheritance. Multiple changes in fortune, that rush in on each other, to bring about Jane's complete happy ending.
Do you have any thoughts on how differently Jane's life would be if she did not stay with the Rivers?
Inspired by the Marvel series on Disney+, I'm starting a blog series of "What If" - that explores alternate timelines within the world of Jane Eyre. Throughout this series, I will discuss the possibilities of how different scenarios might have unfolded by grounding my assumptions in the characters' original motivations as written by Charlotte Brontë, while occasionally allowing for a bit of personal wish fulfillment in my speculation.
The eighth scenario:
What if ... Bertha Mason was revealed earlier?
“I do love you,” I said, “more than ever: but I must not show or indulge the feeling: and this is the last time I must express it.”
“The last time, Jane! What! do you think you can live with me, and see me daily, and yet, if you still love me, be always cold and distant?”
I love thinking about this scenario because, as opposed to yesterday's post about Jane finding out about Rochester's marriage too late, now Jane has more of a choice about what to do.
If Bertha was revealed before any declaration of love from Rochester was made - I think the Jane of the novel would stay on as a governess only until she could find another position elsewhere. My wishful speculation would like to see Jane know she should probably get out of there, but find it difficult to be away from Rochester. Perhaps she would talk herself into being a very good friend to him, and someone he can talk to on quiet nights. And she would plan to stay just long enough to have saved enough money to start her own school.
I can even imagine that Mr. Rochester would suggest he can help her start a school - put up some money or make some recommendations to his tenants, and then he would make sure Jane lives close enough that he can visit her sometimes. It would be a very poignant and bittersweet situation, where they might try to get as much comfort as they could by just seeing each other occasionally. It's similar to the movie "All This and Heaven Too" starring Bette Davis and Charles Boyer (one of my favorite films) where Bette plays a governess to three children and she falls in love with their father, who she knows is married. But the wife is prone to fits of anger and is very jealous of any attention Charles Boyer gives to the governess or his own children. The longing between Bette and Charles is wonderfully done, and I can definitely see that happening with Jane and Rochester.
If Bertha was revealed after Rochester proposed to Jane, well I believe Jane would have had to leave - her moral upbringing wouldn't allow her to attempt to remain as a governess and just avoid Rochester.
How do you think Jane would react to finding out Rochester is married while she was still just a governess?
Inspired by the Marvel series on Disney+, I'm starting a blog series of "What If" - that explores alternate timelines within the world of Jane Eyre. Throughout this series, I will discuss the possibilities of how different scenarios might have unfolded by grounding my assumptions in the characters' original motivations as written by Charlotte Brontë, while occasionally allowing for a bit of personal wish fulfillment in my speculation.
The seventh scenario:
What if ... Jane and Rochester's wedding was not interrupted?
"I see you would ask why I keep such a woman in my house: when we have been married a year and a day, I will tell you; but not now. Are you satisfied, Jane? Do you accept my solution of the mystery?”
Yesterday my scenario featured Mr. Mason very much unable to interrupt Jane and Rochester's wedding, because Bertha Mason succeeded in killing him. But in the novel, Mr. Rochester assures Jane he will tell her why he keeps "such a woman" (ostensibly Grace Poole, but in reality Bertha Mason) in his house, and I do feel like Mr. Rochester would have eventually told Jane the truth. The guilt would have been too much for him, and he might have talked himself into believing that Jane is so happily his wife, that she would not think to leave him.
I think she would still leave him.
But let's really imagine this scenario. If we go with what Rochester said - they would have been married for a year and a day. In mythology or folk magic, this is the magical time when a deal is sealed, or a curse is lifted, or it is the length of a great trial. For Rochester it is a symbolic time period when he probably feels assured that Jane would be completely his. And it makes a lot of sense. The world knows Jane to be his wife, with all of the trappings that brings. Her honor would most definitely be compromised, and she may be pregnant. To walk out of that relationship would be extremely difficult. She probably would never get a divorce, as I can't imagine Rochester would agree to it, and divorce was already difficult to achieve in that time. (totally slipped my mind, but someone in the comments said that Jane's marriage would not have been legal anyways, so no worries about a divorce! So in that case - would Jane stay on as his mistress because she is already established as such. Whether or not it is public knowledge.)
But Jane would have felt utterly betrayed. She was lied to by someone she loves, and it would have poisoned their love. It would have been a huge mistake on Mr. Rochester's part. And even if Rochester tried to do everything in his power to make it better, I think Jane would leave because she wouldn't be able to stand being with him. At the very least she would need some space. Hopefully she would have some money - perhaps if John Eyre's inheritance would eventually reach her. But in the end, I feel that Jane and Rochester's relationship would never be the same.
Inspired by the Marvel series on Disney+, I'm starting a blog series of "What If" - that explores alternate timelines within the world of Jane Eyre. Throughout this series, I will discuss the possibilities of how different scenarios might have unfolded by grounding my assumptions in the characters' original motivations as written by Charlotte Brontë, while occasionally allowing for a bit of personal wish fulfillment in my speculation.
The sixth scenario:
What if... Bertha Mason had killed her brother?
“She sucked the blood: she said she’d drain my heart,” said Mason.
Let's turn Jane Eyre into a true crime drama! Although, I don't imagine Mr. Rochester would try to cover up the murder and bury Mr. Mason in the dead of night! With Mr. Rochester's wealth and status, I'm sure he could make excuses for whoever he will pin the murder on - Grace Poole, slightly inebriated, was startled and accidentally stabs Mason. Self defense, accident, whatever. Mr. Mason's family (whatever might be left) in the West Indies will be notified of the terrible circumstance, and Rochester would "mourn" the death of his "friend".
As far as we know, Bertha has never killed anyone, so would this change her mentality at all? Would she feel extreme remorse or become more dangerous? I imagine seeing Mason brought up some negative feelings in her, which is why she attacks him in the first place. So perhaps it is not likely she would decide to go on a killing spree if she gets the opportunity. As for remorse, there is a choice made in the 1996 Jane Eyre film adaptation where Bertha pushes Grace Poole over the railing to her death, and it is made to seem that Bertha follows after her in a state of remorseful distress. I can imagine seeing Mason dead might cause her to feel some guilt after the flash of anger is gone.
What would be an interesting consequence of this though, is that Mason would not have talked to John Eyre, and not been able to interrupt the wedding. Which brings me to what was one of my other scenarios - what if Jane and Rochester did not have their wedding interrupted?
I think I'll leave this here, and pick up that question in tomorrow's post!
How do you think Bertha would react if she did kill Mr. Mason?
What If...? Jane Eyre Edition - Missed Connections
Inspired by the Marvel series on Disney+, I’m starting a blog series of “What If” - that explores alternate timelines within the world of Jane Eyre. Throughout this series, I will discuss the possibilities of how different scenarios might have unfolded by grounding my assumptions in the characters’ original motivations as written by Charlotte Brontë, while occasionally allowing for a bit of personal wish fulfillment in my speculation.
The fifth scenario is:
What if… Jane and Rochester never met?
Last January, rid of all mistresses—in a harsh, bitter frame of mind, the result of a useless, roving, lonely life—corroded with disappointment, sourly disposed against all men, and especially against all womankind (for I began to regard the notion of an intellectual, faithful, loving woman as a mere dream), recalled by business, I came back to England.
This scenario is a bit of a bland one for me, as imagining Jane and Rochester carrying on with their lives without the other to push it in a new direction is kind of boring.
For Rochester, I imagine his existence would be very flat. He would continue to avoid Thornfield, and live out his days abroad chasing different interests in life. I just can't imagine he would meet someone he would actually want to marry, though. And Bertha might still live quite a few more years.
For Jane, she would probably eventually find a position as a governess and would have been treated with indifference at best, or as a servant at worst. Hopefully as she mentioned in the book, she would earn the means to start her own school and make a good living out of that.
I do feel like she would have found someone to marry. Probably someone nice and safe, and she would accept the proposal because she didn't have any other options, and she wouldn't have known what a passionate love was like. If she found out who the Rivers were, would she have even decided to marry St. John?? I feel like there wouldn't be much to dissuade her, unless she really felt that she would die if she moved to India with him. And living a useful life and supporting St. John might be enough for her.
What do you think? Would Jane or Rochester have found someone else to marry?
Inspired by the Marvel series on Disney+, I'm starting a blog series of "What If" - that explores alternate timelines within the world of Jane Eyre. Throughout this series, I will discuss the possibilities of how different scenarios might have unfolded by grounding my assumptions in the characters' original motivations as written by Charlotte Brontë, while occasionally allowing for a bit of personal wish fulfillment in my speculation.
The fourth scenario is:
What if... Mr. Rochester and Celine stayed together?
He then said that she was the daughter of a French opera-dancer, Céline Varens, towards whom he had once cherished what he called a “grande passion.” This passion Céline had professed to return with even superior ardour. He thought himself her idol, ugly as he was: he believed, as he said, that she preferred his “taille d’athlète” to the elegance of the Apollo Belvidere.
Spoiler alert: I don't think the original story of Jane Eyre would have changed drastically. Mr. Rochester was enamored with Céline, but I'm sure things would have ended eventually.
First to establish why Céline might have been with Rochester for awhile longer, I want to compare Céline to the next two mistresses Mr. Rochester had:
"She had two successors: an Italian, Giacinta, and a German, Clara; both considered singularly handsome. What was their beauty to me in a few weeks? Giacinta was unprincipled and violent: I tired of her in three months. Clara was honest and quiet; but heavy, mindless, and unimpressible: not one whit to my taste."
Both had personalities that Mr. Rochester did not find appealing - Giacinta unprincipled and violent, and Clara, I guess, boring? While Céline may have been unprincipled, I feel like she would have been very careful to continue sweet-talking Mr. Rochester. And her personality was probably lively and vivacious enough that she would have held Rochester's attention for awhile.
So if that is the case, Rochester might not have carried on with two more mistresses, and stayed with Céline for the diversion, and when it came time, he might have actually believed that Adele was his child. I don't think Céline would have changed - she would have had other dalliances because she had no real feelings for Mr. Rochester, so perhaps eventually she would find someone even richer to pursue, and leave Rochester. Or Mr. Rochester would eventually tire of being with a woman he could not make his wife.
But the idea that Rochester might think of Adele as his own child is intriguing, because I think he would have tried to be more of a father figure to her. As it is, Rochester has a fondness for Adele (because of Jane's attentive care of her, and the fact that he buys her gifts), but I believe Rochester would have been more involved because he would see her as his legacy. It makes me a little sad for Adele though, because she missed out a little bit on truly feeling loved by Mr. Rochester - at least before Jane. But I also think it would have done some good for Rochester to care for a child and want to have her raised right.
What are your thoughts on the long-term effects of Mr. Rochester and Céline staying together?
Inspired by the Marvel series on Disney+, I'm starting a blog series of "What If" - that explores alternate timelines within the world of Jane Eyre. Throughout this series, I will discuss the possibilities of how different scenarios might have unfolded by grounding my assumptions in the characters' original motivations as written by Charlotte Brontë, while occasionally allowing for a bit of personal wish fulfillment in my speculation.
The third scenario is:
What if... Jane had received Uncle John's letter?
“MADAM,—
“Will you have the goodness to send me the address of my niece, Jane Eyre, and to tell me how she is? It is my intention to write shortly and desire her to come to me at Madeira. Providence has blessed my endeavours to secure a competency; and as I am unmarried and childless, I wish to adopt her during my life, and bequeath her at my death whatever I may have to leave.
I am, Madam, &c., &c.,
“JOHN EYRE, Madeira.”
Mrs. Reed received this letter from Jane's Uncle John about three years earlier, so Jane would have possibly just been starting as a teacher at Lowood.
And following on my previous scenario of "What if Jane never left Lowood", I think Jane does not really aspire to be a teacher, so she would have travelled to Madeira with all speed. I imagine it would have been so exciting for her to see a new country, and meet family who care about her. And she would also have known about her Rivers' cousins sooner!
Of course, I doubt she would have met Mr. Rochester, but given that Mr. Mason knows John Eyre well enough to stay with him when he's in the area, there is a possibility that Mr. Rochester would meet John Eyre and be introduced to his long lost niece Jane. And in that case, I still think Mr. Rochester would have been caught by Jane's personality. A personality that might have developed more with her independence. This Jane would feel more free to speak her mind, and to make unexpected comments that would intrigue Mr. Rochester. It would be quite a different romance - especially since Mr. Mason might see the beginning of it and squash it - but I love the idea of Rochester and Jane meeting on more equal footing, and seeing how that would have played out.
Do you have any thoughts on how Jane's story would have changed from learning about her Uncle John earlier?
Inspired by the Marvel series on Disney+, I'm starting a blog series of "What If" - that explores alternate timelines within the world of Jane Eyre. Throughout this series, I will discuss the possibilities of how different scenarios might have unfolded by grounding my assumptions in the characters' original motivations as written by Charlotte Brontë, while occasionally allowing for a bit of personal wish fulfillment in my speculation.
This is a bonus scenario inspired by @gea-chan96 's comment on my last post:
What if... Jane never left Gateshead?
“If I had anywhere else to go, I should be glad to leave it; but I can never get away from Gateshead till I am a woman.”
This is very much a bonus scenario as I think Mrs. Reed would have done anything to get Jane out of the house, and sending her to school might have occurred to her at some point, if Mr. Lloyd hadn't made the suggestion.
However, if Jane stayed, continuing to be bullied by her cousins, overlooked and trodden upon, I feel like it would have affected her mentality. She would have learned to be even smaller and meeker to avoid her Aunt's wrath. Young Jane was like this before John Reed hit her with a book and she became fiery, but I feel like Jane's rebellion would have been put down by Mrs. Reed eventually, and Jane would have been the worse for it.
With young Jane's fire burned down so low that it might have been snuffed out, I think Jane would not have developed into as vivid a character as she became at Lowood. I imagine her education would have been stilted as well, so her intellect might not have been at the same level as it is because of her schooling.
It's an interesting thought experiment though, because it comes down to nature vs. nurture - Jane's nature is strong, bright, curious, and intellectual, but growing up in such a stifling environment might seriously damage the "excellent materials" in her. And those materials would have "hung together somewhat spoiled and tangled."
What are your thoughts on how Jane's personality might have changed if she was forced to stay at Gateshead?
Introducing The Eyre Arcana: A Literary Journey Through the Tarot
I am so excited to share a new project that has been a labor of love for me as both an Eyre-head and as someone who has recently been exploring thoughtful journaling and self-reflection. I reimagined the 22 Major Arcana archetypes through the characters, settings, and pivotal moments of Jane’s journey as a unique bridge between the world of tarot and Jane Eyre.
A Simplified, Narrative Approach to the Major Arcana
This deck was designed specifically with the Jane Eyre fan in mind. By viewing the traditional archetypes through a Jane Eyre lens, as a fan, this could enhance the fun and even your own subconscious views of the characters and settings of the novel.
Whether for a seasoned tarot reader or a beginner (like me!), associating these cards with familiar faces like Helen Burns, Mr. Rochester, and Mrs. Fairfax makes learning the archetypes an intuitive and engaging experience.
What’s Inside the Deck
Each deck is crafted to be a high-quality, portable companion for moments of reflection:
22 Premium Illustrated Cards: Sized at 2.16″ x 3.3″ and printed through Moo Cards.
Note: This is a simplified tarot deck focusing exclusively on the Major Arcana.
A Printed Interpretations Guide: A comprehensive breakdown of all 22 cards and their Jane Eyre counterparts. The guide includes meanings for every card in both the "upright" and "reversed" positions.
A Limited Edition Release
I created this, mostly because I wanted a portable, Eyre-themed tarot deck for my own self-reflection and entertainment. But I also wanted to share these with fellow fans as I think it helps fill the void of Jane Eyre related card games, but I only have a small quantity available. Once these are sold out, I may not carry them again.
If you would like to contemplate your connection to the novel through this tarot deck, I invite you to check out The Eyre Arcana in my Etsy shop, or watch this video on youtube: https://youtube.com/shorts/FS7g2EYpgbc
Inspired by the Marvel series on Disney+, I'm starting a blog series of "What If" - that explores alternate timelines within the world of Jane Eyre. Throughout this series, I will discuss the possibilities of how different scenarios might have unfolded by grounding my assumptions in the characters' original motivations as written by Charlotte Brontë, while occasionally allowing for a bit of personal wish fulfillment in my speculation.
The second scenario is:
What if... Jane never left Lowood?
"Several wealthy and benevolent individuals in the county subscribed largely for the erection of a more convenient building in a better situation; new regulations were made; improvements in diet and clothing introduced; the funds of the school were intrusted to the management of a committee. Mr. Brocklehurst, who, from his wealth and family connections, could not be overlooked, still retained the post of treasurer; but he was aided in the discharge of his duties by gentlemen of rather more enlarged and sympathising minds: his office of inspector, too, was shared by those who knew how to combine reason with strictness, comfort with economy, compassion with uprightness. The school, thus improved, became in time a truly useful and noble institution."
This scenario is a sad one to me. Because if Jane never leaves Lowood, I feel like she would grow stagnant as a teacher, and not have found life to be very happy or fulfilling. I also wonder if Jane would have had a little of Charlotte Brontë's feelings when Charlotte was a teacher at Roe Head School. At the time, Charlotte once wrote in a diary:
The thought came over me am I to spend all the best part of my life in this wretched bondage, forcibly suppressing my rage at the idleness the apathy and the hyperbolical & most asinine stupidity of these fat headed oafs and on compulsion assuming an air of kindness, patience & assiduity? must I from day to day sit chained to this chair prisoned with in these four bare-walls, while these glorious summer suns are burning in heaven & the year is revolving in its richest glow & declaring at the close of every summer day the time I am losing will never come again?
Not really the most inspiring look at being a teacher. But I think Jane might have had a little more empathy towards her students, and wished to make their lives better, as opposed to the harsh upbringing she had. But it would have still been difficult for Jane, because she would live a stifled life, beholden to the students, and with very little independence. In my imagination, Jane would do her duty and be a good teacher, but gradually the tedium and the monotony might steal her spark, and she would give up on finding a new livelihood.
It is interesting though, that when Mr. Rochester (as the gypsy) asks Jane if she has some secret hope for her future, she says:
“Not I. The utmost I hope is, to save money enough out of my earnings to set up a school some day in a little house rented by myself.”
I feel like Jane would not be happy teaching children her whole life, but her dream is realistic for her circumstances and with her own school, she has some measurement of independence. And setting up her own school was also something that Charlotte Brontë wanted to do with her sisters.
And now you, gentle reader. How do you think Jane would have developed if she had stayed on at Lowood?
My husband, Mike, and I had a conversation recently about the Marvel series "What If..." which explores alternate timelines in the Marvel universe and tells the story of what might happen if certain characters made different decisions or were in different settings. Of course, my mind went to Jane Eyre and thinking of different scenarios for the story. There are the usual ones - what if Jane married St. John? Or what if Bertha Mason did not die in the fire? But, together with Mike, we came up with about 12 "What If" scenarios that I think would be fun to explore on my blog for a little "What If..." series.
My thought process for these scenarios will involve making assumptions on what Charlotte Brontë would have written based on the characters and their motivations that she wrote on the page. With possibly another aspect being just my personal wish for what would happen next. So first up:
What If... Helen Burns had lived?
"I seldom put, and never keep, things in order; I am careless; I forget rules; I read when I should learn my lessons; I have no method; and sometimes I say, like you, I cannot bear to be subjected to systematic arrangements."
The young Helen Burns in the novel is not someone, I believe, who would do well as an adult within the rigid constraints of Victorian England. At Lowood, she daydreams, she doesn't learn from punishments, and would rather let her mind wander than listen to her teachers. Jane is very much the opposite - she is careful, listens well, and is eager to please her teachers (the ones that she likes at any rate).
There were alot of expectations on Helen for that time. Her father probably had some hope that Helen would do well at Lowood and would be able to get a job or a good marriage so that she could fend for herself. As Helen got older, I imagine she would be a little more disciplined, but since she is already 14 or 15 years old in the book, her time to become a woman of the world is fast approaching.
So for Helen, I feel that she would not have been very successful as a working woman. Being a governess might have been enjoyable to her - especially because she is so empathetic and kind - but I can't imagine she would be able to keep children in line. Marriage would probably be the best option for Helen, especially if she found someone who cared more about a woman keeping his house nice, than being a strong companion, and helping with his goals.
So I envision that an older Helen would make for a very kind, pious, but a little vague housewife, who has the leisure time to read and play with her children, but she doesn't have a lot of ambition in life, and enjoys spending her time quietly.
I do think Helen and Jane would have kept in touch, and Helen would be a little disapproving of Jane's actions with Mr. Rochester - possibly a little nervous for her to marry him because his station is so far above hers. In that way, I think Helen is a little like Mrs. Fairfax. It would have been very interesting to see how Helen would change the narrative for Jane - if Jane would rely on Helen's advice.
Do you have any thoughts on what Helen would have been like as an adult?
This is a re-post of something I had on my old book blog back in 2013. I had a fun time revisiting this post, and thought I should add it to my EyreGuide blog!
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Brontë
If you haven't read this book, fair warning, this review has spoilers! I love this book so much, and I think gif reviews are fun, so I wanted to use them to celebrate my favorite story! (And it gives me an excuse to use all these gifs from my favorite fandoms!) This isn't so much a review as a silly lovefest, mostly for my own amusement. Sorry!
Now it's time to enter:
Part I: The world is treating me bad, misery
The childhood portion of Jane Eyre, sets up so much important information about how and why Jane becomes the person she is in the rest of the novel. While on first reading it might be a little slow to get through (and of course there are so many fantastic parts later you will want to read right away!), this section of the novel is a great study in childhood emotions. Children are formed by their experiences when young, which I think was a largely disregarded concept in Victorian England. And this section has some great villainous characters that you just want to slap in the face like Mrs. Reed, who's just a horrible person, and hypocritical Mr. Brocklehurst.
And it has the great scene where young Jane tells Mrs. Reed off! Even though Jane feels guilty later, Jane absolutely deserves a standing ovation for that!
"People think you a good woman, but you are bad, hard-hearted. You are deceitful!"
And then there is Helen Burns.
She isn't in the story for long, but she definitely makes her mark on Jane, and Helen's selflessness and piety give Jane that moral stability that defines her for the rest of Jane's life. So Helen is pretty important!
Part II: Love will keep us together
While of course Mr. Rochester plays a large part of why this section is THE BEST PART OF THE BOOK, for me, seeing Jane grow as a person, expanding her experience, is another reason why this section resonates with me. I love this passage from the book:
“You never felt jealousy, did you, Miss Eyre? Of course not: I need not ask you; because you never felt love. You have both sentiments yet to experience: your soul sleeps; the shock is yet to be given which shall waken it. You think all existence lapses in as quiet a flow as that in which your youth has hitherto slid away. Floating on with closed eyes and muffled ears, you neither see the rocks bristling not far off in the bed of the flood, nor hear the breakers boil at their base. But I tell you—and you may mark my words—you will come some day to a craggy pass in the channel, where the whole of life’s stream will be broken up into whirl and tumult, foam and noise: either you will be dashed to atoms on crag points, or lifted up and borne on by some master-wave into a calmer current [...]"
I think reading this as a teenager impacted me quite a bit. I could identify with feeling like there was still a lot about the world I didn't know. And while Jane is intelligent and sensible, she is also passionate and naive, and has a lot to learn.
And just what is going on at Thornfield Hall? A very sinister atmosphere is brewing - one where mysterious fires are set, and seemingly innocent people are stabbed and bitten! And no one wants to talk about it. While a beautiful romance is building there is this charged undercurrent of unease and darkness that makes this book so compelling!
And now for Mr. Rochester. Not a bad man, as some may say, he has had bad things happen to him, and not been able to cope with it in the best way. He loves Jane so much though that he is willing to do anything to be with her, and that means he makes a lot of mistakes. But how can one not love him when he says such things as:
“I knew,” he continued, “you would do me good in some way, at some time;—I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you: their expression and smile did not”—(again he stopped)—“did not” (he proceeded hastily) “strike delight to my very inmost heart so for nothing. People talk of natural sympathies; I have heard of good genii: there are grains of truth in the wildest fable. My cherished preserver, goodnight!”
"Good-night, my—” He stopped, bit his lip, and abruptly left me."
"You—you strange, you almost unearthly thing!—I love as my own flesh. You—poor and obscure, and small and plain as you are—I entreat to accept me as a husband.”
“You are a beauty in my eyes, and a beauty just after the desire of my heart,—delicate and aërial.”
“I never met your likeness. Jane, you please me, and you master me—you seem to submit, and I like the sense of pliancy you impart; and while I am twining the soft, silken skein round my finger, it sends a thrill up my arm to my heart. I am influenced—conquered; and the influence is sweeter than I can express; and the conquest I undergo has a witchery beyond any triumph I can win."
Ok, I'm pretty forgiving for the moodiness and sarcasm and lies in the face of that! And really, with that kind of love between Jane and Rochester, which was built on the fact that they got to know and love each others' personalities, nothing can go wrong right? Well...
You know what happens I hope. I remember when I first read the book and got to their engagement, I was a bit disappointed because there was still about a third of the book to go, and I wasn't too keen on the idea of it being all about their married life. But then I read the next chapter. And cursed myself for being a fool. MR. ROCHESTER IS ALREADY MARRIED!?
Yeah. That's heavy. And the chapter where Mr. Rochester and Jane talk after the interrupted wedding is my favorite chapter in the book. Because emotions run high, and Rochester is completely, heartbreakingly honest with Jane, and Jane has a terrible decision to make. And she makes the one that is completely in character for her - one that doesn't compromise her beliefs and her independence. And it shows why she is such an amazing role model!
Part III: I'm doing my own little thing
While giving everything up for love is not an option for Jane, giving everything up for duty is equally unpalatable for her. And this section (while difficult to get through when you really want to know what happens to Mr. Rochester!) balances the overwrought passion and romance in the preceding chapters with dry religion and intellect. Now Jane gets to know and respect a man who is upright and honest and who's moral character is unimpeachable.
Well at least Jane make some strong, stalwart friends/family in Mary and Diana Rivers. And gets to live with self-reliance and independence which is so important to her. Unfortunately St. John screws everything up by offering Jane a life of truly fulfilling work all wrapped up in a loveless marriage with him.
"Refuse to be my wife, and you limit yourself for ever to a track of selfish ease and barren obscurity. Tremble lest in that case you should be numbered with those who have denied the faith, and are worse than infidels!”
Yay? And because Jane is not crazy and not desperate, she refuses and gets the definition of cold shoulder from him. While St. John isn't a bad man either, just as misguided in his thinking as Mr. Rochester, it gives Jane the opportunity to realize she needs some closure, and has to find out what happened to Mr. Rochester. St. John won't be happy of course.
But now we get to see what happened at Thornfield! And it's alot. Bertha did this:
And the Hall burned down and Mr. Rochester lost his sight and a hand.
But it's nothing that Jane can't handle. Because she's stronger now, and Mr. Rochester is the love of her life and a life with him is what she wants. And because Mr. Rochester has accepted the things he's done wrong, and repents, Jane and Rochester can have their happy ending as equals in spirit. And even with all the things that has happened they still tease and banter with each other. *sigh* And that is why this is such a gorgeous story!
This is a book that I feel has everything I look for in a story - a strong heroine, romance, suspense, mystery and a happy ending. I've read it so many times, but it still engages and thrills and Charlotte's prose is something to savor and marvel over, it is so beautiful. It's just a beautiful book in general.
The BBC recently aired a special where Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens remembered their time filming the Jane Eyre miniseries. This is such an iconic miniseries, and one that I feel created a new set of fans for Jane Eyre and for these two actors. I was able to watch this special recently and I wanted to share some of my thoughts.
As a long-time fan of Jane Eyre, this is not my favorite adaptation of the story, but for awhile Ruth Wilson was my favorite Jane. I really loved how she brought the character to life - the 2006 adaptation really highlighted Jane's inner thoughts. Something that Ruth mentions in this special because as a result of this role being Ruth's second official job as an actress, she had heard the camera picks up all the emotion on your face, so Ruth wanted to make sure she understood Jane's internalized thoughts and motivations. Another aspect of how Ruth's relative inexperience as an actress added to her performance of Jane is in how Ruth would often blush in the first take of scenes because of how unused she was to having cameras so close to her face. I can believe that it added to showing off Jane's inexperience and her emotions at all the new feelings she was experiencing. Ruth Wilson brought so much to the role and I totally understand why she still gets people from all age groups coming up to her and telling her they loved her as Jane Eyre.
Ruth and Toby also mentioned how important it was to them that this adaptation connected to the audience because they could relate to the characters. They mentioned that some period dramas could feel stuffy or "arch" and that in Jane Eyre they brought out the passion between the characters and featured a lot of nature which is a hallmark of Brontë novels (as opposed to Austen novels). It is definitely a strong suit of this adaptation that you can feel the passion Jane and Rochester have for each other - especially in the infamous 'kissing on the bed' scene. A scene that I have some issues with, but it is something that many fans really love, and I do appreciate that it shows how strong the connection is between Jane and Rochester.
Towards the end, Ruth talks about how she had to train herself to cry on demand, and it was a great story. She mentioned that before the proposal scene, Ruth was on her own listening to sad music to get herself in the right headspace, but Toby was off chatting with people and having a good time. Definitely that scene is a showcase for any actress playing Jane! But they did mention how Toby cries at the end when he's blind and Jane returns to Rochester. So it's good they both had to cry on demand!
I loved seeing that Ruth and Toby were such good friends during filming, and that they still seem to get along so well. I am so happy that they got to reminisce about the series. And it's always wonderful to have Jane and Rochester on my TV screen!
"Eyre & Flame" is a new card game I created with some similarities to my previous game "Jane Eyre: Fate & Fortune". It's a solo card game, with the goal of having just the Jane and Rochester cards left in your hand. This game though was inspired by the gum box games made my Pack O' Games because I love how small and portable they are. And I wanted a Jane Eyre game that I could carry in my purse or play a quick round on the couch while I am watching TV. I have such specific requirements for a card game! 😊
This is a very quick game - it takes about 3-5 minutes for one playthrough. And it is mostly held in your hand, so you don't need much table space. It's also just 12 mini-cards, so super portable. I'm really happy with this one - the cute size and easy gameplay is so satisfying to me.
And because I wanted a game that was small and portable, I printed the cards through the website Moo Cards because they offer mini-card sizes. I had to print a minimum number of cards, so I have about 7 sets that I decided to put up on Etsy to sell. My goal is just to be able to share this game with other Jane Eyre fans, and if there is more of a demand for it, I will see about making more available to buy.
My etsy shop is here https://www.etsy.com/shop/EyreGuide if you want to check it out!
I also created a video of how to play the game which is on youtube:
