Jane Eyre

"My spirit is willing to do what is right; and my flesh, I hope, is strong enough to accomplish the will of Heaven, when once that will is distinctly known to me. At any rate, it shall be strong enough to search-inquire-to grope an outlet from this clowd of doubt, and find the open day of certainty." - Jane Eyre


So I just finished reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte for the second time. I love this book and enjoyed it nearly as much the second time through as I did the first. The above quote comes near the end of the book and was one of my favorites. It comes at a point in the story when John has told Jane that she needs to marry him and become a missionary at his side in order to do the will of God. Jane has a great desire to do the "right" thing in the sight of God but she is forced to question if what he is asking is the right path for her. Throughout the book, I was drawn to Jane's determination to find her own path, the right path for her a she searched out that "open day of certainty".

While I've been reading the book I've also been falling in love with the Jane Eyre soundtrack. I know it has not been a favorite of many but it has been fun to read the book and listen to the soundtrack at the same time. I have loved how so many of lyrics for the musical were pulled directly from the book. It also seems that so much of the music perfectly captures the feeling and emotion that passes between Jane and Rochester throughout the book; beautiful, soaring and haunting melodies.

By the end of the story, Jane has found her calling and purpose in life. She closes her story by saying

"I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth. I hold myself supremely blest ... To be together is for us to be at once as free as in solitude, as gay as in company... we are perfectly suited in character - perfect concord is the result."

Perhaps this is why the story of Jane Eyre, first published in 1847, resonates so well with those of us who read it today. After countless trials and errors along the way, Jane ultimately searches out and discovers what is most important in her life, to love and to be loved.