Unearthly Things

"It's you -- you rare and unearthly thing!!! -- I love as my own flesh."

I think my enormous obsession with Jane Eyre is partially on account of the fact that both Jane and Rochester are “unattractive” (as they are described) protagonists who are actually allowed to experience such a strong and all-consuming love that, in your typical romance, is usually only reserved for the ultra-beautiful. 

The power-dynamic shifting and Jane’s insistence of "equality" (well, for the time, but perhaps this equality for the time is significant even today): “equal, AS WE ARE” to her overtaking of power as his "caretaker" by the end of the novel is something uncommonly seen, both in her time and ours. It’s my favourite favourite favourite novel of all time. AS WE ARE! 

I mean, I haven't watched it, but from what I can gather, we have modern movies like Nicole Kidman's "Baby Girl" which, as far as feminism and romance is concerned, is only able to muster an statement that says "look girls!!! No need to fear aging, older women can be subjugated/objectified/infantilized too!!!" and it's just, how can an almost 200 year old novel "get it" while so many of us don't? Jane's entire "thing" during the beginnings of her relationship was that she didn't want to be infantilized and commodified by Rochester, she rejected his pet-names, his insistence of her "otherworldly-ness." The passion and love was still there, and it purveyed still after which she stood her ground and returned to him when she could be sure the relationship was that of equals. Like, one of the first conversations between her and Rochester was her reminding him of her subordinate status (as governess), and his trivializing of it, all that wasn't for nothing. Beautiful relationships can exist, and love can exist without some sort of power-imbalance, I promise. Or, at least, why must the male always gain the upper-hand? In the case of "Baby Girl," it isn't "progressive" to take a successful older woman and infantilize her through the "domination" of an objectively much lower (and younger) man. I don't know where this is going, but maybe you get my point, if there even was a point to be made. Basically, there are so many reasons why I adore Jane Eyre, and I can't really express all of them, but I know them in my heart. Or something. 

"Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester" - Zuzana Čupová (instagram)

Go read it & fall in love!!!