I remember the day when I became enamored with the wicked embraces of the Gothic romance genre. The Romantic era that took hold of Europe was already fascinating enough, but the works that the era produced were as beautiful as they were tragic. However, none had the thrill, or the mystery, that had captivated romance fans for so long as that of Charlotte Brönte’s Jane Eyre.

Jane Eyre introduces a young woman named Jane, who, when she was a young girl, was sent to live with her rather abusive relatives. When she grows older, she goes to boarding school to become a governess. She soon finds herself employed by the mysterious Edward Fairfax Rochester, with whom she soon falls in love. When the two decide to marry, however, she uncovers a rather dark secret that causes her to run away, to try to forget everything. She continues to grow as a woman, from refusing an offer of marriage from a rather serious missionary, to even coming to visit the relative that had made her childhood miserable. She finally calls out to Mr. Rochester afterwards, unable to shake her feelings for him. And though the two were far away, she could hear him calling for her as well. She returns to Rochester, whom she finds is practically wasting away without her love. The two finally marry, and that is the end of the book.

The book has some of the most recognizable symbols of Gothic romances. It introduces the love interest as dark and brooding. Said love interest lives in a big, imposing house, where secrets abound. And yet, Jane Eyre was impactful. After all, even during the Romantic era, not many women were able to take up writing as a profession. In fact, many even looked down on women who decided to write. Not only this, but many of the places in the book were inspired by the author’s own experiences, from the harsh boarding school that Jane herself was subjected to, to the manor where Mr. Rochester lives. And despite the fact that Jane Eyre is often studied in schools today, it was quite the opposite in the past. In fact, in The Quarterly Review, the book was labeled as “anti-Christian”, that it even encourages rebellions against the family.

Still, the book has gone on to inspire a plethora of works, and has clearly influenced modern literature. In Beastly by Alex Flinn, the hero and his love interest were inspired to call out to each other, similarly to the way that Jane called out to her love. Reader, I married him is a series of short stories that were written with Jane’s most famous line, “Reader, I married him” in mind. And though it was rather controversial back then, Jane Eyre inspired the story Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, with similar elements to the beloved book.

Jane Eyre is a fascinating story that details the struggles of a young woman, and the dark world that she refused to be consumed by. It's a rather morbid tale for those who love paranormal romance, and a fable to anyone looking for a darker edge in their romances. Nevertheless, it's beautiful in its own right, and is enjoyed even today. Take that, Quarterly Review!