The Saintly St. John Rivers:"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
(Original Review, 1981-01-31)
Ever since my first reading of Jane Eyre I've always viewed it as an account of the indelible effects of emotional abuse, and as such, a very grim book indeed. The novel opens with a recall of the emotional deprivation the 8-year-old Jane receives daily at the hands of her aunt. The story then continues with Jane's time at Lowood School, an institution devoted not so much to teaching the children of paupers, as to teaching them their place in life.
If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.
