Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre, novel by Charlotte Bronte (Brontë), first published in 1847 as Jane Eyre: An Autobiography. Widely considered a classic, it gave new truthfulness to the Victorian novel with its realistic portrayal of the inner life of a woman, noting her struggles with her natural desires and social condition. Jane is an unconventional heroine, an independent and self-reliant woman who overcomes both adversity and societal norms. Jane's choice between sexual need and ethical duty belongs very firmly to the mode of moral realism. However, her close escape from a bigamous marriage and the fiery death of Bertha are part of the Gothic tradition.