How Does Charlotte Bronte's Life Affect Her Work?

Jane Eyre was written by a young girl named Charlotte Bronte in 1847, as a way to earn an income for her family. This novel depicts social situations not yet seen by the American public, much less primarily focused on that of a female. This was a ground breaking work, as while the public did not know the author, they could identify with Jane’s struggles, irrelevant that the work was merely fictional. A daughter of a poor clergyman, whose mother died when she was seven was raised by her mother’s sister. Like Jane, Bronte grew up in dirty conditions, but she also, like Jane, possessed a passion for learning, even studying abroad and learning a few languages. Although, she never did attend any higher schooling, due to her gender and the attitude of the times, she did have some experience publishing, before Jane Eyre became popular. Bronte and her two sisters were sent to a desolate boarding school as young girls, which most likely inspired the conditions for Lowood school. Her eldest sister’s death had an impact on her characters, inspiring Helen Burns, her pure, loving, innocent schoolmate at

While her work did become popular and quite famous, because of her pen name, no one knew of her true identity. While her work was heavily praised, “‘George Henry Lewes, an English critic of Literature and Theatre, declared it “the best novel of the season’”(Rupiper, Heather). It was also heavily critiqued, ironically enough, by a fellow woman who was the first to write for the Quarterly review. She condemns Bronte’s work for its, ““coarseness of language and laxity of tone”’(Rupiper, Heather). It was disliked for its risque writing style of the time. However, despite these accusations, Jane Eyre has had several adaptations throughout history, “To date, there have been more than 50 stage versions and 30 film versions of the novel” (Rupiper,