The tale of Jane Eyre

Born plain,

A poor curate’s daughter,

Sent to live at Gateshead with her maternal relatives,

Like a lamb led to the slaughter.

Suffering the indifference of a cold aunt,

Bullied by cousins who made her life a misery,

Sustained by the love of maid Bessie,

Lowood boarding school beckoned, her days at Gateshead were history.

At Lowood, she triumphed over the harsh conditions and religious codes,

Jane, academically and in every way shone throughout the school,

Typhoid claimed her beloved friend Helen Burns and the lives of many others,

She was firm and fair as a future teacher with every rule.

As a governess in the outside world she entered Thornfield Hall,

The days of Lowood School were firmly in the past,

Beneath the grandeur and beauty of Thornfield Hall was a well-kept secret,

Over Thornfield, its dark shadow was cast.

Enter Edward Fairfax Rochester,

The brooding, mysterious charismatic owner of Thornfield Hall,

Jane and Mr Rochester’s deep friendship and relationship developed,

Captivating and surprising all.

What were the regular, mysterious deathly sounds of laughter in the attic?

Who was the enigmatic Grace Poole?

A fire was set ablaze in Mr Rochester’s bedroom,

Something was amiss, for Jane was no fool.

A new rival emerged for Mr Rochester’s affections,

Blanche Ingram, the beautiful Miss Ingram was the fairest in the land,

Jane’s romantic hopes for Mr Rochester were dashed,

What would fate for Jane now have at hand?

Jane and Mr Rochester’s love triumphed over the odds,

The stars were aligned or so it would seem on their wedding day,

Disaster struck as the vows were exchanged,

Mr Rochester had another living wife, mad, she attacked all in her way.

Heartbroken and distraught,

Fate dealt Jane a cataclysmic blow,

Mr Rochester professed his passionate and intense love,

She departed from Thornfield, her spirits crushed to an all -time low.

Hungry and homeless,

To the wilderness, Jane would soon retreat,

Dazed and confused at the turn of events,

A kind stranger appeared at her feet.

Received warmly into the stranger’s home, the family of St Rivers,

Love, goodwill and affection were bestowed upon Jane,

The St Rivers, she discovered were her own blood family,

Never would she be lonely again.

The stranger, St John Rivers fell for Jane,

Her grace, inner strength and dignity bore the qualities of a missionary wife,

He proposed a future abroad with him in India,

Rochester’s voice spoke to her, and he was her eternal life.

To India and a missionary life alone travelled St John Rivers,

Jane returned to Rochester, the man she loved with all her heart,

Burnt to cinders and reduced to nothingness was Thornfield Hall.

A blind Mr Rochester was emotionally,torn apart.

Thornfield Hall had been destroyed by the late Mrs Rochester,

Insane, she destroyed Thornfield with her venom and hate,

Mr Rochester tried to save her and others as she committed suicide,

A life without vision was to become his own fate.

Jane and Mr Rochester were reunited,

Would Jane’s love for him as a blind man be as deep and devoted as before?

Tragedy and mixed fortunes brought them closer together,

Fate had happiness in the future for them in store.

Years later, Rochester and Jane were happily married,

Her late Uncle’s fortune had given them a comfortable fresh start,

Rochester’s sight had returned on the birth of their first born,

Nothing but death would ever drive them apart.