Imprint

This book is surprisingly amazing. I typically have problems reading literature from the 19th century, but for some reason I am loving this book more by the second. The characters are extrememly compelling and are having to deal with very real problems, unlike your typical science fiction, fantasy, or thriller novel.

Another amazing qualitity that makes this book so intriguing is the many different levels one can disect through. One such scene is the conversation Jane has with Helen Burns in which Helen describes her "different creed" that she follows. A creed that allows her to accept criticism on various levels be they extremely severe as Ms. Scatcherd makes her criticism to be (with lashing of the throat) or subtle pointers as Ms. Temple does.

What makes her determination even more haunting, powerful, heartbreaking (insert proper adjectiver here), is the fact that she has a terminal illness (Tuberculosis) that is slowing killing her throughout the short period of time we know her. It is thus that her words become more poignant, more profound, more heartbreaking! The emotional connection and imprint she leaves on Jane would seem only to serve as such a guiding force and will without a doubt be played on more throughout the novel.

This emotional imprint culminates on pages 96 through 98 in which Helen welcomes Jane to be there for her dying breath (though not as plainly as I have stated). It is so powerful when Helen on page 98 says "Good night Jane," as these were her last words, and she knew it. Jane on the other hand simply believes that Helen is sick and weak, not nearly as far gone as she was. When Jane wakes up and over the course of the next few days that Helen had died in her arms, it permanently changes the tone of the novel. No longer are the days of innocence (in fact the next chapter begins by stating that she now has jumped ahead in her autobiography 8 years bringing Jane to the age of 18 which is, in our modern society, the age one is considered an adult).