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The story is that of a governess, Jane Eyre, who, despite her plainness, captures the heart of her enigmatic employer, Edward Rochester, only to discover that he is already married to a woman who, although alive, is entirely insane.
The narrator and main character, Jane Eyre, is a poor orphan. The opening chapters introduce the reader to her joyless life as a child. Her wealthy relatives have agreed to take care of her after her parent's death. However, the widowed Mrs. Reed and her three spoiled children are unkind to Jane and never fail to emphasise how Jane is below them. Jane is plain, quiet and intelligent girl with fierce soul and occasional tendency to inappropriate honesty and direct outbursts. This, combined with the fact that she sometimes has "visions" or very vivid dreams, certainly does not help to secure her relative's affections. (See also Brontė's novel Villette, in which Lucy Snowe shows similar tendency to visions/the supernatural, or maybe hysterics.)
Things escalate and Jane is sent to Lowood, a boarding school run by inhumanely strict Mr. Brocklehurst. She is dubbed a liar, which hurts her even more than malnutrition and coldness. She is later cleared of these charges by Ms Temple, the headmistress Jane admires. She also finds a friend in Helen Burns, who is very learned and intelligent, has philosophical mind and believes firmly in God. While Jane faces the injustices of the world with barely contained burning tempers, Helen accepts the earthly sufferings, including her own premature death, with calmness and martyr-like attitude.
After a serious epidemy, the conditions in Lowood improve, and Jane slowly finds her place in the institution. She becomes a teacher. When Ms Temple marries and moves away, Jane decides to change careers. She is desperate to see the world beyond Lowood. She gets a job as a governess in Thornfield Hall.
Life at Thornfield is very quiet at first. Jane teaches little French girl, Adele, and spends time with the old housekeeper, Mrs Fairfax. Everything changes when the owner, dark and passionate Mr Rochester arrives. He and Jane slowly get to know each other. Mr Rochester creates an elaborate set-up by seemingly courting a proud local beauty, Ms Ingram. Finally long-suffering Jane protests, and she and Mr. Rochester get engaged despite the huge difference in social status, age and experience. Jane is young and innocent 19 year old, Rochester is in his 30s and thoroughly disillusioned. They complement and bring out the best in each other. Jane is detemined to stay modest, plain and virtuous and Rochester is almost equally determined to offer her expensive presents and passion. Jane has the moral high ground and the weeks before the wedding are spent mostly as she wants.
The wedding ceremony is famously interrupted by a lawyer who declares that Mr Rochester is already married. His mad wife Bertha lives in the attic of Thornfield Hall, and her presence explains all sorts of mysterious events that have taken place during Jane's stay in Thornfield. Repentant Rochester offers to take Jane abroad to live with him anyway, but Jane is not willing to sacrifice her morals for eartly pleasures. Instead she takes off in the middle of the night, with very little money and nowhere to go.
She wanders for a few days, and finally finds safe haven, under an alias, with a vicar Mr St. John and his two sisters. They bond, and in due course Jane is given a position as village school teacher. She finally leads an independent life in her own little house. Later, St. John learns Jane's true identity and, in an incredible coincidence, it turns out that St. John and his sisters are actually Jane's cousins. Jane also conveniently inherits from an uncle who lived abroad. The cousins are left without inheritance because of some old family feuds, but Jane promtly splits the money, providing financial indepence to all four cousins. Now St. John is free to pursue a career as a missionary in India. He tempts Jane to marry him and to go to India too. Now Jane has the choice of highly moral union, without much emotion. This is a total oppposite with earlier situation with Rochester. Jane nearly agrees, but in the last minute she hears Rochester's voice calling her in the wind and decides to check on him first.
She travels to Thornfield Hall, only to find it abandoned, and ruined by a devastating fire. She finds out that Mr Rochester, who has lost his sight and his other arm while trying unsuccesfully to safe Bertha from the flames, lives nearby. Jane and Rochester marry and "live happily ever after". Jane's long quest to find love and a sense of belonging is finally fulfilled.
There are several recurring themes in the novel. Relations between social classes and genders are very important. In the end Jane overcomes obstacles in both fronts. It is clearly indicated that her marriage to Rochester is a union of equals. When they first met this was not possible. Jane's emotional growth and the change in her financial situation combined with Rochester's dimished physical capabilities and loss of his manor turn the situation almost upside down. Now Jane is one with options and independence.
Religion is an another important theme. Jane meets three possible religious authorities: Mr. Brocklehurst, Helen Burns, and Mr. St.John. They represent different religious ideals, but Jane subsequently abandons all these models in favour of her own approach.
Jane Eyre is also about love and responsibility.
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