her hard struggle to retain her dignity as a human being.Another factor for the popularity of the novel lies in the fact that it is the first governess novel in the history of English literature.Instead of the rich,gentry,frail,modest and virtuous beauties of the conventional heroines,here we have a small,plain,poor govemness who begins her life all alone,with nobody caring for her and nothing attractive.What she has is an intense feeling,a ready sympathy and a strongsense ofequality and independence. Besides Jane's exceptional personalities,the book is also hailed as a representative work of feminist writings,i.e.works reflecting the experience and defending the interest of weaker sex.In a way it speaks not only for those unfortunate govemesses like Jane,but all the middle-class women and women ofall classes. 2.Here is an excerpt from Jane Eyre which is Jane's declaration to Mr.Rochester of her equality with him: "Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you?Do you think I am an automation?-a machine without feelings?And can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips,and 5 my drop of living water dashed from my cup?Do you think. because I am poor,obscure,and plain,and little,I am soulless and heartless?-You think wrong!I have as much soul as you,-and fiull as much heart!If god had gifted me with someher hard struggle to retain her dignity as a human being. Another factor for the popularity of the novel lies in the fact that it is the first governess novel in the history of English literature. Instead of the rich, gentry, frail, modest and virtuous beauties of the conventional heroines, here we have a small, plain, poor governess who begins her life all alone, with nobody caring for her and nothing attractive. What she has is an intense feeling, a ready sympathy and a strong sense of equality and independence. Besides Jane’s exceptional personalities, the book is also hailed as a representative work of feminist writings, i.e. works reflecting the experience and defending the interest of weaker sex. In a way, it speaks not only for those unfortunate governesses like Jane, but all the middle-class women and women of all classes. 2. Here is an excerpt from Jane Eyre which is Jane’s declaration to Mr. Rochester of her equality with him: “Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automation?—a machine without feelings? And can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, and plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless?—You think wrong! I have as much soul as you,-and full as much heart! If god had gifted me with some 5’