My name is Cheng Pai Shan. I love reading and enjoy every moment with books. During my childhood, my family helped me cultivated the habit of reading whose genres ranging from Chinese literature to science magazines. Indeed, books play an essential role in my life. Moreover, I love to record my life by writing. When I read and write, I feel like I am in another world, where worries are gone and what is left is happiness.

       Jane Eyre is a classic describing the struggle and self-realization of a girl named Jane Eyre. The story started in a huge and fancy house where this girl was always treated like an outsider. As Jane grew up, she went to a charity school called Lowood, which was the synonym of hell. After eight years, Jane started a new chapter as a tutor in Thornfield. There, Jane met her soulmate, Mr. Rochester, and went through a dramatic event that forced her to leave the place. In the end, the couple finally settled down and stayed together. 

      After reading the story, I find Jane’s personality most fascinating, which consisted of two characteristics, courage and forgiveness. In terms of courage, Jane was not afraid of making any decision and stepping out of her comfort zone. Fed up with being mistreated by her uncle’s family, she bravely left and went to a school totally unknown to her. After staying at the school, Lowood, for eight years, Jane decided to leave and fulfill her ambition as an independent woman by tutoring. As soon as Jane knew Mr. Rochester’s marital status, she didn’t explode with resentment but instead left the manor without hesitation. She could be rich and enjoy the high social status as Mrs. Rochester but what she chose was to abandon everything and start from nothing. In  the end, Jane found her cousins and a stable job with which she could finally settle down; however, she chose to go back to Mr. Rochester. Going through each and every big event in her life, Jane wasn’t satisfied with her status quo, but kept changing and pursuing what she wanted. As for forgiveness, every disastrous event in her life ended with her forgiving heart. Jane didn’t complain that her parents died so early and left her hopeless and helpless. She forgave fate. Also, Jane did the same to her malicious aunt and all the cruel behaviors that she had done to her. In addition, Jane blamed neither Mr. Rochester nor her mad wife even though the mad wife had destroyed her joyful marriage. “She can’t help being mad.”(page 131) This was what Jane replied to Mr. Rochester when he criticized his mad wife. Jane also forgave Mr. Rochester for deceiving her, taking care of him and treating him sincerely as before. With her courage and forgiveness, many hindrances on her path were overcome.

      Jane’s courage and forgiveness are like shimmering diamonds, which can be used to better ourselves and the society. For me, I am a person who used to be afraid of change and all I wanted was to stay in a stable state. Inspired by Jane, however, this summer I stepped out of my comfort zone to join an academic camp lasting for 14 days. During these two weeks, I had to do everything on my own just like Jane when she was in Lowood. In the beginning, I regretted my decision because I felt anxious and missed my family. As time passed, I tried new things, made new friends, explored uncharted territory and broadened my horizons. Plucking up courage, I became fearless and learned so much. For society, forgiveness is necessary, especially in times of COVID-19. During the Pandemic, freedom is restricted, health is impaired, many lives are lost, and joy is gone. People start to point the finger at each other in an attempt to find out the source of all this unhappiness. Yet we must keep in mind that compared to some, we are really lucky because we have immediate medical assistance, sufficient materials to keep the disease under control, and the chance to look forward to a better future. Only when we tolerate the situation and forgive each other can we improve our society.

     The story of Jane Eyre not only portrays an orphaned girl who changed her own destiny, but also inspires readers to grow with her. To sum up, it is a book worth reading over and over again.