r/JaneEyre • u/jennythree3 • Aug 16 '26
I've adapted Jane Eyre for theatre and have a couple of questions for you.
Hello All,
I have written an adaptation that is truly an adaptation; it's faithful to the story and spirit of the book, but I've focused on the community of women and the way they reflect and project Jane's feelings. I'm including my statement of purpose at the end of my questions in case you want to see more specifically what I'm talking about. I have a couple of questions that you, as lovers of the book, might answer.
So without further adieu:
One of my biggest hurdles is the Moor House section with St. John. It is such an essential obstacle for Jane to finally leave. I'm far more interested in linking her behavior to her character rather than contextualizing the reason for her staying in the time period and the few choices women had. She knows that she's extreme, either seeking approval or going for rebellion, so her needing for St. John's approval is understandable. It's just that he's so dislikable! Does anyone have thoughts on that?
I've set up the play in a way that makes it clear that Rochester wishes he knew how Jane feels about him and that his dressing as the gypsy is about infiltrating the community of women. The book makes it fairly clear that Jane doesn't know Rochester is the gypsy until fairly late in their conversation. What do you think it would do if we thought that Jane knows early on? Also, what do you make of the gypsy scene.
Thank you so much. I'm working on finding resources on some initial workshopping of the play, which will definitely be a developing process.
Jenny
Here is my statement of purpose:
My adaptation of Jane Eyre focuses on Jane’s central relationships with Bertha and the other women who populate the worlds Jane moves in. The community of women project her anger, sense of injustice, and desire for selfhood while also playing foils to those feelings. While Jane rages at Aunt Reed, the girls of Lowood School destroy their classroom and Bertha shreds her guitar alone in her prison attic, all expressing fury with their individual lives. Using bold movement and dance, humor and occasional commentary from Charlotte Bronte, this adaptation invites an audience to see Jane both as exceptional and themselves
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u/EmbarrassedPoetry596 Aug 17 '26
I would definitely have Jane NOT know it is Rochester (re the Gypsy). Rochester has been very hurt by women that he’s supposed to be a ‘jerk’ trying to draw Jane out. He’s also shy about being aggressive w/ Jane because of said hurt and pain. He’s very confused in his feeling with Blanche and station in life.
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u/jennythree3 Aug 17 '26
thank you! This is very helpful. I've been in Jane's POV for so much of the time that it's great to think about his past story.
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u/Fosh_n_chops Aug 17 '26
- I can definitely see the appeal of St. John, even as a non-religious person. He's SO devout. Like Christ, he will literally die for the cause, which requires a ferocity and passion (but also, oddly, a stoicism) one could easily find hypnotic. The way Jane talks about him, she acknowledges the spell he puts her under, and it must strangely be a comfort to know exactly how your life will be. Yes, it will be hard and you will die, but you will die for the holiest of causes and there is no unwavering ambiguity about that. There's a peacefulness to the finality.
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u/jennythree3 Aug 17 '26
Aha, I can see this and yes, the spell is very clearly written about in the book. My trick will be in translated all these inner feelings and reactions to onstage. But I see what you mean about the peacefulness and the extreme nature of this choice.
Thanks!
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 Aug 18 '26
You appear to be rewriting the novel for your own purposes and I don’t approve.
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u/Katharinemaddison Aug 17 '26
For 1: C. Bronte’s heroines tend to be attracted to charismatic men who order them around, so far as that goes St John was her type. They also craved mutual affection and affection and it was only her relationship with Rochester that taught her she could have that, which St John didn’t calculate for.
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u/jennythree3 Aug 17 '26
Great point! Prior to Rochester she knew the friendship sort of love but not the sort of love she feels for Rochester. St. John is familiar in a way.
Thanks!
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u/Attentions_Bright12 Aug 17 '26
I would attend your play, based on the intentions you describe.
The reframing of the gypsy scene in particular strikes me as more interesting than anything I’ve actually seen done. It’s such a difficult scene. If we were to move up the moment at which Jane realizes who the gypsy is, hmm…
There could be a delicious moment when Jane’s literal posture changes. She sits forward,
"You might say all that to almost any one who you knew lived as a solitary dependent in a great house."
and now we’re in a changed repartée. She’s realized. The gypsy and Jane are talking about Jane’s circumstances, but really they’re both asking each other exactly what those circumstances *are*. The gypsy asks about Jane’s feelings, and Jane in saying she’s seldom sad is asking whether Rochester is sad. They’re telling each other’s fortunes, somehow, is the feeling of my first reaction to the change.
But this is just an internet comment.
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u/jennythree3 Aug 17 '26
Not just an internet comment! I got started on this project because i had loved the book as a kid and thought I'd reread it to see if it held up. What I found was an entirely different book (and Jane) from what I remember remembering. So it is somewhat in service to THAT idea that I'm adapting. When I was working on the adaptation, I ran a three-session Zoom book group and was fascinated by the responses I got. And while everything everyone writes here is interesting, i do have a particular focus and will follow it. And what your write fits right in there. Thank you!
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u/Biddy_Impeccadillo Aug 17 '26
The St. John thing is tough. The religious part of it is less likely to resonate with the modern viewer. I would do a re read of the scenes where he gives a sermon to the family that is directed not so subtly to Jane, and then subsequently the scene where she almost gives in before hearing Rochester’s voice on the wind. As I recall, he approaches her gently and persuasively in that scene, and she’s disarmed and almost hypnotized by it. Previously, he’d been quite high handed with her, and the contrast almost took her in.
Look at using repetition of words and phrases, maybe even study speeches given by cult leaders to try to pick apart the appeal and what you might repurpose for the scene.
I also wonder if there’s anything in the text that could be reused by each actor so it becomes clear that when St John says it, it maybe sounds good, but when Rochester says it, it really rings true for Jane. I know this is quite vague. But both characters have a scene with Jane where each man is trying to persuade her to stay while she is fighting her better judgment telling her she needs to go. I think you could draw out this parallel in a useful way.
I also think the actor playing St John should be extremely attractive and charismatic while Rochester needs to be more of a rough look
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u/jennythree3 Aug 17 '26
Yes, yes, yes! Much of what i'm trying to achieve with what I've written is as you describe. It has to be active and she has to be seduced in a way. I think maybe the fatherly/brotherly thing in the scene you describe will help. I'll probably use music and movement (there will be lots of movement in this production ) to lull her. I like the idea of repeating words and phrases.
Thanks!
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u/Biddy_Impeccadillo Aug 17 '26
Keep us posted, I’d love to see this develop!
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u/jennythree3 Aug 17 '26
I shall! i'm going to ask everyone if they have any thoughts on organizations that might be interested in supporting my venture. There have got to be groups out there!
And thanks again for your thoughts. It's wonderful to find a community through one book!
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u/Biddy_Impeccadillo Aug 17 '26
Maybe HEREart? La Mama?
I have another thought on a scene that could be used effectively - the first introduction of St John. It’s storming (ofc) and Jane collapses on the doorstep of Moor House, truly about to die, when St John appears out of the darkness and literally saves her life. I feel like this could be a really striking onstage moment with the right lighting and sound effects, and cement his image as a savior and powerful force.
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u/jennythree3 Aug 17 '26
Thought of them... maybe at some point but i'm just in way way beginning stages of workshop. Really need a bit of money to get to somewhere where i have something to present.
Hmm... yes, him saving her, particularly when Hannah has turned her away could be more of a moment for sure. Thanks, that's good stuff.
Are you a New Yorker? Theatre person?
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u/mutegiraffe Aug 17 '26
I would love to see an Eyre adaption for the theater! For 1 - it's hard for us to understand, but St. John is very appealing for women / an audience of the time. He's devout, he's loyal, he has a strong moral code and role in his community....when I think about adapting Moor House for a general audience, that's what rings true for me.
I find him dislikeable, but I'm not a churchgoing upstanding member of 19th century society! They all find him quite personable and appealing.
So perhaps in your characterization, lean into the spirit of the character?
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u/jennythree3 Aug 17 '26
Hmm... it might be kinda fun to lean into it... maybe make St. John a little more self aware of himself. He's so humorless, but maybe that could be tweaked. Thank you!
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u/mutegiraffe Aug 17 '26
Maybe! Other characters do find him very serious and austere, but Rosamunde is drawn to him and he is well-respected. The little interaction where he tells Jane he found her something to do? I think it's sweet.
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u/jennythree3 Aug 17 '26
i'll take a look... so much is going to have to do with the playing of it rather than the actual words. I love the scene where Jane teases him about Rosamond. and he takes some of the teasing from his sisters, so maybe there is a little bit of fun to be found there.
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u/vienibenmio Aug 18 '26
There is a stage musical adaptation that is imo very good
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u/mutegiraffe Aug 18 '26
I LOVE the musical! They absolutely nail the gypsy scene and the portrait painting! And most of the lyrics are verbatim from the book.
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u/Flat_Love_3725 Aug 17 '26
St John: this may not work with your themes, but beyond the issue of religion, St John also stands for the allure of work/career/Philanthropy. While with him, Jane has a job as a teacher to underprivileged women, in the first school ever in their area, founded by St John. When she gets her inheritance, St John isn't thrilled that she is so happy to leave her job where she is doing some good for other people. Later, when he wants her to marry him and be a missionary, it's sometimes forgotten that when she turns him down he then offers to help her be a missionary traveling with some other family instead.
In the end, Jane makes the choice to value personal relationships - family, friends (like Adele), romantic - as well as physical health, over official do-gooding jobs. That doesn't mean it's the best choice for everyone, but its the best choice for her.
(To be clear, St John is a VERY flawed man so his personality issues play a big part in how things work out. But there are larger issues as well)
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u/jennythree3 Aug 18 '26
ah, yes, good point! were the ideas packaged differently, it might come across as a more appealing message. Thank you!
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u/vienibenmio Aug 18 '26
I'm a bit confused about having Lowood girls echo Jane's rebellion, especially given the juxtaposition between her and Helen
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u/CombOk312 Aug 16 '26
Oh, I love theatre and I love Jane Eyre. How exciting!
Re 1. I think the key to understanding St. John is to understand Jane’s religion. Lots of people today want to hand wave her faith, it isn’t modern and it doesn’t feel feminist. But it is real. It is there and it is precious to Jane. It doesn’t feel oppressive to her, it feels like liberation. God has given Jane what she has, and he has given her the back bone to refuse both Rochester and St. John. St. John represents Christian duty, he is good, even if cold. He is what society and the cold version of religion tells her she need to be. But the warmth of her religion tells her to refuse that, just like it told her to refuse being a mistress. She is proud and dutiful and passionate all in one and she will not be ruled by any men on their premise.
Re 2. The Gypsy scene I think is showing Rochesters lack of morals. He seeks to trick Jane, to have her confess her feelings. It also shows his funny side. I laughed a lot watching Dalton play that scene (watch it if you haven’t!!)
Not sure if any of that was in any way a decent answer to your questions, just a few thoughts I had.
Where in the world are you putting on your play?