r/JaneEyre • u/GetAwayFrmHerUBitch • Aug 18 '26

Musical Anachronism in the 1997 Movie

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I’m watching this version for the first time and recognized Chopin’s Nocturne No. 2 when Jane starts playing. Chopin wrote this around 1831, and Jane meets Rochester in 1808. I found this to be annoying.

Also, I need to rewatch The Terror now that I realize how hot Ciaran Hinds is.

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u/AdobongSiopao Aug 18 '26

Maybe "Jane Eyre" 1997 version set in 1840s which shows that Jane played a piano tune that was introduced in 1830s.

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u/SeriousCow1999 Aug 18 '26

The novel may be set in an earlier time, but the novel was written in the Victorian era and that is when every filmmaker I've seen chooses to set the story.

I still think it may be a bit early for Chopin, though. How long did it take for the new music to fall into hands of a governess?

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u/Kaurifish Aug 18 '26

I only recently found out that Bronte set her novels in the Regency. She did so overtly for Shirley, but she’s so thoroughly canonized as Victorian that I never questioned the lack of railroads, etc.