Preface/Dramatis Personae (Jane Eyre (Full Cast))

01of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

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05Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

06Narrated by Eden Rayhedrick.

07Dermatis personae.

08Jane Eyre.

09Read by Elizabeth Barr.

10Mr.

11Rochester.

12Read by Algie Pag.

13St.

14Jen Rivers.

15Read by Adam Brack.

16Young Jane.

17Read by Arielle Lipshaw.

18Adele.

19Read by Tiffany Halla Colonna.

20Bessie.

21Read by Verity Kendall.

22Diana Rivers.

23Read by Elizabeth Klatt.

24Mrs.

25Fairfax.

26Read by Capricia Page.

27Mrs.

28Reed.

29Read by Christine Gee.

30John.

31Read by Jared Hess.

32Mary Rivers.

33Read by Grace Garrett.

34Helen Burns.

35Read by April Gonzalez.

36Leah.

37Read by Susanna.

38Blanche Ingram.

39Read by Amanda Friday.

40John Reed.

41Read by Jared Hess.

42Eliza Reed.

43Read by Fisbee.

44Abbott.

45Read by Eulene Idamaya.

46Miss Temple.

47Read by Elizabeth Klatt.

48Sophie.

49Read by Nadine Eckert-Boulet.

50Lady Lynn.

51Read by Anna Simon.

52Lord Ingram.

53Read by Andre.

54Colonel Dent.

55Read by Todd.

56Mr.

57Mason.

58Read by Jared Hess.

59Hannah.

60Read by Libby Gawne.

61Mr.

62Brocklehurst.

63Read by Anthony.

64Lowood Servant.

65Read by Kate Carstens.

66Miss Scatcherd.

67Read by Charlotte Duckett.

68Grace Poole.

69Read by Beth Thomas.

70Amy Eshton.

71Read by Victoria Martin.

72Louisa Eshton.

73Read by Eden Rayheadrick.

74Dowager Lady Ingram.

75Read by Charlotte Duckett.

76Mary Ingram.

77Read by Grace Garrett.

78Mr.

79Eshton.

80Read by Peter Oxenhandler.

81Mrs.

82Eshton.

83Read by Elizabeth Klatt.

84Frederick Lynn.

85Read by Ethan Hartman.

86Henry Lynn.

87Read by John Trevithick.

88Rosamund Oliver.

89Read by Susanna.

90Mary John's Wife.

91Read by Novella Serena.

92Charlotte Bronte.

93Read by Eden Rayheadrick.

94Mr.

95Lloyd.

96Read by Jared Hess.

97Sarah.

98Read by April Gonzalez.

99Porter's Wife.

100Read by Victoria Martin.

101Coachguard.

102Read by Capricia Page.

103Coachman.

104Read by Todd.

105Miss Miller.

106Read by Jeannie Tirado.

107First Class Lowood Girl.

108Read by Libby Gawne.

109Miss Smith.

110Read by Anna Simon.

111Cumberland Girl.

112Read by Carol DeRose.

113Miss Brocklehurst.

114Read by Victoria Martin.

115Barbara.

116Read by Charlotte Duckett.

117Lowood Nurse.

118Read by Charlotte Duckett.

119Loughton Postmistress.

120Read by Elizabeth Klatt.

121Waiter.

122Read by Todd.

123Charwoman.

124Read by Elizabeth Klatt.

125Mrs.

126Dent.

127Read by Ariel Lipshaw.

128Sam.

129Read by Carol DeRose.

130Dr.

131Carter.

132Read by Carol DeRose.

133Robert.

134Read by Jared Hess.

135Georgiana Reed.

136Read by Dana Milinger.

137Footman.

138Read by Carol DeRose.

139Mr.

140Wood.

141Read by Todd.

142Mr.

143Briggs.

144Read by Ken Garrett.

145Read Shopwoman.

146Read by Ariel Lipshaw.

147Housewoman.

148Read by Kate Carstens.

149Housekeeper.

150Read by Carol DeRose.

151Cottage Girl.

152Read by Charlotte Duckett.

153Cottage Mother.

154Read by Sally McConnell.

155Author.

156Read by Todd.

157Host.

158Read by Capricia Page.

159End of Dramatis Personae.

160Preface.

161To W.

162M.

163Thackeray, Esquire, this work is respectfully inscribed by the author.

164A preface to the first edition of Jane Eyre being unnecessary, I gave none.

165The second edition demands a few words, both of acknowledgment and miscellaneous remark.

166My thanks are due in three quarters.

167To the public, for the indulgent ear it has inclined to a plain tale with few pretensions.

168To the press, for the fair field its honest suffrage has opened to an obscure aspirant.

169To my publishers, for the aid their tact, their energy, their practical sense, and frank liberality have afforded an unknown and unrecommended author.

170The press and the public are but vague personifications for me, and I must thank them in vague terms.

171But my publishers are definite.

172So are certain generous critics who have encouraged me as only large-hearted and high-minded men know how to encourage a struggling stranger.

173To them, i.e., to my publishers and the select reviewers, I say cordially, Gentlemen, I thank you from my heart.

174Having thus acknowledged what I owe those who have aided and approved me, I turn to another class, a small one, so far as I know, but not, therefore, to be overlooked.

175I mean the timorous or carping few who doubt the tendency of such books as Jane Eyre, in whose eyes whatever is unusual is wrong, whose ears detect in each protest against bigotry, that parent of crime, an insult to piety, that regent of God on earth.

176I would suggest to such doubters certain obvious distinctions.

177I would remind them of certain simple truths.

178Conventionality is not morality.

179Self-righteousness is not religion.

180To attack the first is not to assail the last.

181To pluck the mask from the face of the Pharisee is not to lift an impious hand to the crown of thorns.

182These things and deeds are diametrically opposed.

183They are as distinct as advice from virtue.

184Men too often confound them.

185They should not be confounded.

186Appearance should not be mistaken for truth.

187Narrow human doctrines that only tend to elate and magnify a few should not be substituted for the world-redeeming creed of Christ.

188There is, I repeat it, a difference, and it is a good and not a bad action to mark broadly and clearly the line of separation between them.

189The world may not like to see these ideas dissevered, for it has been accustomed to blend them, finding it convenient to make external show pass for sterling worth, to let whitewashed walls vouch for clean shrines.

190It may hate him who dares to scrutinize and expose, to raise the gilding and show base metal under it, to penetrate the sepulchre and reveal charnel relics.

191But hate as it will, it is indebted to him.

192Ahab did not like Micah, because he never prophesied good concerning him, but evil.

193Probably he liked the sycophant son of Chanana better, yet might Ahab have escaped a bloody death had he but stopped his ears to flattery and open them to faithful counsel.

194There is a man in our own days whose words are not framed to tickle delicate ears, who, to my thinking, comes before the great ones of society, much as the son of Imla came before the throned kings of Judah and Israel, and who speaks truth as deep, for the power is prophet-like and as vital, a mien as dauntless and as daring.

195Is the satirist of vanity fair admired in high places?

196I cannot tell, but I think if some of those amongst whom he hurls the Greek fire his sarcasm, and over whom he flashes the leavened brand of his denunciation, were to take his warnings in time, they, or their seed, might yet escape a fatal rim off Gilead.

197Why have I alluded to this man?

198I have alluded to him, reader, because I think I see in him an intellect profounder and more unique than his contemporaries have yet recognized, because I regard him as the first social regenerator of the day, as the very master of that working core who would restore to rectitude the warped system of things, because I think no commentator on his writings has yet found the comparison that suits him, the terms which rightly characterize his talent.

199They say he is like fielding.

200They talk of his wit, humor, comic powers.

201He resembles fielding as an eagle does a vulture.

202Fielding could stoop on carrion, but Thackeray never does.

203His wit is bright, his humor attractive, but both bear the same relation to his serious genius that the mere lambent sheet lightning playing under the edge of the summer clouds does to the electric death spark hid in its womb.

204Finally, I have alluded to Mr.

205Thackeray, because, to him, if he will accept the tribute of a total stranger, I have dedicated the second edition of Jane Eyre.

206Currer Bell, December 21, 1847 Note to the third edition I avail myself of the opportunity which a third edition of Jane Eyre affords me, of again addressing a word to the public, to explain that my claim to the title of novelist rests on this one work alone.

207If, therefore, the authorship of other works of fiction has been attributed to me, an honor is awarded where it is not merited, and consequently denied where it is justly due.

208This explanation will serve to rectify mistakes which may already have been made, and to prevent future errors.

209Currer Bell, April 13, 1848 End of preface