"Reader, I married him".

[ChinBristles]

I hate this and variations thereof! You are not Jane Austen.
I see it too often on here and in certain tabloids which we all read even if we don't admit it.

This isn't how it's used, but it's a powerful line. Jane was a woman in a time when that was hard. She scraped and fought for a place that she felt could be hers, refusing so many easier options along the way. I married him, not he married me, not what a lucky girl I am. Sadly, it's used more just as an announcement of sorts, but it's a great line.

Moby Dick.

Yes, it has become a cliche but it's not used that much. I'm perplexed it would frustrate you to this extent.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone do this!

A truth, certainly, but not universally acknowledged as shown by the fact that the mistake needed to be corrected....

Frankly, my dear, I couldn't give a damn.

Nobody should be doing "creative writing" on mumsnet so it doesn't matter. If someone is being creative, then they are a troll which is a far worse problem than using a quote that you don't like.

It's usually written by someone rather average who's attention seeking.

I see it a lot on Twitter but I do follow a lot of authors and publishing types. I love Jane Eyre, despite it being so disastrously “problematic”, it’s one of my favourite books. Like any meme/internet trend, it might be a bit witty the first time but then everyone copies it and it’s boring (and I often think eww did you? - but I’m kind of over men at this point!)

Oh and I’m definitely team JE not WH! WH is fascinating but it’s a plotting mess and Heathcliff is an even worse love interest than Rochester. I do like Austen too. Also full of unworthy blokes.

😂

Meh......Twas ever thus.

It’s not a feminist statement, nor is it romantic. She married a man who locked his forest wife in the attic, hired her to teach his bastard child, and who tried to commit bigamy!

Good point.

WH is fascinating but it’s a plotting mess and Heathcliff is an even worse love interest than Rochester

Why do you think it is a plotting mess? I thought the opposite. It is a complex masterpiece. I also like Jane Eyre. I am not on either team.

Also Heathcliffe isn't really a love interest as such. It's not a romantic story, you don't have to like him.

Yes but the book isn't about him. It's not a romance. The book is about the events that shaped Jane's character, her sense of self. She did not stay with him as he asked once she found out he had a wife in the attic and lied to her. She left, independently, with nothing, was homeless and hungry, found her way forward. She's an amazing character.

Also, nothing about their relationship was romantic or swoony.

In the context of Jane Eyre, it’s fine I guess. But MNers referring to us as ‘Reader/s’ in their posts need a swift slap.

I do see it on MN but I was more thinking about when I read it in other books/newspaper articles.

And yes, I did have a fantastic sleep after getting that off my chest. Interesting to see I'm not the only person who finds it irritating!

Frankly, my dear, I couldn't give a damn.

Pass the sick bucket.

That one's either Middlemarch or The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole.

😂

*Why do you think it is a plotting mess? I thought the opposite. It is a complex masterpiece. I also like Jane Eyre. I am not on either team.

Also Heathcliffe isn't really a love interest as such. It's not a romantic story, you don't have to like him.*

I suppose a "mess" / episodic series of awkward pairings between confusingly similarly named people interspersed with most of them dying, can also be a masterpiece, but it doesn't seem to have an arc or any sense of resolution. That doesn't mean it's terrible, I just prefer Jane Eyre. I kind of have more respect for Emily as a person than Charlotte always moping over brooding married older blokes, and Jane Eyre reflects her obsession, but I do think it's better plotted.

made me think of this comic!

Awww I love this!