‘Jane Eyre’ added to mandatory reading list for 14-year-old students in China

Charlotte Brontë’s classic English novel ‘Jane Eyre’ has secured a place on the mandatory reading list for 14-year-old students in China in the new academic year. Published in 1847 and known as a story of female self-respect, independence and love, the novel is being presented by Chinese authorities as helpful in fostering sound values among adolescents.

A report in China’s state-run newspaper Beijing Daily stated that against the perception of relationships shaped among young people by social media—centred on appearance, wealth and social status—‘Jane Eyre’ can offer a comparatively deeper perspective on love and relationships. The novel’s central character, orphan Jane, her struggles, her path to self-reliance and her eventual relationship with her wealthy employer have been highlighted .

In recent years, online novels and short dramas featuring displays of wealth, billionaire characters, revenge and melodramatic love stories have become widely popular in China. Authorities have also expressed concern over such content. In June, the broadcasting regulator launched a campaign against so-called ‘harmful and lowbrow’ content. According to authorities, some of these narratives are creating distorted ideas about love and marriage .

In the interpretation of China’s state media, when adolescents first encounter feelings of romance, the formation of their character and values is important. From that consideration, it is believed that reading classic literature offers an opportunity to build students’ understanding of relationships, self-respect and personal values .

The popularity of ‘Jane Eyre’ in China is not new, however. Since the novel first reached Chinese readers in 1925, it has been translated and republished at various times. There have also been several adaptations for stage and film. In 1979, a British film version was screened in Chinese cinemas after the Cultural Revolution. For a long time, Jane Eyre has been seen among the country’s working class as a symbol of resistance against oppression .

However, questions have also been raised over the inclusion of the novel in the new curriculum. Particularly at a time when various aspects of feminist discussion and activism in China are facing increased scrutiny and criticism, there is debate over how a novel like ‘Jane Eyre’ will be presented to students. Some parents also feel it is uncertain how acceptable the novel’s complex love story will be to adolescents of the current generation .

On the social media platform Xiaohongshu, one parent wrote that her son had asked whether teaching ‘Jane Eyre’ meant teaching girls in the class that their lives and decisions should depend on love. The parent said her son also had questions about the novel’s ending, where Jane decides to marry a blind man .

On the other hand, Qin Shiwen, a recent Chinese literature graduate in Beijing, believes classic literature like ‘Jane Eyre’ is necessary in basic education. In her view, although China’s education system places emphasis on exam results and academic success, the space for education on love, character and values receives comparatively less importance.

However, as a literary work, ‘Jane Eyre’ is not beyond criticism either. In recent times, questions have been raised about the portrayal of the ‘mad woman in the attic’ character and the presence of colonial thinking within the novel. Yan Hairong, a sociology researcher at Tsinghua University, also believes such aspects need to be considered when teaching the novel to students.