Jane Eyre Authoritative Text Backgrounds Criticism - Norton Critical Editions Author:Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre is a strong-willed orphan who, after surviving several miserable years at a charity school, becomes the governess to a ward of the mysterious Mr. Rochester. She and Mr. Rochester fall in love, but before they can be married it is revealed that he is already married and that his wife, who is insane, is confined in the attic of the estat... more »e. Jane leaves but is later reunited with Mr. Rochester after learning of the death of his wife.« less