初讀《簡愛》是十二三歲， 本以為看的是善良灰姑娘被富有王子拯救於水火的愛情小說， 沒想到懵懂中完成了我的女權意識啟蒙。雖然當時， 乃至此後多年， 我都沒意識到這本書對我三觀的影響和塑造。 此書第一次出版於1847年， 那個時代， 女人隻能作為男人的附屬而存在， 連財產擁有權都沒有， 更別說其他政治， 經濟， 社會權利了。 此書的精彩之處就在作者charlotte Bronte 以領先時代的覺悟，細膩卻又發人深省的筆觸成功塑造了主人公Jane Eyre 獨立自尊， 睿智勇毅的飽滿藝術形象， 讓後世百餘年裏的普通女性頗受鼓舞， 受惠良多。作為女性， 如何在拋開容貌焦慮， 家世地位金錢加持後， 仍保有自身價值， 仍能撐起一個大寫的 ”人“字， 值得思考與踐行。
以下是我認為最濃墨重彩， 振聾發聵的一段， 與各位分享共勉 （鬥膽錄了音頻， 忐忑奉上） ：
Do you think I am an automaton?
A machine without feelings? And can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!
I have as much soul as you, and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh: it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal — as we are!
