(Youtuber) Jane's "Departure" Episode

This episode of The Autobiography of Jane Eyre correlates directly to the hypotext's scene when Jane flees from Thornfield and is penniless and homeless roaming the countryside as well as the scenes in The Flight of Gemma Hardy which similarly feature Gemma completely broke, starving, seeking shelter wherever she can. Both Gemma and original Jane spend several days and nights completely destitute and vulnerable. By comparison, Youtuber Jane only spends a few hours between leaving Rochester's house and finding people to take care of her (Diana, Simon, and Mary). 

This abbreviation and alteration to the "fleeing from Rochester" sequence of events feels much more reasonable and realistic for the storytelling medium. Day after day of Jane wandering around Canada and whining about being hungry and cold wouldn't make for very entertaining vlogging and because of the technology required to vlog, Jane would have a limited window of time to record her stint of homelessness. Jane's fear of Rochester finding her if she goes to a hospital feels valid and realistic. Similarly, the attempted robbery felt much more authentic than expecting readers to believe Jane left her bag behind on a Greyhound bus or something. This is a moment where the modernization at work in The Autobiography is especially narratively effective. 

Hall, Alysson and Nessa Aref. "Departure." YouTube uploaded by Jane Eyre, 14 Jan. 2014. 

Associated Place(s)

Event date:

14 Jan 2014