How Does Jasper Fforde s The Eyre Affair Testify

How does Jasper Fforde’s The Eyre Affair testify to the importance of reading in the formation of one’s self-identity? Many aspects contribute to the formation of a person’s self-identity. Whether it be their surroundings, their culture, their language, or even other’s personal identities, they all shape one’s perception of the world, the self-imposed rules surrounding them, and where they believe they belong within it. This world is encompassed with stories, and they contribute to the fabrication of everything ever known. It is these stories and histories that surround all things that play a comprehensive role in the formation of one’s identity. Jasper Fforde, in his novel The Eyre Affair, demonstrates and testifies to this through both†¦show more content†¦The effect and influence that Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Jane Eyre has on its audience is profound, and this is emulated in Thursday. It is evident early in the text that Thursdayâ€℠¢s childhood experiences and exposure with the characters and universe of Jane Eyre has caused her to, somewhat subconsciously, embody the character of Jane that she discovered within the pages of the novel. Thursday’s self-identity is molded and formed so much by the novel that the character of Thursday herself, can be almost directly transposed with Jane. Through the author’s use of intertextuality, Fforde is able to depict what would be perceived as a modern day, contemporary Jane Eyre, through the character of Thursday Next. Within the first exposure that Thursday directly has to the story of Jane Eyre, the effect of Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s protagonist on the nine-year-old Thursday is unmistakable. Immediately, Thursday sees herself in the character and her beliefs surrounding her own self-image are visible, saying she â€Å"had realised not long ago that [she]. . . was no beauty. . . and had seen how the more attractive children gained favour more easily.† (Ffor de 66), however, she finds somewhat of a role model within Jane Eyre, expressing that â€Å"in that young woman I could see how those principles could be inverted. I felt myself stand more upright and clench my jaw in subconscious mimicry of her pose.† (Fforde 66). This mimicry of Jane Eyre, even through the subtlety of the apery of her pose,