Comparing Charlotte Bronte's most acclaimed novel to Franco Zeffirelli's 1996 film production and Julian Amyes' 1983 production of the book is not easily accomplished. Both the book and the movies had their merits, and of course, both had space for improvement. Some of the major deviations between the novel and the films are the addition of music, the insertion of several quotes, as well as the omission of important characters and their various interactions. The book is skillfully written, and the movies are artfully directed--the differences that the Zeffirelli and Amyes made were all carefully inserted and molded into the plot without disrupting the flow of the story.

Music is a tool directors commonly use to aid them in their portrayal of human emotions. In both on-screen versions of Jane Eyre, music was played during extreme moments of sadness, joy, or elation. In this sense, the directors are able to...