The Book Club: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë with Madeleine Kearns | The Book Club

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is one of the most beloved books in literature. In this episode of The Book Club, Michael Knowles and Madeleine Kearns take you through the pages of the Victorian novel to examine the themes of love versus independence, social class and structure, religion, and gender roles. 

[audreylooster]

My favorite novel. I loved listening to an intelligent conversation between people who actually understand the book! .... the gloriously charming Irish accent was like frosting on the cake! Thanks, guys! I'm sharing this one with family and friends, and I'm rewatching just for the joy of it! I was tearing up listening, just for the joy of it. Well done!

[CoolPapaJMagik]

Love to hear art analyzed through a Christian lens

[bnelson]

I think the Daily Wire should produce a mini series version of Jane Eyre. It’s been several decades since a faithful version has been presented. Now they always have to write intellectual plots to why Jane runs away or why Jane and Rochester are attracted to each other. It’s so obvious that Jane’s morality is the center of the story.

[megofiachra]

Jane chooses what is right against everything she wants. It’s a God given strength. Very inspiring.

[spitimalamati]

This is missed every time: little Helen Burns teaches Jane to forgive. Jane stops resenting all the injustices in her life. Helen’s elegiac Christian philosophy: “Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs.” When Jane visits ailing Aunt Reed, Jane recalls Helen’s “doctrine of equality of disembodied souls ... and as [Helen] lay on her placid death bead, and whispered her longing to be restored to her divine Father’s bosom ....”. After Mrs. Reed confesses she wronged Jane twice: (1) to treat her as a servant and not a daughter per Uncle Reed’s dying request, and (2) Mrs. Reed wrote in reply to Jane’s uncle John Eyre, who wanted to adopt Jane and grant his entire estate to her, but Mrs. Reed replied to Uncle John that Jane was dead. Jane leans over Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Reed says, “ ‘Love me, then or hate me as you will, ’ I said at last; ‘you have my full and free forgiveness: ask now for God’s, and be at peace.’ “

[iguanasincamouflage]

"In fact, the real reason that Jane does what she does what she does is to protect the virtue of chastity, which is the last thing that any feminist ever thinks to mention--which is ridiculous considering how important it is in protecting and preserving women's interests." 23:42 Love that part.

[sherlock]

My favorite part of the book is when Rochester is asking Jane to be his mistress. Jane is tempted but she says something like “our moral rules are not there only when it’s easy to follow them. It’s when we don’t want to follow them, that they are most important.” And when Rochester is poking at Jane by implying he is going to be married to a woman he has been courting, Jane says “You think just because I am poor, ugly, and little that I have no feelings.” But I do have passions and I can be wounded. Jane and Rochesters interactions were fun and flirty. They engaged in verbal sparring and Jane could hold her own.

[MrsSecor]

What a sweet beautiful woman! I love her talking about providence and immortality.

[ac]

Jane Eyre is my favorite book. Jane is a role model because she has self respect, and she maintains it even when it hurts, even when it’s not convenient, and even when it costs her the thing she had been denied all her life —love. I read this book on every deployment I ever went on and at least once every year and I always notice something new. Jane Eyre is one of the greatest books of all time. Great discussion and fantastic points regarding the things feminists miss, as well as the comments on Providence and eternity.Thanks for covering it on The Book Club!

[SusieQ]

*he proposes by listing all her faults* Austen had a character propose that way, too. That proposal was also rejected. Maybe that's not a good approach.

This was so great, y'all! I love Jane Eyre, and this discussion was wonderful.

[JonGreen]

One of the most important questions anyone can ask is “what happens after I die?“ because your answer will shape the direction of your life.
If you believe that’s you will forget everything in life, then you may find yourself either a hedonist, enjoying all the pleasures life can offer, or a nihilist, excepting that memories of Joy and pain will equally die with you.
If you believe your consciousness will merge with every other dead conscious, and you may act in accordance with the collective.
If you believe your individuality will survive after your body dies, you also may end up as a hedonist, enjoying life pleasures while you still have a body.
If you believe in a divine judge, then you will likely act in accordance with that law.

Or perhaps you believe nothing will happen but you like the idea of living an honorable life, then you will come up with some arbitrary rules, possibly plagiarize, in order to live cording to your conscience.

This has been me rambling about consequences of an afterlife.

[caleblauber]

I read this in high school. It seems whenever I hear this book analyzed, more interesting findings are exposed.

[celiamergen]

Awesome interview! Madeleine has such insight. She would be a lovely person to have a conversation with!

[missmegan]

I love Jane Eyre - one of my favorite reads. Regardless of my familiarity with the book, I gained so much from this discussion! You both provided so many Christian insights that I had never considered. Thank you!

[glennanderson]

My favourite book, as well! I've read it every other year since 1996, when I first discovered it whilst holidaying in Bali. I was captivated by Jane's development as a Christian, particularly how she learn't to subdue her rage against personal injustice.

[leejnhi]

The Providence always acts when the moon is present in the narrative. That's such a nice literary touch in my opinion. Jane Eyre has to be the best novel every written 😌

[cw]

Jane Eyre has been my favorite novel since I was about 16. It's Jane's virtue that makes the book fabulous. Helen easy to overlook? Oh no. Her cameo role is deeply moving.

[aes]

Petition for Will Witt to discuss Lord of the Rings.

[gskineke]

Considering that Scripture that says if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, is there any possibility that Charlotte Bronte actually allowed his injuries to mirror those injunctions as part of his spiritual transformation?

[rachelois]

This is my favorite novel. I have read it at least 3 times and have always felt that it is a very spiritual book and calls us to a higher way of being. Thanks for this discussion.