JANE EYRE - 100 BOOKS YOU MUST READ!

Jane Eyre is one of the 100 books that you should read before you die! It is classed as a 'favorite book of all time' by millions of readers, both of classic books and modern readers.

In this video we take a spoiler free look at the main themes of Jane Eyre and how Charlotte Bronte worked to bring to life the story of a common girl in such extraordinary vibrancy.

If you are studying Jane Eyre in high school or studying Jane Eyre for college, you will find some deeper insights into this great work of classic literature in this video.

IF YOU WANT TO BEGIN TEACHING YOURSELF MORE ABOUT CLASSIC LITERATURE, be sure to check out my Patreon.

[mitzireadsandwrites]

Hey, Tristan! Happy to see you and especially discussing Jane Eyre. ❤ I agree about Charlotte Bronte sharing herself through the novel because many of the events are based on things she experienced in her own life and certainly as a woman during Victorian times. However, I feel it was more of a perfect idea of who she wanted to be because based on what I've learned about Charlotte, I don't think I would have liked her as a person. 
Have you read The Brontes by Juliet Barker? It's fascinating and well worth the read. Poor Charlotte was a socially awkward person. To be fair to Charlotte, though, I don't think Barker liked her that much. 😂
I always love your deep dive into these novels! I've read Jane Eyre many times and never once thought about the places and the landscape descriptions- great thoughts.

btw for me Rochester stands for jerk! why in the world she wanted to marry him I'll never know 😂
Seriously, I am nodding my head as you talk about how she subverts the gothic tradition within this story and that is why we love it! This is why I am in constant search of similar books and can't seem to find it. what a masterpiece

[carolinesmercantile]

I love that Jane was a great conversationalist. This is how Rochester fell for her. He was annoyed by her at first, because, perhaps, of their first encounter with each other. He then fell in love with her mind over her looks and became addicted to her. The "names" names of the places also reflect a garden. A garden gate, wood, thorn, moor (a unique biome) and fern. Then the story ends in a garden where R can no longer gaze upon J which is fine because he looked past her appearance anyway.

[rociomiranda]

Bronte's honesty. Her fierce, brutal, fearless psychological honesty. There is no female figure in literature to touch Jane Eyre. She is so true to what it means to be a woman, even today, the good, the bad, the light, the dark, the things we don't want to admit even to ourselves. She stands grave and quiet at the mouth of Hell and is not afraid of what she sees.

[nianju]

I often read, people dislike Rochester for deceiving Jane... being a jerk... a kind of pervert... not understanding, why she married him.
But I think, Brontë gives the answer in certain explanations. Marriage at that time was until death did part a couple. There was no chance of separation or any other 'solution' ... so Rochester was trapped for their lifetime, but just seeking a human being to love and to live with what he never experienced. He tried to achieve it by having affairs with mistresses who appeared to be soulless etc... This drove him further to despair.
You should not forget that he cared for his mad wife very much... and did not sent her to an asylum or 'getting rid' of her in any other way. So I consider this character as a quiete fine one.
But a fine character does not mean you make no mistakes.
Rochester told her from the very beginning about his way of life and his sins and faults. And that he tried to convert from this, becoming a better person by 'ataching an unpolluted fine fresh huming being' to himself and to love eachother in a morally high way.

It brings me to tears reading his explanation to Jane how he fell in love with her.

I think Jane ran away bc she loved him even more after learning the reason behind his deception. She felt deeply pitiful for him... but she knew it was impossible for her living with him in that unsolvable status. Brontë never describes Jane being angry oder mad... just broken.

What I love most about the hole story is that both agree that as human beings they are equals despite their differences as male and female.
Rochester never treated her inferior, but as a companion. Yes, he gaslighted her about what was happening with his wife in the attic. But that was exactly HIS UNSOLVABLE PROBLEM that turned him into an imposter.

This book is my alltime favourite... and my first book I have been reading in English...it was not easy to read as many words are of Latin origin or idioms seem antiquated. Or are all these terms still used in the English language today?

[radiantchristina]

Jane Eyre holds a very special place in my heart. It was the first classic I read on my own (not in a school setting) that I fell in love with.
I reread it every few years 😍

[ЕкатеринаКузнецова-як]

I like Jane's caracter because she is always rational and posed but not cold. She has a warm heart and it helps her in difficult live. She is warm and life cant freeze her.
Thank u.

[hanichay]

I love Jane because she did the right thing when it cost her everything. That is the greatest story ever told.

[chirazbenabdelkader]

Jane Eyre is the first classic that I read in high school and that holds a special place in my heart to this day.

[janetay]

I have never liked my name since young and I hate introducing myself even with a simple "I'm Jane". When I first read Jane Eyre as a 19-year-old at the hospital, that was when I began hating my name to a lesser extent. This was the first Victorian novel I read on my own accord (not as assigned reading), and holds a special place in my heart.

[sharon]

Ooh a new video from Tristan welcome back my friend you have been so missed!!

[peggymccright]

I’ve read Jane Eyre 8 times or more and you brilliantly talked about it’s importance without a spoiler! Amazing. Thanks so much for your video, I have so few people to talk with about books. Thank you

[tine]

Oh my god I had no idea what the word "Eyre" meant before watching this brilliant video! Thank you so much for adding yet another reason for me to absolutely adore this novel. Subscribed ❤

[Beesmakelifegoo]

It’s fascinating how the emphasis on being physically attractive is prioritized back then and especially today.
Notice the way advertising propels commerce.
The implication being, a struggle to achieve higher expectations.
It’s important in terms of of what it takes to grow one’s character.
I feel that morality develops out of the experience that one has had.
Thank you for the wonderful way that you teach how relevant to one’s own mental growth by giving meaning to Life!

[belkyhernandez]

Maybe Rochester and St John represent 2 sides of Jane's personality/temperament.

[GraceKugrena]

Welcome back Tristan! So good to see and hear from you!

[BEVERLYRANDOLPH-lxqu]

When I read Jane Eyre as a young person, I loved it. (I never loved Wuthering Heights, btw—I thought it was just a string of crazy, completely undisciplined people) I recently reread it. I’m in my 70’s now. I had forgotten what an insufferable prude Jane is! Yes, it’s good to be a moral person; but jeez Louise, she’s just over the top. It’s a great story, for sure. I love the supernatural elements, the psychic communication, and her travels and experiences. But she has something of a superiority complex. I like that elucidation of her name, Tristan, thanks!

[Meg-gole]

I have thought of you often during the past few months, hoping that you would come back when you were ready. I avoided the classics until I watched your posts and now I am hooked and see the value and joy in Victorian Lit that my high school teachers tried to impart 40 odd years ago. Better late than never! Thank you

[tiffanymay]

Thank you, Tristan! For exploring and revealing some of the deeper layers of Jane Eyre - I am reading it now for the 4th time and find I love it as much, if not more, each time.

[silviaherrera]

I remember reading this novel in 11th grade and being enthralled by it. I didn’t realize at the time what it was that made it remarkable for me, perhaps the developing love story. After hearing your analysis, I understand the under layers that at the time captured my heart without knowing. What a masterful writer Charlotte Brontë was! It remains one of my top three favorite novels. I plan to reread it this fall.

Thank you for making your videos. I was an English major in college and really enjoyed all of my literature courses. I miss them! Your videos bring these wonderful memories back. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm for English literature.

[ТатьянаГубина-ии]

I like the way you speak about books very much. I see in you a book- loving friendly soul.😊