Jane Eyre Files

In 1961, the anthology television show “Family Classics” released an hour long episode adapting Jane Eyre. It starred Sally Ann Howes as Jane and Zachary Scott as Rochester. Unfortunately this episode has never been officially released, but an audio recording of the show has surfaced and Charlene breaks down why she feels it’s the best of the hour-long American adaptations of Jane Eyre.

The last chapter of the novel is an emotional one, where Jane brings the reader up to speed on what has happened after her marriage to Rochester. She describes such a state of blissful union that Mike and Charlene revel in Jane and Rochester’s happy ending.  This is also the end of the podcast in its current format, but we do plan to occasionally podcast about a variety of Jane Eyre related topics in the future.  We may not be back for some time however, so stay subscribed to be notified when new episodes drop!

Many thanks to everyone who has listened along to our discussions of the book! We so appreciate the love and support for the show. Farewell for the present.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are taken from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane makes a visit to Ferndean, where Mr. Rochester is living in desolate seclusion.  But she helps him regain his vivacity as she playfully eases his mind and reassures him that she is there to stay and will never leave him again. Join Charlene and Mike as they discuss the sweetly romantic reunion of our protagonists, and the penultimate chapter of this novel.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are taken from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane’s return to Thornfield comes with suspense as Thornfield is not quite how she left it.  Charlene and Mike enjoy the gossip from the innkeeper as he recounts the events from the last year.  Welcome to the “pen-penultimate” chapter of the novel!

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are taken from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

St. John is a cold man indeed, as he gives Jane the cold shoulder for a week after she refused his offer of marriage.  Jane struggles with whether or not she should trust St. John’s judgment on this, until she hears a mysterious summons from across the moors. A beautiful moment ensues as Jane makes the right decision for herself.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are taken from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston and the La Jolla, San Diego tryout run of Jane Eyre the Musical starring Marla Schaffel and James Barbour.

Jane is settling into domestic bliss as she welcomes Diana and Mary back home to Morton. St. John’s proposal that she marry him and live in India takes her by surprise.  Just as the hosts of this show are unhappy with St. John’s approach, Jane must be more than disappointed after the romantic bar was set so high by Mr. Rochester.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

St. John makes an unexpected visit to Jane’s cottage, and gleefully (in a repressed way) lets her know that he has found out her whole history.  Jane is much less concerned with the reason for St. John’s discovery, as with the state of Mr. Rochester.  She doesn’t find out much on that, but good news, she is now a rich heiress and has three cousins! Jane’s life has broadened and we are delighted that she has finally received the gift of a loving family.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane’s hard work as the village teacher is paying off, as she appreciates the respect and affection of her students and their parents. Jane still thinks about Rochester though, and is inspired to try and bring Rosamond and St. John together, however it is futile given St. John’s nature.  A comparison of St. John and Helen’s devout outlooks on life ensue, especially in how it aids Jane during moments of emotional turmoil.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Jane is established in her new position as mistress of a small village school, and she gets a first hand glimpse of some new romantic drama - with the introduction of Rosamund Oliver.  St. John seems to be resisting his passionate love for Rosamund, as Jane is resisting hers for Mr. Rochester. It is an obvious parallel, but it does bring more depth to St. John’s character.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane is benefitting from a newfound friendship with Diana and Mary Rivers, and their picture of contentment makes these podcast hosts envious.  Meanwhile, St. John and even Jane can not help but acknowledge their own restless natures.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

In this chapter, we are formally introduced to a whole new set of characters, who will have a major impact on Jane’s life. Even though, in this discussion, Mike and Charlene miss the excitement of Thornfield and Mr. Rochester just a little.  Still, we have much to learn about the Rivers family, and we are just getting started!

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

In this week’s episode of Jane Eyre Files, we are continuing the discussion on Chapter 27 - the chapter in which Jane leaves Rochester.  We focus on two important aspects in this episode - Bertha Mason’s personality, and the nature of her marriage with Rochester, and Jane’s dilemma in whether or not to leave Thornfield.  Mike and Charlene have some debates over both of these topics, as Jane prepares to move on to a new phase in her life.

Mike and Charlene are also moving into a new phase in their life - as first time home buyers - so this podcast will take a short break.  Please check back in soon as we hope to post a new episode in the latter half of May.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

This chapter - the chapter where Jane leaves Rochester - is Charlene’s favorite part of the book.  Rochester tells all, and Jane is faced with the most difficult decision of her life.  There’s a lot to unpack as this is the longest chapter thus far, so Mike and Charlene are discussing it in two parts.  The focus of Part 1 will be on Jane’s reaction to learning about Bertha and Rochester’s justification for his actions. Enjoy!

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

It’s Jane’s wedding day and Rochester’s big secret is finally revealed.  Charlene and Mike discuss the culmination of the Gothic mystery in the novel, and the first impression of Bertha Mason through Jane’s eyes. There is a ton of “emotional damage” in this chapter, and we support Jane’s strength in bearing with the devastation.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

The night before their wedding, Jane and Rochester stay up late and talk. They speak of their future, and of Jane’s troubling dreams.  Her last one - in which a strange woman is in her room and tears her wedding veil - is all the more troublesome when she awakens and finds the veil torn on the floor.  Rochester assures her everything is fine, and Charlene and Mike are left feeling as uneasy as Jane.  For such an important romantic moment as the night before her wedding, we find there is much to make Jane anxious in this chapter.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

The day after the proposal, Jane finds that Rochester’s indulgent and amorous mood makes her a little nervous about what to expect in the weeks before their wedding.  She keeps him at a distance for both of their sakes, and Mike and Charlene dissect what that means about Jane’s character and her relationship with Mr. Rochester.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

A splendid Midsummer shines over this episode, as Jane walks alone in the garden with Mr. Rochester.  Rochester pushes Jane to the brink emotionally, and they finally reveal their love for each other.  It’s a beautiful moment, and Mike also relates what part of this chapter inspired his own marriage proposal to Charlene a few years ago.  Romance, revelations, and a summer storm with lighting is in the air with Chapter 23!

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Although this chapter feels like a transition phase in the story - bridging the end of the Reed’s family influence in Jane’s life, and the future marriage that will disrupt her work as a governess at Thornfield - there is a lot to unpack with Jane and Rochester’s emotions. Mike and Charlene also remember a great actor who played Mr. Rochester in the 1996 adaptation - William Hurt.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Troubling dreams of a child visit Jane, and bad news follows after - John Reed has died and Mrs. Reed is on her sickbed, requesting to speak to Jane.  Jane leaves for Gateshead and her past is revisited.  How easy is it to forgive someone who is unrepentant?  Charlene and Mike debate the issue as we all catch up with the Reed family.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

A mysterious attack on Mr. Mason bewilders Jane, and instead of answers Rochester just raises more questions. Charlene and Mike deal with the confusing events and emotions in Jane, while marveling at Charlotte Brontë’s beautiful prose.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane finally gets to talk to the mysterious Gypsy woman who knows quite a bit about her.  And in the first part of this episode Charlene and Mike disagree on Rochester’s motivations for carrying on his charade. We follow that up with a breakdown of  the three miniseries adaptations that depict this scene.  For a scene that rarely makes it to adaptations, it’s interesting to see how differently the three versions approach it.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane analyzes the interactions between Blanche and Rochester, and more of her own thoughts about Rochester are revealed.  Enter a mysterious stranger and a mysterious gypsy woman, and this chapter is the perfect set up for more intrigue. Mike and Charlene debate how true Jane’s analysis is, and the potential for more secrets and puzzles.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Rochester has left Thornfield, but soon returns with a party of friends, and a potential love interest in Blanche Ingram.  Jane realizes that she can not stop her feelings for Mr. Rochester, and Charlene and Mike dissect her feelings just as she dissects Rochester’s interactions with his party.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane starts acknowledging her feelings for Mr. Rochester, but realizes that her romantic hopes are fanciful notions that she must suppress.  All the while the mystery at Thornfield is kept simmering.  Charlene and Mike explore heartfelt emotions and their mystery solving skills as they discuss Chapter 16 of Jane Eyre.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Mr. Rochester finally does share the story of Adele's mother with Jane. And Jane starts to realize she may be feeling a certain way about Rochester - right before she saves him from a fire about to engulf his bed.  Romance abounds in this chapter as Mike and Charlene revel in the chemistry between our two protagonists.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane sits down with Mr. Rochester for another revealing (?) conversation that quickly goes into territory she is unfamiliar with.  She may be a little confused, but it does seem like Mr. Rochester knows what he is doing as he attempts to peel back the layers of her personality. Charlene also peels back the layers of the character inspiration for Mr. Rochester and some of Charlotte Brontë’s history.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane and Mr. Rochester have an illuminating conversation that really highlights their growing interest in each other, and their potential romance.  Mike and Charlene discuss why Rochester might be so intriguing to Jane, and why on earth Jane would illustrate so many paintings featuring death and darkness. There is also another celebrity appearance for casting the role of Mr. Rochester…

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

While settling into quiet winter months at Thornfield, Jane is a little restless and longs to see more of the world. Enter the Master of Thornfield - a personage very different to all the people she has known before.  Mike and Charlene meet Mr. Rochester along with Jane, and we discuss what this might mean for Jane’s life.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane acclimates to her new surroundings, as she takes in the beauty and grandeur of Thornfield Hall.  She also meets Mrs. Fairfax, the housekeeper, and little Adele Varens, her new pupil.  Jane finally seems to have found her “safe haven” after so many chapters of hardship and mistreatment, and Charlene and Mike are ready to explore this new part of her life with her.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane has now been at Lowood for eight years and in the span of a day, Miss Temple leaves with her new husband and Jane decides she wants to leave Lowood too. She advertises and receives an offer of employment at a certain Thornfield Hall.  Join Charlene and Mike as they cheer Jane on in her decision to improve her circumstances and see more of the world.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Spring arrives at Lowood, and Jane is happier and more fulfilled than she has ever been.  But her contentment can not last too long, as an epidemic sweeps through the school, and Jane’s dear friend is very ill.  Charlene and Mike celebrate Helen Burns and her effect on Jane’s personal growth.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane is released from her undeserved punishment, and Helen gives her some good advice. Miss Temple also stops by and makes Jane feel better.  We finally get two positive role models in young Jane’s life, and their influence on her formative years impacts the rest of Jane’s development.  Join Charlene and Mike as we discuss teachers who impressed us as children, and the growth Jane shows in Chapter 8.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

The “Coming Man” - Mr. Brocklehurst - makes his appearance and we learn more about the villainous Reverend and his role at Lowood School.  Some comparisons between Brocklehurst and Darth Vadar ensue.  Join Mike and Charlene as they parse out this parson and discuss Chapter 7 of Jane Eyre.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

In Chapter 6 we hear more from Jane’s friend, Helen Burns, and it becomes clear that Helen subscribes to a different life philosophy than Jane.  Charlene and Mike discuss Helen and Jane’s different viewpoints and it becomes clear that one of us is Team Helen while the other is Team Jane.  Listen to the show to find out who is who!

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane describes her first day at Lowood school with so much detail that Charlene and Mike are reminded of their emotions when going to a new school.  Mike being a military brat means he experienced going to a new school many more times than Charlene (and Jane).  We are also introduced to the wonderful Miss Temple and an as yet unnamed young girl reading alone.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Life is changing for little Jane, as she is introduced to Mr. Brocklehurst and learns she will be going to Lowood Institution.  Charlene and Mike explore what makes Brocklehurst villainous at even this early stage, and discuss Jane’s reaction to finally (!!) calling Mrs. Reed out.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Jane meets Mr. Lloyd who helps make an instrumental change in her life, as he introduces the prospect of going to school.  Charlene and Mike discuss Jane’s sense of humor, her attitude towards the poor, and finding comfort in books and music. This is a short chapter but it sets up a major change to come for Jane.

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Superstition is with us at this moment, as Chapter 2 of Jane Eyre explores the Red Room and Charlene and Mike discuss the beginnings of Gothic elements in the novel.  We also talk about Jane’s potent feelings over injustice and the child’s outrage at unfairness.   The novel is beginning to pick up speed as we learn more about young Jane!

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Charlene and Mike tackle the very short but impactful first chapter of Jane Eyre - contemplating the introduction to our young heroine, and musing on the “ugly appearance” of John Reed. We also talk about the kinds of books 10 year old Jane is reading versus the books we read at her age.  (Spoiler - they are very different!)

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.

Audio clips are from the 1973 BBC production of Jane Eyre starring Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

Charlene and Mike make their introduction to the listeners and discuss their history with Jane Eyre, and the plan for this new podcast. Every week, a new episode will discuss one chapter of the novel, deep-diving into the themes, characters, and emotional impact. We’ll try not to spoil plot points that have not come up in the chapters we are discussing, but no guarantees! We are just having fun re-exploring this book together.  Join us on this “Eyre” Adventure as we celebrate one of the greatest novels ever written!

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Our theme song is “You Live In My Heart” by Zakhar Valaha.