Thoughts on Podcasts

I chose to listen to the podcast called "Jane Eyre" which was 43 minutes of listening to a few people talk in wonderful British accents (PRO! Who doesn't like listening to British people?!). Those people were Dinah Birch, a Professor of English Literature and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of Liverpool, Karen O'Brien, the Vice Principal and Professor of English Literature at King's College London, and Sara Lyons, a Lecturer in Victorian Literature at the University of Kent, all very qualified people to talk about literature (PRO). However, staring into space while listening to people who are much, much smarter than you talk about a book you were impartial to was a definite CON for me (Hey, I'm just being honest here).

Anyway, here is a quick summary of what was discussed and/or touched on (the moderator guy would interrupt the two women if he thought they were venturing too far off track) in the podcast, and which topics caught my attention:

• Rochester likes to use fancy words
• Jane's plainness was CRUCIAL to the novel (much like the author)
• 10 year old Jane chewing out her aunt
• Jane is extremely self aware and is very afraid of being overtaken by emotions and passions.
• The novel has a sort of eroticism, but nowhere near the level seen in 50 Shades of Grey
• Masculine power and feminine vulnerability is demonstrated throughout the novel.
• How important it was that Jane was able to gain her financial independence eventually.