Victorians! discussion
Archived Group Reads 2012
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Observationss of WH (chapter 1 ~ 4), V(chapters 1 ~ 9), TToWH (chapters 1~ 10)
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Marialyce
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Jan 09, 2012 10:36AM
For whatever you thought of, observed, found different or similar in these books.
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The women of the three books are carrying around a lot of baggage. From Catherine,(WH) the ghost like image presented is one of blood and being locked out of her home and ultimately the life she always wanted to lead. Mrs. Graham,(TTof WH) is toting around a secret that does not allow her to have freedom and makes her fearful and frightened to accept the affections of a man. Lucy, (V) also seems to be holding back or unable to feel. She is a wooden character who lacks an emotional component and remains distant. All three women are flawed in such a way that their lives are totally impacted and they act and react because of circumstance. All three seem to have lacked a truly loving relationship and in some way or form have tried to escape from a past that was disheartening and possibly cruel. These three are not happy women.
Not happy women looking for roots, links with humans and places ...
LauraT wrote: "Not happy women looking for roots, links with humans and places ..."Laura, do you think the women who seem happy or content in these novels (well there are really not any in WH) seem frivolous? Did the sisters only write of tragic women, perhaps because they themselves were tragic women?
They are not happy women, but with the possible exception of Cathy, they are very strong women who meet adversity head on. A happy Victorian woman is satisfied with the status quo, usually in the home serving her family. These unhappy women are forced by circumstances to make their way in the world. I think Jane Eyre also belongs to the group.Cathy Earnshaw is another story. She doesn't quite fit in anywhere, is dissatified with her lot, but doesn't strive for anything outside the home.
I think that victorian period was not an easy one for women with a character. Definitly not an easy one for the Brontee sisters. Cathy is a figure not happy wherever she is; not daring enough to follow her heart, not satisfied enough whith her "social" choice. Jane Eyre was much more determined in her choices and values, not leaving the heart behind. I find her to be one of the best victorian femal chatacter, with Becky Sharp, an opposite figure!!!
I agree, Laura. It certainly was not a time I would have liked living in.Do you think the novels are romantic? Do you see one sister being more realistic? I know their novels have often been called gothic tales. Do we find that a thread so far in these books?
I'm not sure there is anything in Anne's writing that I would call Gothic. I do believe there are Gothic elements in Wuthering Heights, Villette, and Jane Eyre. I would call them all romantic, though.
So far I'm finding Charlotte's writing lacking the violence of the other two books. Things could change, I suppose.I can see the Gothic elements in Jane Eyre, not identifying any in Villette so far.
I saw a bit of the Gothic in Vilette and of course Wuthering Heights is a gothic tale from cover to cover IMHO. Some have suggested the girls' writing was very morbid. Are you seeing that?
The Brontes' writing is certainly heavy in tone as opposed to light and happy, but I don't think I would consider it particularly morbid. Perhaps some incidents here and there. I think that to a large part, the tone they adopted in their novels was influenced by the bleak landscape in which they lived, especially Emily.Bea, I am thinking of one thing in particular in Villette, which you probably haven't gotten to as yet, but I am sure you will recognize it when you see it! It is one of the few things that somewhat redeems the novel for me and gives it some interest.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall caused controversy when it was published.Cathy has relatives she would be influenced by, and despite there being a female on the throne Victorian England was ran by the men. If a woman married she had no separate legal existence , couldn't own property, sue for divorce, apply for custody of her children. Cathy isn't as free as Jane Eyre, who has no family to upset, she's an orphan. Though have to admit Helen Graham in the Tenant of Wildfell is a stronger female character, she comes from a higher social class, has family with strong views but makes decisions which would shock Victorian society.
I've always heard that Arthur Huntingdon in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was based on Branwell, the sister's alcoholic brother. If that's true, then Anne's writing is probably very realistic. Maybe the other sister's wrote character's resembling their family/friends too.
I read the same thing too, Rachel. I am sure that they used family situations in their novels. It would seem that they were not as sheltered as we might think they were.
