A Closer Look at the Novels of Anne Bronte

1. A Closer Look at the Novels of Anne Bronte

2. Anne Bronte only wrote two novels in her short life – both are well worth reading • Agnes Grey (published 1847) • The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (published 1848)

3. A couple of interesting videos… 2016 PBS bio-pic of the 3 sisters during the central years of their lives A 1996 BBC video of the novel

4. Haworth was and is in Britain’s industrial ‘Midlands’

5. Anne Bronte (1820 – 1849) • 1820 – Anne is born, the last of the Bronte children • 1826 –Branwell receives the legendary 12 toy soldiers • 1828 – Anne and Emily begin writing about the imaginary world of Gondol • 1836 – Anne begins writing poetry, fewer Gondol stories • 1839 – takes a governess position with the Ingham family, in Mirfield • 1840 – takes a governess position with Robinson family, in York • 1842 – William Weightman dies, Anne makes her first trip to Scarborough • 1845 – Anne write Passages in the Life of an Individual (Agnes Grey) • 1845 - Anne resigns from the Robinson’s employ and returns to Haworth • 1846 – The three sisters ‘Poems’ is published by Aylott and Jones • 1847 - Agnes Grey is published by Newby (with Wuthering Heights) • 1848 –The Tenant of Wildfell Hall ispublished by Newby • 1848 – Anne publishes occasional bits of poetry in regional periodicals • 1849 – Anne dies of tuberculosis and is buried in Scarborough

6. Anne’s other writings • 53 poems, written at two different times of her life: • About 50% written 1836-1838, before Blake Hall • About 50% written 1845 -1846 after Thorp Green • Gondol stories – Anne’s are lost • 4 diary papers (written between 1834 -1845) • Anne wrote two with Emily, and two alone • 5 letters –

7. Anne’s world when she was growing up • Women’s world consisted of: housework, church, walking, reading, and writing (but they could only publish under a male pseudonym) • For young Anne: Patrick, Aunt Branwell (her step mother) and Charlotte were all parental figures…Branwell was already on his own (self-destructive) life course, and Emily was a loner, fiercely independent • At first, Anne and Emily (the youngest members of the family) teamed together at the writing table to devise the Gondol world • But soon they diverged. Emily was content to live at home at Haworth, write secretive poetry and Gondol adventures, and walk the moors alone, while Anne wanted to make her own way in life, to move out of Haworth, to become a governess – and at age 18 she did. It was hard work, but she persisted.

8. On 6 June 1826 English literature changed forever • Patrick gave his son Branwell a gift of 12 toy soldiers, All four of the children Branwell, Charlotte, Emily and Anne soon began writing stories about adventures in the imaginary lands featuring the soldiers • Branwell and Charlotte created an imaginary land called Glasstown, while Emily and Anne created their own island continent called Gondol • Emily continued to dream and write about Gondol her whole life. • But Anne left Gondol behind to focus on more individualistic poems and later, prose. I believe Anne was less enamored of these imaginary lands since she had only been 6 years old when the game started.

9. Anne’s early poetry was good but not great “We met on Graecia’s classic plains, we part in Araby, and let us hope to meet again beneath our Gondol’s skies…” “…At evening wander to that spring and sit and wait for me, and ere the sun has ceased to shine I will return to thee” - written when Anne was 17

10. Emily’s poetry was superb right from the start… No coward soul is mine,No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere:I see Heaven's glories shine,And faith shines equal, arming me from fear. God within my breast,Almighty, ever-present Deity!Life--that in me has rest,As I--undying Life--have power in thee!... ...Though earth and man were gone,And suns and universes ceased to be,And Thou were left alone,Every existence would exist in Thee. There is not room for Death,Nor atom that his might could render void:Thou--THOU art Being and Breath,And what THOU art may never be destroyed.

11. Charlotte decided they would submit their poems for publication • After several rejections, Charlotte was able to get Aylott and Jones to publish “Poems” by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell in May 1846 • The volume contained 19 poems by Charlotte, 21 poems each by Emily and Anne • Emily’s poems were acknowledged by both Charlotte and Anne to be the best and (they hoped) would make the book commercially successful • The sisters paid 31 pounds 10 shillings to have 1000 (!) copies printed and offered for sale • Neither Branwell or Patrick were told of this publishing venture

12. Anne’s 21 published poems • Had three general themes: • Gondol poems with Gondal names removed • Love poems (scholars now believe Anne had William Weightman in mind for these poems) Yes! Thou art gone! And nevermore thy sunny smile shall gladden me…from “A Reminiscence” the first poem Anne selected for the book of poems • and poems about her growing sprituality

13. The book did not sell well…at first • Despite sending copies of the book to reviewers like Thomas DeQuincey, only 2 copies were sold • HOWEVER: in 1848 Smith, Elder and Co, Charlotte’s publisher, purchased the remaining 961 copies from Aylott • And eventually managed to sell ALL remaining copies, based on the success of Jane Eyre by ‘Currer Bell’

14. Charlotte wants to start a school, but does not invite Anne to travel with her to Belgium… • Charlotte borrows 150 pounds from Aunt Branwell, so that she and Emily can travel to a school in Belgium to study French and German • Charlotte intends to open her own school in Haworth when they return. • Charlotte does not invite Anne to go to Brussels, so Anne returns to her governess job at Thorp Green, and seeks solace in her novel-in-progress, her poetry, and her painting • In October 1842 Aunt Branwell dies, leaving each girl 300 pounds inheritance. Charlotte returns to Haworth and advertises for students, but none apply, so she gives up the idea of a school

15. Meanwhile, at Thorp Green, in addition to writing, Anne paints… This painting, done in 1840 is titled “What you Please” It is a self portrait. Could it have been intended as a gift for Mr. Weightman?

16. Anne arranged for her brother Branwell to become a tutor at Thorp Green • Anne’s relations with the Robinson family and their children has improved, but soon after Branwell arrives, he begins an affair with Mrs. Robinson. Anne is appalled. • But she saves her impressions of the Branwell situation for her second novel, and instead works steadily to complete her first novel at first called Passages in the Life of an Individual and later titled Agnes Grey. • That book draws on Anne’s experiences with the Inghams, with the Robinsons, and her own dreams of a happy ending with William Weightman (who is Edmund Weston in the novel)

17. Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte Anne’s July 1845 diary paper says “I have begun the third volume of passages in the life of an Individual. I wish I had finished it.” Anne has difficulty writing the end of Agnes Grey because she has become infatuated with the assistant Curate at Haworth, Mr. William Weightman, whom she had met on her returns to Haworth on vacation from Thorp Green.

18. Unfortunately tragedy strikes while Anne is away at Thorp Green…Weightman dies William Weightmandies on 6 September 1842, age 28, of cholera, at Haworth Anne was 22 years old, working at Thorp Green at the time of his death She was thinking of how happy she could have been with Weightman as she wrote the happy ending to her novel Agnes Grey

19. Anne leaves Thorp Green and returns to Haworth • Distraught by Weightman’s death and increasingly disgusted with her brother Branwell’s affair with Mrs. Robinson, Anne resigns as governess and returns to Haworth. • She completes the Agnes Grey manuscript, giving it a happy ending: Mr. Weston and Agnes marry and live happily ever after.

20. Now Charlotte decides the sisters will publish a three volume novel • Each of the sisters has a completed manuscript: • Charlotte’s The Professor –from her Brussels experiences • Emily’s Wuthering Heights – from her imagination • Anne’s Agnes Grey – from her governess experiences • After numerous rejections, the publisher Newby agrees to publish Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey as a ‘three volume novel’ if the sisters pay 50 pounds. Charlotte’s novel is rejected. • The sisters agree to pay. Charlotte, undeterred, starts writing Jane Eyre

21. Agnes Grey is published in 1847 The book is a short, linear, narrative (25 chapters, 60,000 words.) It receives very little attention - for two reasons: First - Agnes Grey was ‘hidden’ as the 3rd volume of a three volume novel with the first two volumes being Emily’s far more dramatic Wuthering Heights. Second - before Emily and Anne’s book is published in December 1847, Charlotte’s new manuscript, ‘Jane Eyre’ is rushed into print by publisher Smith, Elder and released in October 1847. it becomes an instant best-seller, overshadowing Emily and Anne’s book.

22. But Agnes Grey’s reputation has steadily improved since publication Anne’s writing style is clear and direct with occasional flourishes such as this one in which the author directly addresses the reader (Mr. Weston has just given Agnes a gift of some wild bluebells. Agnes is thrilled since she is secretly infatuated with Mr. Weston.) Well! What is there remarkable in all this? Why have I recorded it? Because, reader, it was important enough to give me a cheerful evening, a night of pleasing dreams, and a morning of felicitous hopes.

23. Anne Bronte shows Agnes Grey’s ( and her own) initial optimism for being a governess… “I should like to be a governess.” My mother uttered an exclamation of surprise, and laughed. My sister dropped her work in astonishment… How delightful it would be to be a governess! To go out into the world; to enter upon a new life; to act for myself; to exercise my unused powers…

24. There are passages of elegant language… … our wishes are like tinder; the flint and steel of circumstance are continually striking out sparks, which vanish immediately unless they chance to fall upon the tinder of our wishes…and the flame of hope is kindled in a moment.

25. …and great characterization and mood… “The first of June arrived at last; and Rosalie Murray was transmuted into Lady Ashby.” “After listening to Mr. Weston’s sermon, I walked home with Miss Matilda, but he did not join us.”(this is in italics to show Agnes’ inner dismay that Mr. Weston did not join them walking home) Later Agnes runs across Mr. Weston This was what I had long desired…but…(the reader can easily imagine Agnes’ feelings of both awkwardness and attraction in the presence of Mr. Weston.) While Agnes and Mr. Weston are talking, Matilda (one of Agnes’s pupils) takes great pleasure in killing a rabbit.(Matilda, one of Agnes’ pupils is stupid, cruel, and headstrong)

26. ..Agnes Grey has an active story arc with moments of high drama… Agnes’ hopes are “kindled in a moment” (by Mr. Weston’s spontaneous gift of bluebells.) But then, the next morning Agnes receives a letter from her mother indicating her father is very ill. Agnes hurries home to find... “Agnes,” said my mother, struggling to repress some strong emotion. “How is he?” I asked “Dead!”

27. The ending of Agnes Grey is a bit abrupt • the last chapter is only five and half pages long, covering Mr. Weston’s profession of love, his proposal of marriage, Agnes’ acceptance, and a forward look at their life together • The very last line of the novel is rightly famous…”And now I think I have said sufficient.”

28. References “In Search of Anne Bronte”, a 2016 book by Nick Holland, is current, nicely written and well informed. There are numerous books and journal articles about all the Bronte’s and there is the The Bronte Society at: www.bronte.org.uk

29. Anne was a quietly, deeply spiritual person • Her views evolved from the rather Calvinistic views her father espoused in his role as Curate in the Church of England to: • Universal salvation. Salvation was obtainable by everyone, even the worst sinners • Believers should tell others this truth • Patience, firmness, and perseverance, are everyone’s ‘staunchest allies’ • Anne was patient, firm, and persevering. Her two private refuges were prayer and writing.

30. And Anne, as a governess, was a keen observer of human faults… • “Sick of mankind and their disgusting ways.” –handwritten note in Anne Bronte’s prayer book (speaking of unmanageable kids and worthless parents) • “I HATE him! The word stares me in the face like a guilty confession, but it is true: I hate him – I hate him!” - Helen, speaking of her husband in Tennant of Wildfell Hall

31. The sisters influenced each others writing Both books feature a governess as heroine, though Jane Eyre’s one pupil is an angel, while Agnes’ three pupils are little monsters. Charlotte drew on Anne’s experiences to capture the reality of being a governess, then sugar-coated it for plot reasons.

32. Emily, with little real experience of the world, characterized the gentry, as not admirable, but still an enduring and positive feature of English culture Anne saw the dissolute gentry as relics of the past needing to be swept away

33. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall – Anne’s second, and final, novel

34. The structure of the novel • Published in 1848, 3 volumes, 53 chapters, 489 pages, about 180,000 words • it is an interesting mix of first and third person, and present and past tense. • Ch 1-15 Markham letters and direct narration – illustrating Gilbert, the townspeople, and Helen • Ch 16 -44 Helen’s diary, the backstory of her disastrous marriage to Arthur Huntington • Ch 44-53 letters by Markham and direct narration bringing all the story lines to conclusion • It sold well, went into a second edition in the first year of publication, and became the fastest selling of all Bronte novels

35. The central question: was it a wife’s duty to reform her profligate husband’s ways after their marriage? Richardson said YES! Anne said NO!

36. In Tenant, Anne said no… • Richardson’s popular books candy-coated the effects of dissolute husbands • And promoted the fiction that a rake could be reformed by a sweet young girl • This fiction caused great social damage because • In reality, self-destructive patterns of behavior, once established, are exceedingly difficult to change • AND, extremely difficult to change if they are acceptable by society, as they were in Victoria’s England - for men only, not for women

37. In Tenant, Anne said no to this double standard… • By illustrating the fact that women had no legal rights in Victorian Society, and therefore no leverage to reform a dissolute husband • Slowly, British law evolved to become more just: • 1857 Divorce Causes Act • 1887 Infants Custody Act • 1891 Property Act

38. In Tenant, Anne’s heroine acted, she did not just suffer injustice silently • Helen • Leaves her husband • Takes her son with her • Changes her name (to her mother’s maiden name, Graham) • Lives by her own earnings (selling her paintings) • This depiction was scandalous to many readers • Charlotte did not like Anne’s depiction of Arthur Huntingdon’s dissolute life

39. Chapter 20 “Persistence” • Anne’s spiritual beliefs included universal salvation, Tenant said this: in chapter 20 • Helen and Aunt Maxwell arguing the point: Auntie: “…he (arthur Huntingdon, Helen’s husband) will be cast into the lake that burneth with unquenchable fire…” “Not forever,” I exclaimed. “Only until he has paid…” • Anne was persistent. And so were her heroine’s, sometimes to their own detriment Helen is persistent in wanting to marry Arthur Huntingdon…and later regrets it.

40. Anne was deeply embarrassed by her brother’s shenanigans at Thorp Green Anne had recommend her brother Branwell to be a tutor to the Robinson children. But after he arrived he began an affair with Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his employer. Anne felt so guilty and ashamed of Branwell’s affair that she resigned her job as governess and returned to Haworth. Soon afterward, Branwell was found out by Mr. Robinson and fired. Back in Haworth, Branwell continued his self-destruction by drink and drugs – which Anne depicted in the personality of Arthur Huntingdon and his friends in her book The Tennant of Wildfell Hall

41. Anne and Charlotte, had to deal with publisher shenanigans too Anne’s publisher, Newby, sold Anne’s second book Tennant of Wildfell Hall to an American publisher claiming it was written by Currer Bell, author of best-seller Jane Eyre. Charlotte’s publisherwas infuriated by what he thought was Charlotte’s trickery. Anne and Charlotte travelled to London and sorted the problem out by revealing their identities.

42. In Tenant, Anne gave Helen Graham a rather mysterious background • In Chapter 20, Helen, seeking permission from her guardian, uncle Maxwell, to marry Huntingdon says this about her father: • “I have never seen him since dear mamma died when I was a very little girl…I don’t think he cares enough about me.”

43. Tenant paints a vivid picture of Infantile, self-centered men… • In chapter 22 “Traits of Friendship” Anne depicts how ‘friends’ influence each other to over-indulge (thinking of Branwell and his friends) • Arthur Huntingdon’s open affair with Annbella Wilmot and its destructive effect on Helen reflects Anne’s recollection of Branwell and Mrs. Robinson at Thorp Green.

44. In Tenant, Arthur Huntingdon and Lord Lowborough clash • Huntingdon has had an affair with Annabella, Huntingdon’s wife, Lowborough is enraged and threatens Huntingdon, who replies, laughing: • “I call that an unchristian spirit now,” said the villain (Huntingdon.) “But I’d never give up an old friend for the sake of a wife. You may have mine if you like..”

45. Helen’s marriage to dissolute Arthur Huntingdon goes quickly downhill • By her 3rd anniversary Helen says: “…two persons living together… with the mutual understanding that there is no love, friendship, or sympathy between them.” • By her 5th anniversary Helen says “...this is the last day I shall spend under this roof. My resolution is formed.” • And so Helen runs away to WildfellHall with her son: “Thank Heaven, I am free and safe at last!”

46. Huntingdon’s death portrays the ‘infantile man’ • In Chapter 49, Huntingdon is dying, Helen returns to help him, but Huntingdon remains manipulative, selfish, childish, and fearful as death approaches • “I can’t repent, I only fear.” • Contrast Huntingdon’s death, without dignity, with Marlow’s Dr. Faustus’ death which depicts great tragedy and a dark dignity

47. The ending of Tenant of Wildfell Hall is a bit rushed, a bit melodramatic, and a bit coincidental, but entertaining • Gilbert, hurrying to find Helen, sees a wedding in progress and think he’s too late, she is marrying someone else!! But it is Helen’s brother who is marrying. • Gilbert goes to where Helen lives, but has a change of heart, and leaves without trying to see Helen “Adieu then, dear Helen, for ever! – Forever adieu!” • Helen conveniently inherits a house and fortune just 13 pages from the end of the book which makes it possible for Gilbert and Helen to marry.

48. Tenant of Wildfell Hall ends happily: Helen and Gilbert marry • “…I need not tell you how happily my Helen and I have lived and loved together, and how blessed we are in each others company, and in the promising young scions growing up about us….”

49. But Anne’s life did not … In May 1849 Anne Bronte died of tuberculosis. She is buried in Scarborough, within view of the North Sea which she had grown to love. She was 29 years old.