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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Rereading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall confirms what I decided long ago: Anne Brontë is the best Brontë, because she's the most progressive Brontë.
Jane Eyre claims she wants to be seen as equal while at the same time shuffling out of the room and quietly apologising for her existence, whereas Helen Graham stands up for her principles, draws lines about what she will accept and sticks to them, she makes her own living and she takes the hardest path in life because she refuses to be forced to live in a way she finds appalling.
Like I said, the best Brontë.
Jane Eyre claims she wants to be seen as equal while at the same time shuffling out of the room and quietly apologising for her existence, whereas Helen Graham stands up for her principles, draws lines about what she will accept and sticks to them, she makes her own living and she takes the hardest path in life because she refuses to be forced to live in a way she finds appalling.
Like I said, the best Brontë.
slow-paced
This book is quite an underrated Bronte novel, in my opinion. It’s not the romantic adventure of Jane Eyre, nor is it quite in the same vein as Wuthering Heights, but it is a look into the sad, hopeless life of a woman trapped in an unhappy marriage. If you’re looking for a novel that attacks the ideal of the Byronic hero or love Victorian literature with a feminist tint to it, I would highly recommend this novel.
Things I Liked
1. Feminism: There are quite a few moments when Helen has these bursts of insight into the flawed patriarchal structure of Victorian society. She comments on the rearing of children and how boys are taught differently than girls, which is, in her opinion, ludicrous. There are also moments when she laments the lack of freedom and power a woman has in marriage, and she urges other female characters to not give in to the pressures of their traditional parents (who would see them married off quickly). Though the heart of this novel isn’t a feminist testimony or complete breakdown of romantic Victorian ideals, it is an insightful look at the beloved, “moody” heroes of literature in a more realistic light and the detriment they are to the women who love them.
2. Helen: In addition to being a strong feminist figure, Helen is also an admirable character in her own right. She is unwavering in her morals - even when trapped in a loveless marriage, she resists the temptation to engage with other men, instead finding strength in her religion. While the more romantic readers may find this frustrating, I found it to be quite impressive. It would be easy for Helen to give in to the same vices as her husband, but she doesn’t, and she doesn’t even hold her unwavering morals over his head. She seems to be kind purely for the sake of kindness and God, and she’s so willing to forgive even the most horrific abuses.
3. Frame Story: I liked that the whole novel wasn’t only from the perspective of Helen via her diary. I get a bit weary of the diary/epistolary format, so couching this story in a larger narrative was a good way for me to keep my brain active. I had to remember that I wasn’t just reading a linear progression of events, but a document that explained past events which shed light on present ones. The frame story also set up an air of mystery at the beginning of the book so that by the time the diary came into play, I was eager to know Helen’s backstory.
4. Portrayal of Alcoholism: Bronte’s story is perhaps well-known for its rather frank portrayal of alcoholism. I must say, I did appreciate her approach. It’s never so over-the-top that it wasn’t “believable” (as much as I hate that word), and it’s not so in-your-face that it’s the only thing a reader can think about. Instead, it’s presented as the main vice among many, but readers definitely know it’s the vice from which the others spring. It’s a very honest portrayal, and one that resonates even with our modern culture.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Ending/Gilbert: Honestly, the ending left me a little disappointed, and I ended up not liking Gilbert or rooting for him. We have a whole novel that builds up this idea that jumping into a marriage without careful reasoning is dangerous, and the idea that a controlling, passionate man is a good candidate for a husband. While Gilbert is no rake, he does share some characteristics with the men Helen abhors over the course of the book, which made the ending a bit disappointing for me.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in Victorian literature and aesthetics, tales of unhappy marriages, commentary on women in patriarchal societies, and
tales dealing with alcoholism and abuse. You might also like this book if you liked other Bronte novels (by either Charlotte or Anne).
Things I Liked
1. Feminism: There are quite a few moments when Helen has these bursts of insight into the flawed patriarchal structure of Victorian society. She comments on the rearing of children and how boys are taught differently than girls, which is, in her opinion, ludicrous. There are also moments when she laments the lack of freedom and power a woman has in marriage, and she urges other female characters to not give in to the pressures of their traditional parents (who would see them married off quickly). Though the heart of this novel isn’t a feminist testimony or complete breakdown of romantic Victorian ideals, it is an insightful look at the beloved, “moody” heroes of literature in a more realistic light and the detriment they are to the women who love them.
2. Helen: In addition to being a strong feminist figure, Helen is also an admirable character in her own right. She is unwavering in her morals - even when trapped in a loveless marriage, she resists the temptation to engage with other men, instead finding strength in her religion. While the more romantic readers may find this frustrating, I found it to be quite impressive. It would be easy for Helen to give in to the same vices as her husband, but she doesn’t, and she doesn’t even hold her unwavering morals over his head. She seems to be kind purely for the sake of kindness and God, and she’s so willing to forgive even the most horrific abuses.
3. Frame Story: I liked that the whole novel wasn’t only from the perspective of Helen via her diary. I get a bit weary of the diary/epistolary format, so couching this story in a larger narrative was a good way for me to keep my brain active. I had to remember that I wasn’t just reading a linear progression of events, but a document that explained past events which shed light on present ones. The frame story also set up an air of mystery at the beginning of the book so that by the time the diary came into play, I was eager to know Helen’s backstory.
4. Portrayal of Alcoholism: Bronte’s story is perhaps well-known for its rather frank portrayal of alcoholism. I must say, I did appreciate her approach. It’s never so over-the-top that it wasn’t “believable” (as much as I hate that word), and it’s not so in-your-face that it’s the only thing a reader can think about. Instead, it’s presented as the main vice among many, but readers definitely know it’s the vice from which the others spring. It’s a very honest portrayal, and one that resonates even with our modern culture.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Ending/Gilbert: Honestly, the ending left me a little disappointed, and I ended up not liking Gilbert or rooting for him. We have a whole novel that builds up this idea that jumping into a marriage without careful reasoning is dangerous, and the idea that a controlling, passionate man is a good candidate for a husband. While Gilbert is no rake, he does share some characteristics with the men Helen abhors over the course of the book, which made the ending a bit disappointing for me.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in Victorian literature and aesthetics, tales of unhappy marriages, commentary on women in patriarchal societies, and
tales dealing with alcoholism and abuse. You might also like this book if you liked other Bronte novels (by either Charlotte or Anne).
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Piercing themes ahead of its time and gets at the crux of the male-female double standards that have long existed and continue to, but other elements of the book (character development, getting at the honest heart of thoughts / intentions / reflections, prose) were lacking for my taste
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
https://dunnooowrite.wordpress.com/2017/09/01/the-tenant-of-wildfell-hall/
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Lovely story of love, duty, forgiveness, and happiness.
Good one time read.
Good story. But a bit boring narrative.. the arguments and characterization of Mr.Huntingdon is very much real. That needs to be applauded.
Good story. But a bit boring narrative.. the arguments and characterization of Mr.Huntingdon is very much real. That needs to be applauded.