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A review by berlinbibliophile
Shirley by Charlotte Brontë
3.0
All in all, I enjoyed this book. It is an interesting time to read about, and especially the beginning of the book is full of interesting bits about the Methodists and other reform churches, as well as tantalising glimpses of levellers and labour riots in the North of England.
What I found least interesting, sadly, were the principal relationships. I liked Caroline and Shirley's friendship a lot, and I really appreciated Charlotte Brontë's depiction of an entirely independent female character, one who takes care of her own business and is able to do what she likes and only what she likes. What I take issue with are the last ~80 pages of the book, in which the romantic relationships come to a head and Shirley must suddenly be "tamed". In the scene in which Louis Moore, her future husband, forces her to reveals her feelings to him, he says that "I scared her; that I could see: it was right; she must be scared to be won." (p. 512) Shirley can only marry, apparently, when she recognises someone who can curb and control her independent spirit and behaviour, which I had thought was the best part of her character. She is compared to a wild animal, without the human capacity to control herself, and she accepts this judgement of herself: "I am glad I know my keeper, and am used to him. Only his voice will I follow; only his hand shall manage me; only at his feet will I repose." (p. 514) I was disappointed that this book, up until this point full of female characters who organise their own lives and live according to their own ideals and standards, ends with Shirley made to give up management of her property and her own self.
What I found least interesting, sadly, were the principal relationships. I liked Caroline and Shirley's friendship a lot, and I really appreciated Charlotte Brontë's depiction of an entirely independent female character, one who takes care of her own business and is able to do what she likes and only what she likes. What I take issue with are the last ~80 pages of the book, in which the romantic relationships come to a head and Shirley must suddenly be "tamed". In the scene in which Louis Moore, her future husband, forces her to reveals her feelings to him, he says that "I scared her; that I could see: it was right; she must be scared to be won." (p. 512) Shirley can only marry, apparently, when she recognises someone who can curb and control her independent spirit and behaviour, which I had thought was the best part of her character. She is compared to a wild animal, without the human capacity to control herself, and she accepts this judgement of herself: "I am glad I know my keeper, and am used to him. Only his voice will I follow; only his hand shall manage me; only at his feet will I repose." (p. 514) I was disappointed that this book, up until this point full of female characters who organise their own lives and live according to their own ideals and standards, ends with Shirley made to give up management of her property and her own self.