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A review by missbryden
Shirley by Charlotte Brontë
5.0
This deserves to be better known, more popular. The story is a discussion of the perceptions and positions of women as much as about the industrial economical distress/riots, and background of war.
My interest was further peaked in reading an unknown-to-me (no movies to have already seen, or popularity to have given me impression of what it's about and what happens) good story, when new introductions of characters makes me unsure of what will happen.
A slow start - a lot of characters and situations introduced, of which I didn't understand the significance, or when they later recur, couldn't remember what "sides" they were on, or who was friends with who - but it got interesting in chapters 10 -12 with Caroline and Shirley. This greater scope was confusing but instead of being in the first person like [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557343311l/10210._SY75_.jpg|2977639], by having more characters', it allowed for more of their views and experiences to be expressed.
Caroline has great reflections and a change of view on “Old Maids” (chapter 10) when she gets to know a couple older spinsters, and Shirley’s character and exchange with Caroline, shows contrasting personalities, but both with similar views on the position and independence of women (or lack thereof), if expressed differently as suits their personalities.
Interesting to read the application of traditionally masculine traits to Shirley's position, starting with her name, given her by parents desiring a son, referring to her as Captain, and as both lady and lord of the Manor.
In Chapter 15 I felt the disgust at one of the clergyman's presumptuous behavior but then wanted to clap for Shirley’s reaction in throwing him out and her general openness and activeness.
Similarities to [b:North and South|156538|North and South|Elizabeth Gaskell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1699604581l/156538._SY75_.jpg|1016482] (which was written and published by Elizabeth Gaskell later and set in a later time): Helstone the rector vs Helstone the village, the mill owner a female and her tenant the mill manager, soldiers to support violence by the mill workers. More similarity to another Gaskell work, [b:Wives and Daughters|383206|Wives and Daughters|Elizabeth Gaskell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348267609l/383206._SY75_.jpg|816009], two girls like sisters, and possible confused interests in brothers.
Another discussion (Chapter 22 Two Lives) of the social state of women, expanded from that in [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557343311l/10210._SY75_.jpg|2977639], too many women for all of them to be able to marry, but allowed no work but sewing and maybe cooking (always excepting the lower class who work as maids, etc.). Kindly excusing those who are flirts, etc, (when condemned by their fathers, etc. for being such) because the only task available to them when single is the marriage mart. Mentioning the proverbs 31 woman as having far more occupations than the English ladies are allowed. The state of governess deplored by the older Mrs. Pryor who has been in it and attempts to persuade Caroline Helstone not to pursue it. (Chapter 21 Mrs. Pryor).
Shirley’s well-spoken objections to her uncle’s attempts to marry her off (Chapter 27). Delightful comedy between Shirley and her uncle discussing who he expects to be her suitors (chapter 31).
Serious gives-away-the-ending spoilers:
Love the ending, although more so for Robert and Caroline than for Louis and Shirley (while Louis and Shirley are both good characters, I'm uncomfortable with how Shirley wants a husband who can master her - though I understand her not wanting one who is helpless and hopeless even if not bad - which also felt similar to Bathsheba Everdene in [b:Far From the Madding Crowd|31463|Far From the Madding Crowd|Thomas Hardy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631259654l/31463._SY75_.jpg|914540]), and I appreciate how in both couples, man and woman had a history, they had known each other for some time, rather than having just meet within the year and wanting to be married immediately. I was annoyed with Robert when apparently he really was pursuing Shirley, but relieved that he didn't at all fancy himself in love with her, and that it was financial only, which he repented of to her and his friends.
My Pinterest board of book references
My interest was further peaked in reading an unknown-to-me (no movies to have already seen, or popularity to have given me impression of what it's about and what happens) good story, when new introductions of characters makes me unsure of what will happen.
A slow start - a lot of characters and situations introduced, of which I didn't understand the significance, or when they later recur, couldn't remember what "sides" they were on, or who was friends with who - but it got interesting in chapters 10 -12 with Caroline and Shirley. This greater scope was confusing but instead of being in the first person like [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557343311l/10210._SY75_.jpg|2977639], by having more characters', it allowed for more of their views and experiences to be expressed.
Caroline has great reflections and a change of view on “Old Maids” (chapter 10) when she gets to know a couple older spinsters, and Shirley’s character and exchange with Caroline, shows contrasting personalities, but both with similar views on the position and independence of women (or lack thereof), if expressed differently as suits their personalities.
Interesting to read the application of traditionally masculine traits to Shirley's position, starting with her name, given her by parents desiring a son, referring to her as Captain, and as both lady and lord of the Manor.
In Chapter 15 I felt the disgust at one of the clergyman's presumptuous behavior but then wanted to clap for Shirley’s reaction in throwing him out and her general openness and activeness.
Similarities to [b:North and South|156538|North and South|Elizabeth Gaskell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1699604581l/156538._SY75_.jpg|1016482] (which was written and published by Elizabeth Gaskell later and set in a later time): Helstone the rector vs Helstone the village, the mill owner a female and her tenant the mill manager, soldiers to support violence by the mill workers. More similarity to another Gaskell work, [b:Wives and Daughters|383206|Wives and Daughters|Elizabeth Gaskell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348267609l/383206._SY75_.jpg|816009], two girls like sisters, and possible confused interests in brothers.
Another discussion (Chapter 22 Two Lives) of the social state of women, expanded from that in [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557343311l/10210._SY75_.jpg|2977639], too many women for all of them to be able to marry, but allowed no work but sewing and maybe cooking (always excepting the lower class who work as maids, etc.). Kindly excusing those who are flirts, etc, (when condemned by their fathers, etc. for being such) because the only task available to them when single is the marriage mart. Mentioning the proverbs 31 woman as having far more occupations than the English ladies are allowed. The state of governess deplored by the older Mrs. Pryor who has been in it and attempts to persuade Caroline Helstone not to pursue it. (Chapter 21 Mrs. Pryor).
Shirley’s well-spoken objections to her uncle’s attempts to marry her off (Chapter 27). Delightful comedy between Shirley and her uncle discussing who he expects to be her suitors (chapter 31).
Serious gives-away-the-ending spoilers:
Spoiler
sweet exchanges between mother and daughter after relationship is revealed. And affection from the normally unattentive uncle for the same daughter/niece after this revelation when she is ill.Love the ending, although more so for Robert and Caroline than for Louis and Shirley (while Louis and Shirley are both good characters, I'm uncomfortable with how Shirley wants a husband who can master her - though I understand her not wanting one who is helpless and hopeless even if not bad - which also felt similar to Bathsheba Everdene in [b:Far From the Madding Crowd|31463|Far From the Madding Crowd|Thomas Hardy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631259654l/31463._SY75_.jpg|914540]), and I appreciate how in both couples, man and woman had a history, they had known each other for some time, rather than having just meet within the year and wanting to be married immediately. I was annoyed with Robert when apparently he really was pursuing Shirley, but relieved that he didn't at all fancy himself in love with her, and that it was financial only, which he repented of to her and his friends.
My Pinterest board of book references