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tiny_reader_bri 's review for:
Agnes Grey
by Anne Brontë
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found Agnes Grey to be such a well-written novel! On my fourth re-read, I noticed so many things I overlooked the first three times. This book is so slender and short in duration, but never fails to evoke passionate feelings from me. Anne Brontë created a masterpiece when she wrote Agnes Grey (and I have yet to read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which I hear is even better).
This book confronts the abuse and pressures that came along with being a governess in the 19th century. One can almost compare the way governesses were treated to the way educators are treated nowadays. Agnes is a relatively quiet protagonist who does her job to the best of her ability. She’s extremely kindhearted and wants to do right by the children she’s teaching. They certainly don’t make it easy, though.
Animal abuse is another topic that comes up in the book, and it was quite disturbing.I worried about Tom Bloomfield’s sanity and his parents’. The way his parents tried to justify his habit of brutalizing animals made me shudder. And Matilda Murray was no better.
Not all of the characters in the book are abusive or pretentious. One of the townspeople, Nancy, is such a dear.As someone growing in their faith, to read about Nancy’s experience becoming a Christian gives me so much hope. Also gave me another reason to appreciate Edward Weston and his goodness. Mr. Hatfield’s approach, on the other hand, is what drives people away from the church. Again, thank God for Mr. Weston.
Agnes is given a quiet love story that complements her personality that I really enjoyed.Edward and Agnes suit one another perfectly! The scene where he gathers primroses for her always brings a smile to my face. And at the end, where Snap comes up to her and she learns he was in Edward’s care all that time… so cute!
Overall, Agnes Grey is a wonderful work of literature. I hate that Anne Brontë was only able to write two books in her lifetime. I’m so curious as to what else she would’ve come up with. I’ll definitely have to read some of her poetry, though.
This book confronts the abuse and pressures that came along with being a governess in the 19th century. One can almost compare the way governesses were treated to the way educators are treated nowadays. Agnes is a relatively quiet protagonist who does her job to the best of her ability. She’s extremely kindhearted and wants to do right by the children she’s teaching. They certainly don’t make it easy, though.
Animal abuse is another topic that comes up in the book, and it was quite disturbing.
Not all of the characters in the book are abusive or pretentious. One of the townspeople, Nancy, is such a dear.
Agnes is given a quiet love story that complements her personality that I really enjoyed.
Overall, Agnes Grey is a wonderful work of literature. I hate that Anne Brontë was only able to write two books in her lifetime. I’m so curious as to what else she would’ve come up with. I’ll definitely have to read some of her poetry, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty