A gushing post about The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Anne Brontë and what sets her apart from her sisters
It’s no wonder this Anne Brontë novel is considered one of the first feminist novels ever written; the story is about a woman who leaves her abusive aristocratic husband and supports herself and her son, promoting single motherhood, violating the social conventions of 19th century England. When it was against the law. When a woman and her child were considered a man’s property 🙄
In the early 1800s, Anne Brontë wrote a novel addressing taboo topics of alcoholism, adultery, and spousal abuse. A severe commentary on the imbalance of power between men and women, the book addresses issues that were not openly discussed in England then, let alone by a woman. So naturally the reviewers thought the book was “perverted,” containing “disgusting scenes of debauchery,” and “in direct opposition to the teachings of the Anglican church.”
So for us, this book was a revelation. We tend to romanticise the Victorian era, those extravagant balls, courtships, and impeccable manners. But Anne Brontë laid bare the pitfalls of a deeply misogynistic society, one that resonates even today.
The Brontë sisters all published under male pseudonyms and some of their early reviewers called them “coarse,” “depraved,” and “wild,” as they were writing about, what was then considered, offensive subjects, challenging the prevailing norms of English society. But Anne was writing from experience, having witnessed her younger brother who died after years of alcohol and opium abuse. Her keen observations, bold & honest depictions, and revolutionary ideas are some of the few reasons this book is amazing! She writes,
When we have to do with vice and vicious characters, I maintain it is better to depict them as they really are than as they would wish to appear. To represent a bad thing in its least oppressive light, is doubtless the most agreeable course for a writer of fiction to pursue; but is it the most honest or safest? Is it better to reveal the snares and pitfalls of life to the young and thoughtless traveller, or to cover them with branches and flowers?
Our favorite quotes from Helen Graham
Anne Brontë🙇🏽♀️
Helen Graham is such an excellent heroine; sharp intellect, keen observation, bold and courageous!💪🏽✨We particularly love these two quotes from her because:
1️⃣ She addresses the subject we discuss even today, one that continues to be relevant: the responsibility of raising boys👦🏻
2️⃣ She openly criticizes marriage, promoting being single over getting into an unhappy marriage👏🏽
Rounding off this post with a little appreciation for Anne Brontë appreciation and why we love for the lesser known and celebrated Brontë sisters🙇🏽♀️✨
What sets Anne apart?
Anne Brontë chose realism while her sisters' style practiced romanticism which overshadowed her work. We never understood the fevered craze for Wuthering Heights🤷🏽♀️Give us Gilbert and Helen anyday to Heathcliff and Catherine💖It's a shame that Anne's work is not as popular as those of her sisters.
The topics she wrote about were not palatable to English society then🎩She wrote about domestic abuse, promoted women's rights and single motherhood, and criticised marriage *GASP*
A proto feminist author who paved the way for better representation of women. Claimed professional identity for women, raged against the patriarchy, questioned the expected domesticity of women, and so much more! How can we not love her🙏🏽
And she said cool things like,
I am satisfied that if a book is a good one, it is so whatever the sex of the author may be. All novels are or should be written for both men and women to read, and I am at a loss to conceive how a man should permit himself to write something that would be really disgraceful to a woman, or why a woman should be censured for writing anything that would be proper and becoming for a man.
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