The Brontes
Posted by MB on October 02, 1997 at 10:33:02:
In response to I find them loathsome, written by Cassia on September 24, 1997 at 17:47:44
] ] ] thanks for a much needed chuckle(i'm reading the first part of jane eyre).
] ] ] Ooooooooo! Quick, Greg...pick up a copy of Emma or soak your head in a vat of any of the three adaptations. Jane Eyre is like a long visit at the dentist's.
] ] That's a very good way to describe the writing of all of the Bronte sisters' stories. Their stories are fine, just depressing. Perhaps I haven't read enough of their works, but does any of the heros or heroines have a happy childhood? I've been trying to read JE to participate in the discussion, but it is slow going. I just read Wuthering Heights last month and I think I'm in Bronte overload. :-P
] ] In the meantime, I'm still waiting for it to rain, so I can watch S&S2 and try going to the post office again. ;-)
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] Charlotte Bronte wrote that she felt that JA characters led constrained airless lives because JA never showed a woman out in the world. I think that despite the fact that all the Brontes show more of the "bonny beck" ect. their novels are much more straightjacketed despite their breadth. Why? none of them seem able to picture anyone happy. Can you remember any of Charlotte, Emily or even Anne's charaters laughing with mirth? If they are running in the lanes aren't they usually trying to escape from something foul? I realise that they all lived difficult lives. but can't they lighten up a bit?
I have to agree. After Wuthering Heights, I never read another Emily Bronte novel (bleh, phooey!). But, despite the fact that she was a JA critic, I do like Charlotte. I think that Jane Eyre does have some moments of "lightness", and I've always thought of Jane as sort of a Fanny-Price-with-backbone. She's quiet, but she speaks up a lot more often than Fanny, and has more passion. I also enjoyed Vilette very much. I'm trying to read Shirley right now, and it's work. Maybe I'll get more involved as the story progresses (lots of exposition right now)! Tenant of Wildfell Hall is next; haven't read anything by Anne yet. Are they making a movie of this soon? I heard a rumor...
Sorry for the long post!
MB :-)
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