Chapters 51-53: Happily Ever After

Gilbert's Panic

I don't know about you, but however many times I read this book I still start panicking when it looks like Gilbert is going to have to burst into the church and stop Helen marrying Hargrave. My heat beats fast as I read about his lightning journey to Grassdale in order to rescue Helen (or himself) from a life apart from each other. And the moment when he watches the bride and groom come from the church, and finally realises that the bride is NOT Helen, and then that the groom is NOT Hargrave - the relief is palpable, and the reader's excitement almost as great as Arthur's himself. It is not an original or unique scenario (indeed, we see similar set-ups on TV all the time - be it in drama or soap opera) - but Bronte relates it perfectly.

Will They? Won't They?

Just as exciting is the final reconciliation of Gilbert and Helen. The "will they/won't they" tension has been going on for SO long that it is almost unbearable when Gilbert's pride takes over at Staningley and he almost ruins everything. When he rejects the rose, and even starts to leave altogether, I almost want to shout at the book, "Don't be so STUPID, Gilbert! She LOVES you! Can't you see?!!!" However, like all the best romances, he finally realises that she loves him too, and at that moment, as he is "printing a kiss upon her lips, and another, and another", his 'daring and impetuousness' infect the reader as well.

Happily Ever After

For a book so FULL of heartache, misery and misfortune, the ending could not be HAPPIER. Bronte even goes so far as to demonstrate that the new, younger generation is proving happier and more successful as the older one - as young Arthur marries Hattersley's daughter, having realised his "mother's brightest expectations". So, all the bad characters have died, and all the good characters have won - and harmony, love and happiness have returned to Planet Bronte. However, these seem wholly deserved and, therefore, realistic too - because few could have suffered as much as poor Helen...

* * * *

I hope you have enjoyed reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Please feel free also to read Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights - both of which are totally different but equally compelling - and do not hesitate to post your own responses on this blog. I would love to read some extended responses to the Tenant of Wildfell Hall on here too, if you get a chance.

Next term, we will have a change, and move on to Regeneration by Pat Barker. So see if you can track it down as soon as possible - either in the library or in your local bookshop. I will set the first reading task on 7th January 2007.

Chapters 47-50: The Death of Arthur Huntingdon

Gilbert's Point of View

What seems most interesting to me about these chapters is how powerfully we, the reader, are manipulated by the narrative of Gilbert Markham. It is easy to forget that this is NOT a third-person, anonymous narrator, because each narrator in this novel tends to have long stints ‘in charge of’ the story; but the fact remains that we are being told the story by a first-person narrator, and are therefore subjected to all his bias and personal experience. In other words, as I read this, I felt extremely disappointed when I found it Helen had gone back to Arthur; I, too, wished Arthur would die so that she could be freed from his tyranny; and I would have done anything to assist Gilbert and rescuing her.

Helen's Point of View

But then, reading Helen's letters, we see a totally different side to this story. She went there of her own will. She looked after him out of choice. She stayed by his death bed by her own volition. Nobody forced her to do any of this. In fact, reading her letters, I realised that her decision ACTUALLY empowered her; she was far stronger a person in CHOOSING to stay than in being FORCED to flee. And she took no chances either, forcing Arthur to sign a contract to protect her and her son. So what I am saying is that no situation is simple: I ended up sympathising with Gilbert AND Helen - at the same time.

Will they or won't they?

Now he is dead, however, I do hope that Gilbert finds a way to win her love for good, and her hand in marriage too. Perhaps I am too caught up in his own desires, through the power of his narrative, but I REALLY want him and Helen to get together. When we hear descriptions of marriage like the one Gilbert's mother gave near the start (do you remember? the one about the husband not complaining about his wife TOO much?); or like the description of Lowborough's second wife as sensible, pious (i.e. religious), kind and happy (like those are somehow the only important things in a wife/husband); I wish even more strongly for a couple like Gilbert and Helen to make it work. Because, whilst Helen might be all those things herself, their relationship also has its right share of passion, attraction and genuine, consuming love as well. And also, in these chapters, we have seen all the pure villains getting exactly what they deserve: Grimsby, Arthur, Annabella - all dying before their time. So why shouldn't the good characters get what they deserve too? i.e. something GOOD!

But will they manage to get married, against all the odds? Or will society, and all its expectations, get in their way? Only three chapters left in which to find out...

An EXTRA week

I am worried that lots of you have fallen behind and are struggling to keep up with my pace. For this reason, I will give you all an EXTRA WEEK to try to catch up, and so I will not post on the most recent chapters until NEXT weekend. I hope that suits you all. I am determined we don't lose the momentum, and so if there are any of you who are up to the same point as me, feel free EITHER to email me your thoughts about what you have read AND/OR read ahead anyway. We are SO close to the finish...

Also, only 3 of you have voiced any interest in the Bronte residential trip in the summer. It would obviously be impossible to run a trip with only THREE people, so can I ask the rest of you to give this some serious thought. There is no reason we HAVE to run that trip (just as there is no reason we HAVE to keep focusing on the Brontes this year - in fact, I have some other suggestions if you would prefer) - but I need to know what is down to a lack of interest, and what is down to a lack of TIME.

Basically, I would like to hear from ALL of you over the next week or so, BY EMAIL, in response to the following questions:

1. How have you found it trying to keep up with the speed at which I have expected you to read this novel?
2. How have you enjoyed the novel itself so far? Please give me detailed reasons why or why not.
3. Are you interested enough in the Bronte residential for me to start organising it?
4. Which of the following options would you prefer for the Book Group for the next two terms:
a) Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) and Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)? OR
b) Regeneration (Pat Barker) and Dracula (Bram Stoker)?
They are all FANTASTIC books (brilliantly written and VERY important for your growing appreciation of the best literature out there), but I need to know what is going to provide the most enjoyment to you all. I am happy to continue with the Brontes, but I am equally excited at the prospect of introducing you all to and exploring the other two.

I hope to hear from you all BY EMAIL (or as a signed comment on the BLOG) over the next few days.

Mr Savage

Broken-hearted: your opinions please...

Gilbert and Helen

Gilbert has now finished reading Helen's journal, and, if possible, he now loves her even more than he did before. She, too, loves him with a passion and depth she can hardly control. They can think of little else, and can barely keep their hands off each other!

So why do they agree never to meet again?

I would be very interested to read all your comments on this question. Read Chapters 45 and 46 carefully, and see if you can figure out why they both agree to this enormous sacrifice. What would you have done in their situation? Do you think they have made the right decision? Do you think they will manage to stick to it? How convinced are you by the arguments and reasons they find to support their decision?

Lots of comments on this one please...
______________________________
And, this week, I would like you to read Chapters 47-50. After that, we've only got one week left before we finish the book! :)

Chapters 42-44: Breaking Free...!

Hattersley versus Huntingdon

Juxtaposition is a technique whereby two contrasting things are placed side by side for effect. In this chapter, Bronte uses the description of Hattersley's 'reformation' (or, really, the way in which Helen RESCUES Hattersley) to emphasise just how beyond rescue is her own husband. As we see Hattersley wipe tears from his own face, and run to embrace his long-suffering wife, we realise that this is NEVER going to happen between Helen and Arthur. Helen must realise this too, hence her decision shortly afterwards to cut her losses and finally run away. A bit like the bible story where one of the thieves on the crosses next to Christ was SAVED and the other was DAMNED, so we have a similar situation here. (And Anne Bronte, religious as she was, would have known this story VERY well...) Hattersley, by the christ-like Helen, has, indeed, been SAVED; meanwhile, Arthur is, in the eyes of Helen (and, I think, Bronte herself) most definitely damned.

The Final Straw

By this point Helen has completely had enough. With the arrival of the new 'governess' (who seems to be far 'closer' to Helen's husband than to her child!), Helen decides that she simply has to leave. I don't know if any of you have seen a Julia Roberts film from 1991 called Sleeping With The Enemy, but this part of the novel reminds me massively of that film. In both of them, there is a wife so terrified and fed up of their marriage and their abusive, tyrannical husband that they will do anything to escape from it. In both of them, the wife secretly escapes and then assumes a new, fake identity and a totally new life somewhere far away from her evil spouse. In both of them, the marriage used to be OK - and, at the start, was positively tender - but then quickly decays and passes the point of no return. In the film, however, Julia Roberts' husband manages to track her down, and finally arrives at her new home to try to kill her: I wonder of Arthur will go that far himself too???...

If you want to find out more about the film I have been talking about, click below:

Chapters 38-41: A bid for freedom

The ignominy of divorce

So Helen has finally had enough! After years of neglect, abuse and humiliation at the hands of her deceitful and philandering husband, she has finally resolved to set herself free. This might seem strange to some of you: after all, if she no longer wants to be married to him, why does she not simply seek a separation or a divorce. However, unfortunately, marriage laws were so very different back then, and, as you have probably gathered, the wife was very much seen as the 'possession' of the husband. Therefore, effectively, for Helen to leave Huntingdon, she would be stealing from him his wife and son - and neither society, nor Huntingdon, would allow this.

The final straw

So why has she finally reached the end of her tolerance? What has changed so much? Well, she is greatly affected by the destruction of Lord Lowborough. Watching him disintegrate under the knowledge of his wife's infidelity is particularly painful to her, and, I suppose, awakens in her a desire not to be destroyed too. Also, she has had to simply look on as her husband begins to corrupt their child with alcohol, swearing and whatever other behaviour in which he indulges with his rowdy friends: imagine how painful that must be for her! And, to add insult to injury, the one 'decent' man she knows, Hargrave, decides to profess his undying love (and, I suspect, lust) for her, even though she neither can nor wants to accept it - all of which is compounded by her husband's veiled accusations that she is having an affair with Hargrave!

No more secrets

Little wonder, then, that Helen wants out! But, no sooner than she has decided to plan for her escape, than her husband catches on to the idea and effectively CONFISCATES all her personal belongings; reads all her personal journals; takes away all her personal finances (apart from a small 'allowance'); and even throws all her paintings and painting equipment into the fire. She is then left completely bereft - of happiness and of any hope of escape. These chapters conclude with a visit by her brother, Frederick, and mention of him preparing some rooms in the now vacant family home for her, should a disaster necessitate her fleeing anyway (a house we immediately recognise as Wildfell Hall!). So all the threads of the story (and this LONG flashback) are starting to fit into place...

Scarred for life

Meanwhile, Esther Hargrave visits Helen for some advice about the arranged marriages her own mother is trying to sort out for her. She is NOT impressed, still harbouring youthful ideals about marrying for love. It is a sign of just how DAMAGED Helen has become, that, totally contrary to her own ideas about marriage which she held before she first met Huntingdon, she now gives much more cynical, sober and pessimistic advice: 'If such are your expectations of matrimony, Esther, you must indeed be careful whom you marry - or rather, you must avoid it altogether.' Little wonder, then, that Helen finds it so difficult to warm to Gilbert's advances in the first section of the novel...
______

This week, please read Chapters 42-46...

I thought you could all have a turn...!

I have deliberately not submitted a post today, in the hope that one of you would notice and submit something yourself. If no one has done so by tomorrow evening, I shall submit one anyway - I just wanted to give you lot a chance to take control of the blog to some extent... :)

Mr Savage

Chapters 33-37: Arthur shows his true colours

What a lot of questions have been raised by these chapters: so much for you all to think about! Arthur finally appears to have shown his true colours to poor Helen, and how she responds to this is crucial to our understanding of the whole book. So reflect on some of these questions as you endeavour to come to terms with these unpleasant developments:

1. Why had Arthur decided to have this affair? Why has Arthur decided to jeopardise everything he has got by beginning an affair with the odious Lady Lowborough? What does he see in her? What does she provide for him that he does not get from his wife? How does Lady Lowborough manage to stop Arthur drinking heavily, when Helen, despite her best efforts, had failed in this respect? Why does he not feel guilty having an affair with the wife of his best friend?
2. Why does Helen respond to the news of the affair in this way? Why is she not more angry with Arthur? Why does she not threaten to expose the affair and her husband's deceit? Why does she not wreak revenge on Arthur and his mistress? Why does she stay with him, as if they were husband and wife, when she cannot stand the sight of him and feels only misery in his company?
3. Why is Arthur so adamant that Helen not leave him? If he truly loves Lady Lowborough, why does he insist that Helen stays with him, whilst he continues his affair? Wouldn't he be happier if he and Lady Lowborough moved in together and both left their spouses? Why does he prefer to keep up the pretence/semblance of a happy marriage, when the reality is anything but?
4. And what about Hargrave? Why does he persist in trying to begin a relationship with Helen? Is he looking out for her out of the goodness of his own heart? Or does he just want to find a way into her heart (and her bed!)? Are his motives honourable? And what do you think about Helen's persistent rebuttal of his advances? Is she cutting off her nose to spite her face (as the saying goes)? What do you think she should do?

Perhaps you could all use the COMMENTS tool on this blog to explore these questions together... In the meantime, I think it is crucial, as best you can, to EMPATHISE with Helen in her current situation. This book was written at a time when the oppression of women was at its height, and Anne Bronte is forcing her reader to confront the question of women's equality head-on. Should she lie down and just 'take' all the abuse and mistreatment her husband throws at her? Or should she fight back? Many critics have argued that Helen Huntingdon is one of literature's first feminist heroes: do you think she is showing herself to be a woman of independence and STRENGTH?
_________

As for next week, please read Chapters 38-41.

Bronte Residential: A Weekend in Haworth

I am about to start organising the residential trip to Bronte Country - the rugged moorland surrounding Haworth in West Yorkshire. The trip will take place in June/July next year, but, before I begin to plan it, I need to know HOW MANY of you will definitely be interested in coming.

• We will be away for TWO nights and THREE days.
• We will stay in the YHA Youth Hostel in Haworth, with all students in single-sex dorms.
• We will eat our main meals in the hostel, with a packed lunch provided by the hostel as well.
• Activities are likely to include:
• Evening workshops on the novels in the hostel itself;
• A seminar at the Bronte Parsonage Museum, with the museum's education officer;
• A tour of the Parsonage, and the nearby Bronte library;
• A hike across the moors to find the various buildings and landmarks which inspired parts of each of the novels;
• A poetry writing masterclass in the middle of the moors, where Emily Bronte used to write her poems.
• We will travel to Yorkshire by school minibus, and you will make the final journey to Haworth by steam train, just as the Brontes would have done themselves.
• I do not yet know the cost of the trip, although I will ensure the English department subsidises it to some extent. The cost to your parents is likely to be approx £30 per student.
  

I ran this exact trip with a group of 6th Form Students back in 1999, and they had a fantastic time. I fully expect that you will all have a great time too.

However, if I am to be able to run this trip, I need to know A.S.A.P. how many of you would like to come. So have a chat with your parents, and email me by Friday 10th November if you are interested. You are not committing yourself at this stage, but, if not enough people are interested, it will not be economical to run the trip in the first place.

If you know of any members of the book group who are NOT accessing the blog at the moment for some reason, please pass this message on to them...

Thanks

Mr Savage

Chapters 29-32: Arthur's descent into alcoholism

Men Behaving Badly

The description in these chapters of Arthur's drunken behaviour with his friends is shocking for a 21st Century readership - so just think how it would have been received 150 years ago, especially as this was written by a woman (albeit one under a male pseudonym). You must not allow the sometimes old-fashioned language to detract from the fact that this is controversial, disturbing stuff. Arthur's growing dependency on drink is taking over his very existence - dragging him away from his home, his child, his wife, and all the good qualities he once possessed. And it is not just Arthur: what we witness when Hattersley loses his temper with Millicent, his wife, is nothing less than domestic violence - and in public too. All of this is made even worse by the fact that these drunken men invariably laugh at such behaviour, even as they are indulging in it themselves. And they are all as bad as each other: even Mr Grimsby, who claims he can hold his drink better than the others, ends up pouring half his tea into his saucer, and putting six cubes of sugar into his cup of tea.

How the other characters respond

And then we see the different responses of the other characters to this drunkenness and abusive, violent behaviour. Annabella seems almost to celebrate it, and wishes her husband would also indulge, so that she can die an early death and she can benefit from his will. Millicent just accepts it, and meekly takes whatever is thrown her way. Helen swings between trying to ignore it, and upbraiding and criticising the men for their despicable behaviour. Lowborough, so scarred by his past, refuses to have anything to do with the other men, however violently they try to force him. And Hargrave, who seems to be growing closer and closer to Helen herself, seems to be willing to do anything to protect her from the abuse and neglect of her alcoholic husband.

Some questions for you to ponder though...

1. Why does Helen continue to endure and put up with Arthur's behaviour, regardless of how horrifically he treats her?
2. Why does Arthur refuse to remedy his behaviour, and why is he unable to learn from his mistakes?
3. AND WHAT IS THE SECRET INFORMATION THAT HARGRAVE WANTS TO REVEAL TO HELEN???????

Chapter 25-29: Absence and Misdemeanours

"...he knows he is my sun, but when he chooses to withhold his light, he would have my sky to be all darkness..."

Male Behaviour?

I don't think we can doubt Arthur's enduring love for Helen in these chapters. He may behave despicably, and treat her shamefully, but he appears to remain completely in love with her. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that there is more than one type of love, and Arthur argues that it is a case of gender: "The cases are different...It is a woman's nature to be constant - to love one and one only, blindly, tenderly, and for ever...but you must have some commiseration for us, Helen; you must give us a little more licence..." He would have her believe that all his behaviour - disappearing indefinitely to London, flirting with Lady Lowborough, resenting his newborn child, overindulging with his friends etc. - all of this is simply MALE behaviour.

Double Standards

But there is a clear case of double standards here. For example, when Helen asks what Arthur would do if, for instance, Lord Lowborough were to flirt with her and kiss her hand, in full view of everyone, he replies that he would "blow his brains out". He also argues, "If you had not seen me...it would have done no harm", suggesting that he can do what he likes, provided that his wife does not find out. And he even goes so far as to suggest, in his attempt to divert the focus away from his own misdemeanours, that she is breaking her own marriage vows herself by not honouring and obeying him at all times.

Victorian Society

Now it is easy for us to condemn his behaviour, reading about it in 2006. But could it, perhaps, have been more 'acceptable' 150 years ago. Remember how different was women's role in society back then; think how fewer rights women had, and how many more restrictions were placed on their lives. Victorian men frequented alehouses and brothels at will, but their wives were expected to remain beacons of piousness and domesticity regardless. That was just the way things were.

* * * *

Or perhaps you think that it doesn't matter when the book is set: Arthur's behaviour is still completely wrong and totally unacceptable. If so, what do you think is the most unforgiveable of the things he does? What upsets you most about the way he treats his wife and child? I would be very interested to hear your opinions on this.

And what about the other plot developments? What exactly do you think Arthur is getting up to during his long sojourns in London? What is Mr Hargrave playing it, and are his intentions completely honourable? Do you think Arthur and Helen's marriage is beyond hope and help, or could they still turn things around?

NEXT WEEK: Only three chapters to read this week - Chapters 30, 31 and 32. But PLEASE can you all try to contribute more to this BLOG (either through COMMENTS about my entries, or, better still, through your OWN POSTS). I feel like I am doing all the work here... :(

Chapters 20-24: So was her Aunt right after all?

The Newlyweds

This week, I would like you to think carefully about the relationship between Helen and Arthur. Is it starting to fall apart, or perhaps these are just problems that all couples face at one time or another? And whose fault do you think it all is? Is Helen being too PIOUS and intolerant of her new husband? Is she trying to push and force him into being somebody he is NOT? Or is Arthur ignoring his new wife's feelings? Is he deliberately winding her up, and gaining pleasure from teasing and joking with her? What, precisely, do YOU think is starting to happen to their still young marriage?

Who's afraid of the big, bad Arthur?

Also, I would be interested to hear your thoughts about Arthur's behaviour with his friends - and, in particular, with Lord Lowborough. What do you think about the way that Arthur treated Lowborough over the years? Should Arthur be showing more REMORSE about it all? Do you think Arthur is as IMMUNE to and safe from the worst consequences of this 'wild life' as he claims to be? Basically, are any of you starting to think that Helen's aunt might have been right when she warned Helen against men like this? Or is Arthur just a passionate, red-blooded male with an equal share, like all of us, of good and bad points?

Helen - and, indeed, her aunt - are quick to judge the likes of Arthur; but then they exist in a fervently religious world where their faith has more power over them than anything else. Does the 21st Century reader respond with similar condemnation to this most complicated of 'heroes'?
___

N.B. PLEASE can I start to see some of you post a proper, extended BLOG entry on this site? I've given you guidance and exemplars etc., and I really need to see that you are all TRYING to engage with the discussion as fully as you can. Also, it would be GREAT if you all tried to keep the Book Group part of the WIKI up to date too... :)

It's YOUR turn now: Chapters 11-19

I am not going to create long, detailed posts this weekend, as I think that it is high time that some of YOU did so instead. I have 'modelled' posts over the past couple of weeks, and I have given you lots of guidance as to how LONG they should be; HOW they should be written; and WHAT they should be about.

I would like to see what some of you can come up with this week. However, to help you, here is a selection of topics you might like to post about. So choose one of these topics (or one of your own, based on ideas in your reading journal) and remember that you need to write a minimum of approx 250 words. Then sit back and enjoy the discussion you have sparked between other members of the group in the COMMENTS. Be brave - don't leave the BLOG to other people:

• Shocking and Taboo?:
• What evidence can you find of why this book was so shocking to its contemporary audience?
• What happens during these chapters that Victorian society might have so objected to?
• What social rules do characters like Helen and Gilbert break, and how might we respond differently from the Victorian reader?
• Gilbert in Love
• How does Gilbert change and develop during these chapters?
• Why does he behave this way towards the woman he says he loves/loved?
  
• How do we respond to/feel about his behaviour towards Helen?
  
• Helen's Diary Entry:
• What is the narrative function of Helen's diary entry?
  
• Or, in other words, what effect does the use of this device have on the reader?
  
• Why does Bronte use it?
  
• What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of writing a novel in the form of LETTERS and DIARIES?
• Helen's Big Mistake:
• What do you think of Helen's refusal to follow her Aunt's choice of husband for her?
• What is your opinion of the men she turns down?
• What do you think should influence a woman's choice of husband (or, indeed, a man's choice of wife)?
• Is Helen wrong to fight against her aunt's attempts at an 'arranged marriage'?
• Mr Huntingdon
• Can you sense any foolishness or error in her attraction towards Mr Huntingdon?
  
• Is there any evidence, at this stage, of him being the sort of man Helen's aunt warned her against?
• What do you think of Mr Huntingdon? Consider:
• His behaviour with other women;
• His response to the secret drawings;
• His physical advances towards Helen;
• Anything else you notice about him...

NEXT WEEK: Please read Chapters 20-24

Society and Setting

(This is a photo of the entrance to Ponden Hall, near the Bronte's home town of Haworth, which is thought to have provided the inspiration for both Wildfell Hall, and Thrushcross Grange in Wuthering Heights. It is one of the places we will seek out on the Bronte residential trip next summer.)

The setting (physical and social) of the story is also developed a lot in Chapters 5-10.

Wildfell Hall

The hall itself continues to exert a serious and mysterious presence over the characters - "Silent and grim it frowned before us" - but it clearly suits serious and mysterious Mrs Graham perfectly, as we can see, for example, from her following words:

• "I cannot be too thankful for such an asylum"
• "I am not sure the loneliness of the place was not one of its chief recommendations"
• "I take no pleasure in watching people pass the windows; and I like to be quiet"
  

Pathetic Fallacy

Coined by the writer and artist, John Ruskin, in the 19th Century, PATHETIC FALLACY is the term to describe when the physical environment or setting reflects in some way the lives or circumstances of the people or characters themselves (or, indeed, the plot or narrative). There is an example here: "the young primroses were peeping from among their moist, dark foliage, and the lark above was singing of summer, and hope, and love, and every heavenly thing". The changing seasons are almost sending out a message of hope and happiness, and the reader is curious as to whether the plot will, indeed, follow a similarly positive path.


Husbands and Wives

One thing I found interesting in these chapters is the discussion of what makes a good husband, and I would be interested to hear what you all think of these views. Gilbert, very much the 'modern man', is clear about his views: "I shall expect to find more pleasure in making my wife happy and comfortable, than in being made so by her: I would rather give than receive". But his mother's description of her, late husband shows a very different point of view: "he was steady and punctual, seldom found fault without a reason, always did justice to my good dinners, and hardly ever spoiled my cookery by delay – and that’s as much as any woman can expect of any man". What do you think about such opinions? Have roles changed between then and now? What do you regard to be a 'good husband'?

Smalltalk

Personally, I have never quite 'got' smalltalk, and I have always felt uncomfortable and awkward in situations when I have been expected to chat with other people just for the sake of it. It seems false to me - although I know that it is a common social routine. Mrs Graham, who hates "talking where there is no exchange of ideas or sentiments, and no good given or received", seems to hold a similar opinion, as can be seen from the following extract:

"'It is I who have left them,' was the smiling rejoinder. 'I was wearied to death with small talk - nothing wears me out like that. I cannot imagine how they can go on as they do.'
I could not help smiling at the serious depth of her wonderment.
'Is it that they think it a duty to be continually talking,' pursued she: 'and so never pause to think, but fill up with aimless trifles and vain repetitions when subjects of real interest fail to present themselves, or do they really take a pleasure in such discourse?'
'Very likely they do,' said I; 'their shallow minds can hold no great ideas, and their light heads are carried away by trivialities that would not move a better-furnished skull; and their only alternative to such discourse is to plunge over head and ears into the slough of scandal - which is their chief delight.'"

And finally...

I found this bit really funny, and quite unlike the sort of writing you find in most, stereotypical Victorian fiction: "I deposited the book in one of its pockets, and then put it on (i.e. the coat)". :)

I rather liked to see Mrs Graham...

Fair Hermit

In these chapters, we see Gilbert's growing affection for Mrs Graham, whom he calls variously his "fair hermit" and his "wonderful stranger". Both these descriptions (almost oxymorons) capture her double-edged nature, and the fact that she is alluring and repellant, warm and cold - all at the same time. Indeed, Gilbert recognises "so changeable was she", and is constantly frustrated by the way her emotional thermometer changes so much. Nonetheless, he still prefers "mature" and "earnest" Mrs Graham to "frivolous" and "insipid" Eliza Millward: "I was too happy in the company of Mrs Graham, to regret the absence of Eliza Millward... after all, it would, perhaps, be better to spend one’s days with such a woman than with Eliza Millward".

Enchanted

He is now growing almost to hero-worship Mrs Graham - "she, in intellect, in purity and elevation of soul, was immeasurably superior to any of her detractors" - and, after most visits, "went home enchanted". He is certainly under her spell! And it is not just her personality which appeals to him so much; her physical appearance has an equally powerful effect on her. This is shown, for example, when he admits he "could not help stealing a glance… [at] the elegant white hand that held the pencil, and the graceful neck and glossy raven curls that drooped over the paper", and confesses "it was a pleasure to behold it so dextrously guided by those fair and graceful fingers". I think those of you eagerly wanting the two of them to have an affair certainly have Gilbert himself on your side!

Challenge

But we also see, in these chapters, Mrs Graham become increasingly mysterious: "I am not disposed to answer any more questions at present". The village reaches their own conclusions, but Gilbert decides it all has something to do with her previous husband - "she had had enough of him and the matrimonial state altogether" - and he assumes that this has made her determined to fall in love with nobody ever again, "relentlessly nipping off bud by bud as they ventured to appear". Perhaps this is why he becomes even stronger in her attempts to win her heart? Because he realises what a challenge it is going to be. He even uses military imagery to describe "another invasion of Wildfell Hall", and, at one point, even declares, "I thought my hour of victory was come".

If we thought their relationship was complicated at first, what is it like now?!

Week Two: Reading task

Please make sure you have read up to the end of Chapter 10 by next Sunday. The following week, I may double this to 10 chapters in a week, but I want to give EVERYONE a chance to catch up first.

Can I also suggest that it can be a good idea to get yourself a little notebook, and just jot down your thoughts and ideas at the end of each chapter, whilst they're still fresh in your mind. A reading journal, really. Give it a try if you can...

Social Pressure

From the beginning of the novel, one of the most powerful forces is that of SOCIETY. Gossip is everywhere, and the main inhabitants of this community don't seem happy unless they are gossiping about someone else. It's a gossip's dream come true when a mysterious woman arrives to live nearby, and so, predictably, they gossip about her too. Very few characters are immune to this, and most of them quickly join in when there is a chance to exchange some snippets of gossip with the others.

More sinister than this, however, is the pressure society seems to exert on those who would be different. Mrs Graham chooses to live 'differently' and she is criticised endlessly for doing so. She is criticised (either to her face or behind her back) for her attitudes on childrearing; her standards of cleanliness and housekeeping; her opinions on alcohol and intemperance. It seems that this is a remarkably petty and insecure society that gets so much satisfaction from having a go at people who do not fit in with the 'proper' way of doing things. But, cleverly, this seems to be another technique by Anne Bronte to lure us into choosing our 'ally' in the novel: we are drawn to be on the side of the pariah (or social outcast), rather than the crowd.

Sexual Tension

Sexual Tension

To fully understand how DARING this novel is from the outset, you need to remember two things:

• It was written in 1848, 11 years into the reign of Queen Victoria. The Victorian era is famous for its prudishness , and society regarded anything sexual as completely TABOO. This would have included any outward displays of sexual attraction.
• It was written by a WOMAN, who was completely aware of the anger she would incur from society for daring to do what should only be done by a man (i.e. write novels) - so much so that, like her sisters, she wrote under a pseudonym, Acton Bell.

So imagine how brave she was to write about a community rife with sexual tension. Gilbert quite clearly finds Eliza incredibly attractive, and can't get enough of her company. He even steals a kiss from her, very publically, to the anger and shock of his mother. On a day to day basis, he is forced to observe the social convention of 'polite conversation' with the girl he fancies beyond belief - to add to which his mother doesn't approve of her anyway! But he can't help but kiss her that evening, even though he knows he 'shouldn't'.

And then there is his fascination with the widow, Mrs Graham. From the very first moment he hears about her, he is captivated. He goes, effectively, to spy on her in her new home as he rides on the moor. He stares at her quite blatantly, trying to flirt with her in church - in church, of all places! It seems to me that, on the one hand, Gilbert is trying his hardest to 'behave himself' with two, separate, young women; but, on the other hand, he can only just about control himself with either of them.

Suspense

I have read this novel several times, but I never fail to be drawn into the suspense and mystery of the story. Gilbert Markham and the others are pretty straightforward, at least at first, but Mrs Graham is an enigma from the outset. One thing I like is how we hear about her from other people before we actually see her 'in the flesh' - and hearing about anyone 'second hand' like this is bound to make them even more intriguing. [When I say 'we' here, I basically mean Gilbert, because it is he who guides us throughout this part of the novel, and so we witness things through him.]

Even when Gilbert finally meets her for the first time, no words are actually exchanged - purely awkward glances across the church. And even when characters actually speak to her, she doesn't reveal very much about herself at all. Her stroppiness when Gilbert rescues her son from the tree seems strange - and we don't quite know why. Her strong views on alcohol seem out of place - and we don't quite know why. Her sensitivity about the hidden portrait (and indeed the strange habit of ensuring none of her paintings are traceable to where she is now) seems to come from nowhere - and, still, we don't know quite why. Anne Bronte is cleverly dropping little clues into our imagination, but keeps enough back to keep us guessing and keen to read on and find out more.

Chapter 1-5 - You MUST read this!

BEFORE I start, two simple rules for this BLOG:

1. Posts must be AT LEAST 250 words long. Anything shorter is probably best put on the Message Board.
2. You can post about ANYTHING to do with the weekly chapters - as long as it interests you (and therefore might also spark some discussion).

If you are stuck what to write, have a look at each of the THREE sections I have written below, and think of these as EXEMPLARS for the sort of thing you might want to write, either this week or in the future. And remember, students with the most posts over the year will qualify for the trip at the end of the year.

So... You've all read the first FIVE chapters I hope. I know some of you have read much more than this, but it is important that we all move at the same speed as far as this BLOG is concerned - otherwise it will get really confusing, for everyone.

Firstly, I know lots of you have found it a struggle at first to 'adjust' to what is a very different style of writing to what you are used to reading. But I agree with those of you who say it is just a question of persevering, and then you soon get used to it. I find it the same with B&W films: when I first start watching one I am really disappointed at the lack of colour, but, if I persevere, before too long I have adjusted completely, and totally forgotten that it is Black and White at all. The same is true of fiction like this. DON'T be put off if you don't understand the odd word either - as long as the sentence still makes sense, then just ignore it (or look it up if you're really curious).

Anyway, back to the book - and, specifically, the first FIVE chapters. There are three things I would like to talk about in particular, and, to help you all out, I shall post separately for each one...

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

To any of you who have not yet started the book, i'm warning you now, the language in which it is written is quite difficult. The more you read on the more you will understand it but if you did'nt quite understand what happened on the page you just read, read it again! I had to read the same page about 3 times.

happy reading!

One week extra!

I know that several of you are having trouble getting hold of the book quickly. I also know that some of you are still in the process of registering with the site.

I want us to get off to an impressive start with this Book Group, and so I have decided to give you an extra week to complete the first task.

The deadline for JOINING the blog is now Friday 22nd September.
The deadline for READING the first 5 chapters is now Friday 29th September.

I will not change these deadlines again. Any problems, let me know a.s.a.p.

And remember: if you're joining this group, I will EXPECT complete commitment, and regular posts. Only those who show they are FULLY taking part will be considered for the residential next summer.

Lastly, I am happy to help students purchase the three books if necessary. However, if you need financial assistance, you need to contact me as soon as possible.

Mr Savage

Week One

We will begin our journey through the literary world of the Bronte sisters with THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL by Anne Bronte. As I said on my previous post, until you manage to get hold of your own copy of the book (and please hurry up and do so - the edition pictured here is only £1!), you can access the whole text online by clicking on the book title above. Then just scroll down past all the publishing info etc. and past the 'Author's Preface' until you find the beginning of Chapter 1.

Anyway, by NEXT weekend (i.e. 23rd September), I would like us all to have read the first 5 chapters (that's Chapters 1-5), and we can discuss them next Saturday and Sunday online.

Just a tip: you might find it useful to get yourself a little notebook too, in which to jot down your thoughts/ideas/questions whilst you are reading: this might make it easier for you when you come to the BLOG at the end of the week, and is often a good idea anyway.

Happy reading!

Getting started...

Firstly, welcome to the Book Group BLOG. If you are reading this, the chances are you have registered with the BLOG (or at least tried to do so) and want to be a part of the Book Group this year.

And what is the Book Group? Well, it is, as the name suggests, a group of people who will get together this year to chat about books - THREE books in particular - which they will read in the SAME order, at the SAME speed, by the SAME deadlines. The difference with this Book Group, however, (unlike hundreds of similar groups which meet on evenings and weekends in libraries across the land), is that this group takes place entirely ONLINE.

Every week, I will set you the chapters I would like you to read, together with the date by which you must have read them. Then I will post my own response to what we read during that week, and the rest of you are free EITHER to respond to mine OR simply write your own (or both!). It's completely up to you.

Blog entries here give you an opportunity to talk about anything you like to do with the book we are reading, and to ask questions of the other members about the book too. You might want to think about:

• Plot/storyline: what has happened? is there anything you don't understand? what is interesting about how the author has created the narrative? what do you think might happen next? what was your 'best bit'? etc.
• Setting: what are your impressions of the places where the book is set? how are they described? what effect are they supposed to have on the reader? how do they differ from each other? what do we learn about the social/cultural setting? how were things different when the story was set?etc.
• Characters: which characters have you most enjoyed? which are the most important characters? do any of the characters fit any of Propp's archetypes? with whom do you sympathise? what have we learnt about the characters so far?
• Themes: what is the novel ABOUT? what are the key themes explored by the author? does the novel offer us any morals or messages about life? what does it appear to be saying about life/love/relationships/society? etc.
• Style: what do you notice about the way in which the story is written? what do you find difficult about the writer's style? what sort of narrator is used? what do you like about the way the author writes? etc.
• Quotations: are there any words or phrases from the novel you found particularly memorable/important/entertaining/effective etc.? what quotations strike you as especially useful for discussing the novel in more depth? etc.
• or ANYTHING ELSE YOU FIND INTERESTING about the novel, and the chapters you have read.

When I come to select those students who will come on the Bronte Weekend in West Yorkshire next summer, the main criterion I will use will be how often you have published a post or a comment on this site - so use it prolifically if you want to come.

Lastly, you will need to get hold of your own copies of the three books we will be reading this year:
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
All of these are available for FREE from your local library, or from around £1 from your local bookshop. If you want to buy your own copy, but you or your family has financial difficulties, please come and speak to me in confidence and I will arrange for the school to buy them for you.

In the meantime, if you want to get started reading BEFORE you have got hold of the books, click on the book title above, and you will be directed to an online version of each one: very awkward on which to read the whole book, but just about OK for the first few chapters...

Follow this link as you go to find out useful web resources for the Brontes in general.

Look out for the next post for details of your first reading task...

Mr Savage