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.
2 comments:
Every one likes a bit of gossip and I dont think anything has changed in our society.
If you are different, you will be treated different and you will feel like you dont belong.
they talk about each other a lot more openly though.
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