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.
1 comment:
I read on the blurb that Helen has just run away with her son from her drunk husband.The reason why she is so sensitive to alcohol and to do anything to make her son against it is because she loves him and she doesn't want him to grow up like like his father.She keeps a close eye on her son so that he doesn't have any freedom and so he won't rebel.
I think that she is absolutely terrified of her husband and even though she has to make a living she covers up the details of her home and the surrounding areas.This rouses the suspision of her neighbours who are clearly interested in her life and want to know more.
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