Concetti Chiave
- The Brontë children were raised by their strict aunt after their mother's death, who struggled to create a loving environment despite her efforts.
- Charlotte and Emily Brontë experienced a happy period at home, where they escaped reality through imaginative worlds documented in detailed booklets.
- In Brussels, Emily and Charlotte improved their French at Monsieur Hèger's "Pensionnat," receiving extra lessons due to their potential, but had to return home due to their aunt's death.
- Charlotte discovered Emily's poems, leading to the publication of a poetry volume by the Brontë sisters in 1846, marking the start of their literary careers despite initial failure.
- Emily's novel "Wuthering Heights" was published in 1847, but contemporary critics found it shocking and harsh, causing her emotional distress before her untimely death in 1848.
The
The austere aunt
When Mrs Brontë died, her sister remained in the family to look after children. She was a strict, austere woman, and could not create an atmosphere of affection, though she did her best to bring up the girls as good housewives. They were educated by their father and later were sent to a cheap boarding-school where discipline was so strict that they never forgot the sufering that had to stand.
The happy period
When Charlotte and Emily came back home, a fairly happy period followed, during which they found escape from the squalid reality in a series of dreamworlds. They kept a record of their daydreams in numerous booklets, written in minute script, which recently have been considered by the critics with great interest.
In 1842 Emily and Charlotte went to Brussels to improve their French, and studied at the “Pensionnat” kept, by Monsieur Hèger; He was a cultured man, who son became aware of the possibilities of the two sisters, and gave them extra lessons. Unfortunately, after a few months they had to return home because of their aunt’s death, and Emily had no more opportunities to move from there.
The discovery of the poems
When Charlotte accidentally discovered some poems written by Emily, she immediately perceived the literary qualities of her sister; Emily resented the discovery of her writings, which she considered an intrusion into her privacy, and it took her sister some time to win her consent to publication.
In 1846 a volume with poems by three sisters – Charlotte, Emily, Anne – was published under the title Poems by Currer, Ellisand Action Bell. The result was a failure as only two couplet were sold; however, the event marked the beginning of the literary career of the Bronte sisters.
The publication of Wuthering Heights
The following year Emily published "Wuthering Heights", her only novel and her masterpiece, a highly imaginative and dramatic presentation of a tragic story of despised love and revenge, set in the gloomy moors of Yorkhire. The book was not appreciated by contemporary critics, who were shocked by what they considered wild, ferocious, brutal elements in the novel, and the proud, sensitive author must have deeply suffered for this. Times were not happy for the Brontë family: Branwell died in 1848, after ruining his health with drinking; Emily caught a cold during his funeral, and from the neglected cold, consumption ensued. She stubbornly refused to see a doctor it was too late, and she died within a few months, in the same year, at the age of thirty.
Domande da interrogazione
- What role did the austere aunt play in the Brontë children's upbringing?
- How did Charlotte and Emily Brontë find solace during their return home?
- How did Emily Brontë's literary talents come to light?
- What was the initial reception of Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights"?
After Mrs. Brontë's death, her sister took on the responsibility of caring for the children. Despite her strict and austere nature, she endeavored to raise the girls as good housewives, although she struggled to create an affectionate atmosphere.
Upon returning home, Charlotte and Emily experienced a relatively happy period by escaping into dreamworlds. They documented their daydreams in numerous booklets, which have since garnered interest from critics.
Charlotte Brontë accidentally discovered Emily's poems and recognized her sister's literary talent. Although Emily initially resented this intrusion, Charlotte eventually persuaded her to consent to their publication, leading to the release of a volume of poems by the three Brontë sisters in 1846.
"Wuthering Heights," published in 1847, was not well-received by contemporary critics, who were shocked by its wild and brutal elements. This negative reception likely caused Emily, a proud and sensitive author, significant distress.
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