The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
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| The Tenant of Wildfell Hall | |
| Author | Anne Brontë (as "Acton Bell") |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Thomas Cautley Newby |
| Publication date | June 1848 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 3 vols., 358, ?, ? |
| ISBN | NA |
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is the second and final novel by English author Anne Brontë, published in 1848. It is framed as a letter from Gilbert Markham to his friend and brother-in-law about the events leading to his meeting his wife.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
The novel is divided into three volumes. The first part, narrated by prosperous farmer Gilbert Markham, describes the arrival of a mysterious widow, Mrs. Helen Graham, to a nearby, tumbledown mansion, Wildfell Hall. From the outset, she is a source of curiosity for the small community. Although reticent, Helen and her young son Arthur are slowly drawn into the social circles of the village. Initially, Gilbert Markham is casually courting Eliza Millward, though his disapproving mother believes he can do better. However, his infatuation starts to wane as he becomes better acquainted with Mrs. Graham. In revenge for his change of heart, scandalous rumours and gossip about Helen start to be circulate amongst the people, with Eliza often a carrier, if not the originator.
As conjectures and rumours fly, Gilbert is led to believe Helen is being courted by his friend, Mr. Lawrence. A chance encounter on the road between the two men results in a jealous Gilbert striking Lawrence once with his whip, causing him to fall off his horse. Unaware of this, Helen refuses to marry Gilbert, but gives him her diaries when he accuses her of loving Lawrence.
The second part is taken directly from Helen's diary, which documents her marriage to charming, but worthless Arthur Huntingdon. At first, she is blinded by love and convinced that she will be able to bring about his reform with gentle persuasion and good example. Huntingdon is portrayed as a spoilt, selfish, self-indulgent man, but handsome and witty. When their son Arthur is born, he becomes increasingly jealous of the child's claims on his wife's attentions and affections.
Huntingdon's friends become frequent visitors to their home, Grassdale, and form a dissolute pack, indulging in unrestrained drinking and frenzied merriment. Moral decay is an overriding theme, with the wicked subjugating and tormenting of those of finer character. No particular discrimination is made between men and women, with Lady Annabella Lowborough an equally unfaithful partner for her melancholy, but devoted husband.
Walter Hargrave, the brother of Helen's friend Milicent Hargrave, vies for Helen's affections. He refrains from much of the wildness of his fellows, but is an unwelcome admirer, for Helen senses his predatory nature, most poignantly displayed in a silent struggle when they play chess. He alerts her to the infidelity of her husband, who has been carrying on an affair with Lady Lowborough. In the wake of his friends' departure, Arthur pines openly for his paramour and derides his wife.
Arthur's corruption of their son -- encouraging him to drink and swear at his tender age -- is the last straw for Helen. She plans to flee to save her son. However, her husband reads her journals and learns of her desire to escape. His burning of her artist's tools, the means by which she had hoped to support herself, and violation of her diaries both illustrate the complete control exerted by a husband in that era. Eventually, with the assistance of her brother Mr. Lawrence, Helen finds a secret refuge at Wildfell Hall.
After Gilbert is enlightened as to Helen's circumstances, she bids him leave her be, for she cannot marry him. He obeys. Shortly after, he receives word that she has dutifully returned to Grassdale after hearing of her husband's serious illness. She nurses him, but in vain. Huntingdon's death is painful, fraught with doubts and terror at what awaits him. Helen cannot comfort him, for he refuses to accept responsibility for his own actions and wishes for her to instead come with him, to plead for his salvation.
A year passes. Gilbert follows the heels of a rumour regarding Helen's upcoming wedding, only to find Mr. Lawrence (with whom he has reconciled) marrying Helen's friend, Esther Hargrave, instead. He goes to Grassdale, then discovers that Helen is staying at her estate in Staningley. He travels there, but doubts plague him, for it becomes apparent that she is now quite wealthy and thus far above his station. He lingers at the gate to her estate and by chance encounters Helen, her aunt and young Arthur. The two lovers reconcile and marry.
[edit] Analysis
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall challenged the prevailing morals of the Victorian era. Especially shocking was Helen's slamming of her bedroom door in the face of her husband after continuing abuse, thereby overturning the sexual politics for the time. One critic went so far as to pronounce it "utterly unfit to be put into the hands of girls", though another cited it as "the most entertaining novel we have read in a month past." It is considered to be one of the first feminist novels. The main character, Helen, is spirited and forthright, unafraid to speak to the men in her life with frankness. Anne Brontë portrays this as desirable, compared to the meekness of Milicent, who is trampled and ignored by her unrepentant husband.
Vice is not unique to the men, however; Lady Lowborough's adultery has a particularly devastating effect on her husband, and the malice of Eliza Millward is poisonous to the entire community. The eternal struggle between good and evil is emphasised by heavy use of Biblical references: sinners who repent and listen to reason are brought within the fold, while those who remain stubborn tend to meet violent or miserable ends.
The novel also seems to be Anne's response to those of her sisters.[citation needed] Arthur Huntingdon bears many similarities to Mr. Rochester in her sister Charlotte's Jane Eyre . Also, the preponderance of "H" names (Halford, Helen, Huntingdon, Hattersley, and Hargrave) recalls Emily's Wuthering Heights, as well as the estate itself-- Wildfell Hall and Wuthering Heights.
[edit] Adaptations
The novel was adapted into two television films, both of which were made by the BBC. The 1968 version starred Janet Munro, while Tara Fitzgerald, Toby Stephens, Rupert Graves and James Purefoy starred in the 1996 version.
[edit] External links
