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A review by aeshred
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
***slight spoilers ahead***
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë has rapidly shot up to join the ranks of my favorite novels of all time, the ones that I would not hesitate to recommend and rave about to anyone who asks. While it is mostly well known and regarded as a feminist novel, I would venture to say that it is even more than that. Barring the difficult language, as it usually is with classics (especially to someone like me who has English as my third language), its writing and the themes it explores throughout the book transcends time and could have been written through the modern lens of someone from the 21st century. It presents an argument on how children are raised, double standards, the independence and rights of women, divorce and domestic violence in different forms. Furthermore, though not as obvious as the others, I believe that it also presents a criticism on Christian morality and belief through Helen Huntingdon’s own personal beliefs (that could be annoying at times with how sanctimonious she can be) and how it has both positively and negatively affected her decisions.
With that said, Anne really does not hold back her punches in writing her characters as all of them are extremely flawed in many ways, even Helen and Gilbert. Especially Helen and Gilbert. They can be uncomfortable at best and extremely unlikeable at worst but these flaws, I believe, give more emphasis to their character development. This applies to other characters as well, wherein sometimes, some of them become even more flawed and worse than they were at the beginning of the novel.
Helen could be, as mentioned, sanctimonious and infuriating in some of her decisions but later on she learned from some of them and she did reap the consequences of these choices but she is also a strong-willed, independent and committed woman. Gilbert can be seriously petty and dramatic and might have anger issues but he admonishes himself for it and openly admits his previous mistakes in judgment. Characters like Arthur Huntingdon may be a rage-inducing asshole but he is realistic and Arthur as thecheating alcoholic husband who emotionally and psychologically abuses his wife exists in real life.
Understandably, these characters can be difficult to read and I admittedly had to put down the book a couple of times due to how enraged or astounded I was at their thoughts and actions. Nevertheless, as I believed that they were written this way intentionally and character behaviors and traits have paralleled each other, or their development later on throughout my reading, I was able to enjoy the book as it is. I ended up loving how these characters and their circumstances were written, flawed and infuriating as they are.
Hence, I think this is such an important and insightful novel that is worth a read and should be revisited, whether we liked it or hated it the first time.
tldr;
- very modern ideas despite its date of writing
- includes themes on child rearing, morality and feminism
- epistolary format, unreliable narrators
- character-driven, flawed characters that either learns and grows or gets even worse
- very slow paced
Recommendation:
Though it is a fairly digestible novel as compared to some of the classics I’ve read (though they are few), I think that this book is best read with a pre-existing knowledge on the circumstances and societal norms at that time. Furthermore, Anne’s author preface is an important read before diving into the novel as it gives us a perspective on the mindset she has as she wrote this and provides a deeper understanding on the complexities of the very flawed and sometimes unlikeable traits of her characters.
It is a book that benefits more when read slowly and with intention and patience, and quite frankly, should I have read this at an earlier time of my life, I might have even disliked it knowing what my preferred reading pace used to be. Perhaps what helped me get through this book and end up liking it as much as I do now is because I came in reading this with the intention to annotate and reread passages of the book, and that might not be for everyone. But if you like to sit on a book for a while, annotate, get pissed off some characters regarding their choices, actions, beliefs and thoughts, and take your sweet sweet time reading (and googling words every now and then if you’re like me who has a hard time with classics), then this might be your cup of tea.
Some of my favorite passages/quotes from the book and its context in my own words:
“Because, my dear, beauty is that quality which, next to money, is generally the most attractive to the worst kinds of men; and, therefore, it is likely to entail a great deal of trouble on the possessor.”
- Helen’s aunt speaking facts and predicting her future
“...but if I hate the sins I love the sinner, and would do much for his salvation…”
- Helen in her "i can fix him" era with her toxic crush
"My cup of sweets is not unmingled; it is dashed with a bitterness that I cannot hide from myself, disguise it as I will. I may try to persuade myself that the sweetness overpowers it; I may call it a pleasant aromatic flavour; but say what I will, it is still there, and I cannot but taste it.”
- just Helen being in denial that her husband’s an ass
“...he knows he is my sun, but when he chooses to withhold his light, he would have my sky to be all darkness; he cannot bear that I should have a moon to mitigate the deprivation.”
- Helen about Arthur isolating her, toxic asf but the line is pretty
Note:
Might reread in the future after I’ve read all the works of the Brontë sisters.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë has rapidly shot up to join the ranks of my favorite novels of all time, the ones that I would not hesitate to recommend and rave about to anyone who asks. While it is mostly well known and regarded as a feminist novel, I would venture to say that it is even more than that. Barring the difficult language, as it usually is with classics (especially to someone like me who has English as my third language), its writing and the themes it explores throughout the book transcends time and could have been written through the modern lens of someone from the 21st century. It presents an argument on how children are raised, double standards, the independence and rights of women, divorce and domestic violence in different forms. Furthermore, though not as obvious as the others, I believe that it also presents a criticism on Christian morality and belief through Helen Huntingdon’s own personal beliefs (that could be annoying at times with how sanctimonious she can be) and how it has both positively and negatively affected her decisions.
With that said, Anne really does not hold back her punches in writing her characters as all of them are extremely flawed in many ways, even Helen and Gilbert. Especially Helen and Gilbert. They can be uncomfortable at best and extremely unlikeable at worst but these flaws, I believe, give more emphasis to their character development. This applies to other characters as well, wherein sometimes, some of them become even more flawed and worse than they were at the beginning of the novel.
Helen could be, as mentioned, sanctimonious and infuriating in some of her decisions but later on she learned from some of them and she did reap the consequences of these choices but she is also a strong-willed, independent and committed woman. Gilbert can be seriously petty and dramatic and might have anger issues but he admonishes himself for it and openly admits his previous mistakes in judgment. Characters like Arthur Huntingdon may be a rage-inducing asshole but he is realistic and Arthur as the
Understandably, these characters can be difficult to read and I admittedly had to put down the book a couple of times due to how enraged or astounded I was at their thoughts and actions. Nevertheless, as I believed that they were written this way intentionally and character behaviors and traits have paralleled each other, or their development later on throughout my reading, I was able to enjoy the book as it is. I ended up loving how these characters and their circumstances were written, flawed and infuriating as they are.
Hence, I think this is such an important and insightful novel that is worth a read and should be revisited, whether we liked it or hated it the first time.
tldr;
- very modern ideas despite its date of writing
- includes themes on child rearing, morality and feminism
- epistolary format, unreliable narrators
- character-driven, flawed characters that either learns and grows or gets even worse
- very slow paced
Recommendation:
Though it is a fairly digestible novel as compared to some of the classics I’ve read (though they are few), I think that this book is best read with a pre-existing knowledge on the circumstances and societal norms at that time. Furthermore, Anne’s author preface is an important read before diving into the novel as it gives us a perspective on the mindset she has as she wrote this and provides a deeper understanding on the complexities of the very flawed and sometimes unlikeable traits of her characters.
It is a book that benefits more when read slowly and with intention and patience, and quite frankly, should I have read this at an earlier time of my life, I might have even disliked it knowing what my preferred reading pace used to be. Perhaps what helped me get through this book and end up liking it as much as I do now is because I came in reading this with the intention to annotate and reread passages of the book, and that might not be for everyone. But if you like to sit on a book for a while, annotate, get pissed off some characters regarding their choices, actions, beliefs and thoughts, and take your sweet sweet time reading (and googling words every now and then if you’re like me who has a hard time with classics), then this might be your cup of tea.
Some of my favorite passages/quotes from the book and its context in my own words:
“Because, my dear, beauty is that quality which, next to money, is generally the most attractive to the worst kinds of men; and, therefore, it is likely to entail a great deal of trouble on the possessor.”
- Helen’s aunt speaking facts and predicting her future
“...but if I hate the sins I love the sinner, and would do much for his salvation…”
- Helen in her "i can fix him" era with her toxic crush
"My cup of sweets is not unmingled; it is dashed with a bitterness that I cannot hide from myself, disguise it as I will. I may try to persuade myself that the sweetness overpowers it; I may call it a pleasant aromatic flavour; but say what I will, it is still there, and I cannot but taste it.”
- just Helen being in denial that her husband’s an ass
“...he knows he is my sun, but when he chooses to withhold his light, he would have my sky to be all darkness; he cannot bear that I should have a moon to mitigate the deprivation.”
- Helen about Arthur isolating her, toxic asf but the line is pretty
Note:
Might reread in the future after I’ve read all the works of the Brontë sisters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting