Charlotte BrontëCharlotte Brontë(21 April 1816 – 31 March 1855)(21 April 1816 – 31 March 1855)

BiographyBiography

Charlotte was born in Charlotte was born in ThorntonThornton, , YorkshireYorkshire in 1816, the third of six in 1816, the third of six children, to children, to MariaMaria and her husband and her husband PatrickPatrick BrontëBrontë an an IrishIrish AnglicanAnglican clergymanclergyman. In 1820, the . In 1820, the familyfamily moved a few miles to moved a few miles to HaworthHaworth, , where Patrick had been appointed where Patrick had been appointed PerpetualPerpetual CurateCurate. .

Mrs Brontë died of cancer on Mrs Brontë died of cancer on 15 September 1821, leaving 15 September 1821, leaving five daughters and a son to be five daughters and a son to be taken care of by her sister taken care of by her sister Elizabeth Branwell.Elizabeth Branwell.

In August 1824, Charlotte was In August 1824, Charlotte was sent with three of her sisters, sent with three of her sisters, EmilyEmily, Maria, and Elizabeth, to , Maria, and Elizabeth, to the Clergy Daughters' School at the Clergy Daughters' School at Cowan BridgeCowan Bridge in in LancashireLancashire (which she would describe as (which she would describe as Lowood School in Lowood School in Jane EyreJane Eyre).).

CHARLOTTE AND HER SISTERSCHARLOTTE AND HER SISTERS

Its poor conditions, Charlotte Its poor conditions, Charlotte maintained, permanently affected maintained, permanently affected her health and physical her health and physical development and hastened the development and hastened the deaths of her two elder sisters, deaths of her two elder sisters, Maria (born 1814) and Elizabeth Maria (born 1814) and Elizabeth (born 1815), who died of (born 1815), who died of tuberculosistuberculosis in June 1825 soon in June 1825 soon after their father removed them after their father removed them from the school on 1 June.from the school on 1 June.

At home in At home in Haworth ParsonageHaworth Parsonage, , Charlotte and the other surviving Charlotte and the other surviving children — children — BranwellBranwell, , EmilyEmily, and , and AnneAnne — began chronicling the — began chronicling the lives and struggles of the lives and struggles of the inhabitants of their imaginary inhabitants of their imaginary kingdoms. Charlotte and Branwell kingdoms. Charlotte and Branwell wrote Byronic stories about their wrote Byronic stories about their country — Angria — and Emily country — Angria — and Emily and Anne wrote articles and and Anne wrote articles and poems about theirs — Gondal. poems about theirs — Gondal.

Charlotte continued her Charlotte continued her education at Roe Head, education at Roe Head, MirfieldMirfield, from 1831 to 1832, , from 1831 to 1832, where she met her lifelong where she met her lifelong friends and correspondents, friends and correspondents, Ellen NusseyEllen Nussey and Mary and Mary Taylor.During this period, she Taylor.During this period, she wrote her novella wrote her novella The Green DwarfThe Green Dwarf (1833) under (1833) under the name of Wellesley. the name of Wellesley.

Charlotte returned as a teacher Charlotte returned as a teacher from 1835 to 1838. In 1839, from 1835 to 1838. In 1839, she took up the first of many she took up the first of many positions as governess to positions as governess to various families in various families in YorkshireYorkshire, a , a career she pursued until 1841.career she pursued until 1841.

In 1842 she and Emily travelled In 1842 she and Emily travelled to to BrusselsBrussels to enroll in a to enroll in a boarding school run by boarding school run by Constantin HegerConstantin Heger (1809 – 1896) (1809 – 1896) and his wife Claire Zoé Parent and his wife Claire Zoé Parent Heger (1814 – 1891). Heger (1814 – 1891).

Charlotte returned alone to Charlotte returned alone to Brussels in January 1843 to take Brussels in January 1843 to take up a teaching post at the boarding up a teaching post at the boarding school. Her second stay at the school. Her second stay at the boarding school was not a happy boarding school was not a happy one; she became lonely, homesick one; she became lonely, homesick and deeply attached to and deeply attached to Constantin HegerConstantin Heger. .

She finally returned to Haworth She finally returned to Haworth in January 1844 and later used in January 1844 and later used her time at the boarding school her time at the boarding school as the inspiration for some of as the inspiration for some of The ProfessorThe Professor and and VilletteVillette..

In May 1846, Charlotte, Emily, In May 1846, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne published a joint and Anne published a joint collection of poetry under the collection of poetry under the assumed names of Currer, Ellis assumed names of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell. Although only and Acton Bell. Although only two copies were sold, the two copies were sold, the sisters continued writing for sisters continued writing for publication and began their publication and began their first novels. Charlotte used first novels. Charlotte used "Currer Bell" when she "Currer Bell" when she published her first two novelspublished her first two novels. . Brontë later wroteBrontë later wrote : :

Indeed, her novels were deemed coarse by the Indeed, her novels were deemed coarse by the critics.[critics.[citation neededcitation needed] There was speculation ] There was speculation about the identity of Currer Bell, and whether about the identity of Currer Bell, and whether Bell was a man or a woman.Bell was a man or a woman.

Title page of the first edition of Jane Eyre.

Charlotte's brother, Branwell, Charlotte's brother, Branwell, the only son of the family, died the only son of the family, died of of chronic bronchitischronic bronchitis and and marasmusmarasmus exacerbated by exacerbated by heavy drinking in September heavy drinking in September 18481848..

AAlthough Charlotte believed his lthough Charlotte believed his death was due to death was due to tuberculosistuberculosis. . Branwell was also a suspected "Branwell was also a suspected "opiumopium eater", (i.e. a eater", (i.e. a laudanumlaudanum addict). Emily and Anne both died addict). Emily and Anne both died of pulmonary tuberculosis in of pulmonary tuberculosis in December 1848 and May 1849, December 1848 and May 1849, respectively.respectively.

Charlotte and her father were now Charlotte and her father were now left alone together. In view of the left alone together. In view of the enormous success of enormous success of Jane EyreJane Eyre, , she was persuaded by her she was persuaded by her publisher to visit publisher to visit LondonLondon occasionally, where she revealed occasionally, where she revealed her true identity and began to her true identity and began to move in a more exalted social move in a more exalted social circle, becoming friends with circle, becoming friends with Harriet MartineauHarriet Martineau, , Elizabeth GaskellElizabeth Gaskell, , William Makepeace ThackerayWilliam Makepeace Thackeray and and G. H. LewesG. H. Lewes. .

Her book had sparked a Her book had sparked a movement in regards to movement in regards to feminismfeminism in literature. The in literature. The main character, main character, Jane EyreJane Eyre, in , in her novel her novel Jane EyreJane Eyre, was a , was a parallel to herself, a woman parallel to herself, a woman who was strong. However, she who was strong. However, she never left Haworth for more never left Haworth for more than a few weeks at a time as than a few weeks at a time as she did not want to leave her she did not want to leave her aging father's side.aging father's side.

Then is the authoress, the Then is the authoress, the unknown power whose books unknown power whose books have set all London talking, have set all London talking, reading, speculating; some reading, speculating; some people even say our father people even say our father wrote the books - the wrote the books - the wonderful books... wonderful books...

The moment is so breathless The moment is so breathless that dinner comes as a relief to that dinner comes as a relief to the solemnity of the occasion, the solemnity of the occasion, and we all smile as my father and we all smile as my father stoops to offer his arm; for, stoops to offer his arm; for, genius though she may be, genius though she may be, Miss Brontë can barely reach Miss Brontë can barely reach his elbow. his elbow.

Miss Brontë retired to the sofa Miss Brontë retired to the sofa in the study, and murmured a in the study, and murmured a low word now and then to our low word now and then to our kind governess... the kind governess... the conversation grew dimmer and conversation grew dimmer and more dim, the ladies sat round more dim, the ladies sat round still expectant, my father was still expectant, my father was too much perturbed by the too much perturbed by the gloom and the silence to be gloom and the silence to be able to cope with it at all...able to cope with it at all...

AAfter Miss Brontë had left, I fter Miss Brontë had left, I was surprised to see my father was surprised to see my father opening the front door with his opening the front door with his hat on. He put his fingers to his hat on. He put his fingers to his lips, walked out into the lips, walked out into the darkness, and shut the door darkness, and shut the door quietly behind him... long quietly behind him... long afterwards... Mrs. Procter afterwards... Mrs. Procter asked me if I knew what had asked me if I knew what had happened... It was one of the happened... It was one of the dullest evenings... dullest evenings...

The ladies who had all come The ladies who had all come expecting so much delightful expecting so much delightful conversation, and the gloom and conversation, and the gloom and the constraint, and how finally, the constraint, and how finally, overwhelmed by the situation, my overwhelmed by the situation, my father had quietly left the room, father had quietly left the room, left the house, and gone off to his left the house, and gone off to his club.”club.”

In June 1854, Charlotte married In June 1854, Charlotte married Arthur Bell Nicholls, her father's , Arthur Bell Nicholls, her father's , and became pregnant soon and became pregnant soon thereafter. Her health declined thereafter. Her health declined rapidly during this time, and rapidly during this time, and according to Gaskell, her earliest according to Gaskell, her earliest biographerbiographer

SShe was attacked by "sensations of he was attacked by "sensations of perpetual nausea and ever-perpetual nausea and ever-recurring faintness."Charlotte recurring faintness."Charlotte died, along with her unborn child, died, along with her unborn child, on 31 March 1855, at the young on 31 March 1855, at the young age of 38age of 38. .

Her death certificate gives the Her death certificate gives the cause of death as cause of death as (tuberculosis), but many (tuberculosis), but many biographers suggest she may biographers suggest she may have died from dehydration have died from dehydration and malnourishment, caused and malnourishment, caused by excessive vomiting from by excessive vomiting from severe. severe.

There is also evidence to suggest that There is also evidence to suggest that Charlotte died from she may have Charlotte died from she may have caught from Tabitha Ackroyd, the caught from Tabitha Ackroyd, the Brontë household's oldest servant, Brontë household's oldest servant, who died shortly before her. who died shortly before her. Charlotte was interred in the family Charlotte was interred in the family vault in The Church of St. Michael vault in The Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Haworth, West and All Angels, Haworth, West Yorkshire, England.Yorkshire, England.

The posthumous biography of The posthumous biography of Charlotte Brontë by Gaskell, was the Charlotte Brontë by Gaskell, was the first of many biographies about first of many biographies about Charlotte to be published. Though Charlotte to be published. Though frank in places, Gaskell suppressed frank in places, Gaskell suppressed details of Charlotte's love for Heger, details of Charlotte's love for Heger, a married man, as being too much of a married man, as being too much of an affront to contemporary morals an affront to contemporary morals and as a possible source of distress to and as a possible source of distress to Charlotte's still-living friends, father Charlotte's still-living friends, father and husbandand husband (Lane 1853 178–183).(Lane 1853 178–183).

Gaskell also provided doubtful and Gaskell also provided doubtful and inaccurate information about Patrick inaccurate information about Patrick Brontë, claiming, for example, that Brontë, claiming, for example, that he did not allow his children to eat he did not allow his children to eat meat. This is refuted by one of Emily meat. This is refuted by one of Emily Brontë's diary papers, in which she Brontë's diary papers, in which she describes the preparation of meat and describes the preparation of meat and potatoes for dinner at the parsonage, potatoes for dinner at the parsonage, as points out in her recent biography, as points out in her recent biography, The BrontësThe Brontës..

Posthumously, her first-Posthumously, her first-written novel was published written novel was published in 1857, the fragment she in 1857, the fragment she worked on in her last years worked on in her last years in 1860 (twice completed by in 1860 (twice completed by recent authors, the more recent authors, the more famous version being famous version being : A : A Novel from the Unfinished Novel from the Unfinished Manuscript by Charlotte Manuscript by Charlotte BrontëBrontë by , 2003), and much by , 2003), and much Angria material over the Angria material over the ensuing decades.ensuing decades.

NovelsNovels published 1847 published 1847 published 1849 published 1849 published 1853 published 1853 written before written before Jane EyreJane Eyre, submitted , submitted

at first along with and , then at first along with and , then separately, and rejected in either form separately, and rejected in either form by many publishing houses, published by many publishing houses, published posthumously in 1857 posthumously in 1857

EmmaEmma, unfinished; Charlotte Brontë , unfinished; Charlotte Brontë wrote only 20 pages of the wrote only 20 pages of the manuscript, published posthumously manuscript, published posthumously in 1860. In recent decades, at least in 1860. In recent decades, at least two continuations of this fragment two continuations of this fragment have appeared: have appeared:

The year 1847 was a The year 1847 was a particularly eventful one for particularly eventful one for the Bronte family. Three the Bronte family. Three novels were published by novels were published by the Bronte sisters under the Bronte sisters under various pen names: various pen names: Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights by Ellis by Ellis Bell; Bell; Agnes GreyAgnes Grey by Acton by Acton Bell; and Bell; and Jane Eyre: Jane Eyre:

An AutobiographyAn Autobiography, edited by , edited by Currier Bell. Currier Bell. Jane EyreJane Eyre was was published in five parts and was published in five parts and was the talk of London. Charlotte the talk of London. Charlotte Bronte’s novel continues to have Bronte’s novel continues to have great impact on the reading world. great impact on the reading world. Her strong, lovely use of language Her strong, lovely use of language and head-on confrontation of and head-on confrontation of social issues of the day build a social issues of the day build a foundation for a story that is part foundation for a story that is part personal, part allegorical, and as personal, part allegorical, and as absorbing a tale today as it was absorbing a tale today as it was over a hundred years ago.over a hundred years ago.

JANE EYREJANE EYRE Jane Eyre, an orphan whose care Jane Eyre, an orphan whose care

is considered an onerous duty to is considered an onerous duty to her aunt by marriage, never fits in her aunt by marriage, never fits in with the spoiled, socially fixated with the spoiled, socially fixated family who consider her status far family who consider her status far beneath them. Banned from the beneath them. Banned from the company of her cousins, she curls company of her cousins, she curls up in a window seat with a book. up in a window seat with a book. The nine-year-old Jane strikes The nine-year-old Jane strikes back when her older cousin John back when her older cousin John finds her and punishes her for finds her and punishes her for touching part of his future touching part of his future inheritance. inheritance.

She is sent to Lowood, a school run She is sent to Lowood, a school run by a hypocritical minister. Though by a hypocritical minister. Though subjected to a starvation diet and subjected to a starvation diet and branded a liar by the nefarious man branded a liar by the nefarious man of God, Jane endures. Her mettle is of God, Jane endures. Her mettle is tested again and again, but through it tested again and again, but through it all she remains faithful to the all she remains faithful to the standard she has set for herself and standard she has set for herself and others.others.

She reaches adulthood and She reaches adulthood and leaves Lowood to become a leaves Lowood to become a governess at Thornhill. The governess at Thornhill. The mysterious, secret-burdened mysterious, secret-burdened Mr. Rochester wins Jane’s love Mr. Rochester wins Jane’s love and she his respect, reminding and she his respect, reminding him constantly that though she him constantly that though she is a poor, plain governess, she is a poor, plain governess, she is still his equal. He asks her to is still his equal. He asks her to marry him, and it seems Jane marry him, and it seems Jane will find happiness with this will find happiness with this arrogant, sad man. arrogant, sad man.

Fate steps in to keep Jane from Fate steps in to keep Jane from making the mistake of her life; making the mistake of her life; the marriage is thwarted at the the marriage is thwarted at the last minute, and Jane flees from last minute, and Jane flees from Thornhill penniless and alone. Thornhill penniless and alone. She finds a new life, a new She finds a new life, a new economic and social position, economic and social position, and eventually makes her way and eventually makes her way back to Thornhill to Rochester, back to Thornhill to Rochester, a man laid low by his insane a man laid low by his insane secret wife imprisoned in the secret wife imprisoned in the attic.attic.

Bronte uses her experience as Bronte uses her experience as teacher and governess to teacher and governess to address certain social address certain social ambiguities common in the ambiguities common in the 1800s. Though often better 1800s. Though often better educated than their employers, educated than their employers, governesses were socially far governesses were socially far below them, not quite servant below them, not quite servant but definitely not equal. but definitely not equal.

Morally, our heroine is several Morally, our heroine is several notches above the man she refers notches above the man she refers to as Master. Jane’s assertion to to as Master. Jane’s assertion to Rochester on more than one Rochester on more than one occasion that she is his equal is occasion that she is his equal is especially poignant. especially poignant.

She declines to become his She declines to become his mistress, preferring to choose a mistress, preferring to choose a path that leaves her penniless path that leaves her penniless but not morally bankrupt. She but not morally bankrupt. She declares, “The more solitary, declares, “The more solitary, the more friendless, the more the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself.”will respect myself.”

Stevie Davies’ introduction this Stevie Davies’ introduction this edition is a rich with insight edition is a rich with insight about Bronte’s life and the about Bronte’s life and the creation of this classic novel. creation of this classic novel. This is a great book to visit for This is a great book to visit for the first time during the long the first time during the long cold winter, or revisit for those cold winter, or revisit for those of us who haven’t picked it up of us who haven’t picked it up in a decade or so. Beautiful in a decade or so. Beautiful language never goes out of language never goes out of style.style.