Jane EyreAnd the Life of the Bronte Sisters

The Bronte Sisters’ Literary Career• 1845 --Charlotte came by accident upon a number of

poems that Emily had written. • 1846 –The 3 sisters published their poems, at their

own expense, as poems, by Crurrer, Ellis and Acton Bell. (Only 2 copies of the poems were sold.)• 1847 -- Anne’s novel Agnes Grey & Emily’s

Wuthering Heights were both accepted for publication, while Charlotte’s first novel The Professor was rejected by one publisher after another. … Jane Eyre, was published in October. It was immediately very popular, outselling Wuthering Heights ….

The Bronte Sisters• Maria’s and Elizabether’s deaths in the Clergy Daughters

School • [publication of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre in 1847]• Sept. 1848-- Barnwell died. ( John Reed)• Dec. 1848 -- Emily died. • May 1849 – Ann, too, died. Charlotte, as a novelist of several

books, became acquainted with Mrs. Gaskell & William Thackeray.

• 1855-- Charlotte died in childbirth. • The Bronte Sisters – Literary Aspiration in their lonely and drab

lives. • 4:32—the painting, and Emily and Ann out in nature (rose vs.

holy bush)• 14:00—letter from Southey • 1:10 – Emily’s poems 1:16 publication of their novels• 1:38 –illness and death of Emily• 1:50 – Charlotte at the concert hall

Major Questions re. Jane Eyre

• Jane Eyre’s Quest: what does she desire? How does she quest for what she desires? Is she in any way compromised? • Passion and Conscience: How does she deal with her

passion?• Religion and Charity: Do they support or obstruct Jane’s

quest?• Society and Class Differences: how are social identities

(e.g. The Reeds, Bessie, Helen Burns, etc.) and social problems (Lowood) presented? • Jane Eyre the narrator: how does she position herself

between Jane the character and the reader? • Is the novel feminist*?

Note: A True Lady is…

• Jane: [women should not be confined] 'to making pudding and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags‘ (XII)

• a true lady is . . . sweet and delicate and refined. . . her sphere is to cheer, to refine, to beautify, to bless. The opportunities and influence she may acquire (by behaving thus), she may turn to the noblest and holiest purposes.

---- Hints on Etiquette (1843) Charles William Day

Next Week• Chaps I – X (Jane’s life in Gateshead and Lowood)