Reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Oxford World's Classics)
By Anne Brontë

In January, I read Jane Eyre. February's book was Villette. In March the book was The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. And I have to say, The Tennant of Wildfell Hall is now another favorite!

I happened upon this book when my friend Dana told me that I should take a break from Charlotte. Charlotte's books are considered Victorian Gothic somewhat dark and heavy and I would agree. Although well written they are slowly falling down on my list of favorite reads! Taking Dana's advice but not wanting to stop with my Quest of reading the works from the Bronte sisters, I picked up a book by Anne. Not knowing what was in store for me, I was so extremely happy that Anne blew me out of the water! You see, unlike Charlotte who write to change your perception of yourself and of others and also views that readers should come away from a novel changed or the author did not write effectively, Anne wrote for her own enjoyment and loved the "rascals" she created. Because of this you can tell the moment you read the first page. I was captured with in two pages and sailed through the book which was comical and dramatic. (Well Actually I didn't sail through it, I actually read it through 4 states-- we are traveling.)

Anne's book, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is excellent. And I do believe ALL women should read it! And those Mommies who are worried about their teenage daughters marring someone not so Christian in virtues should require it to be read out loud and be discussed!

Simple put, the book, "chronicles the disillusionment, heartbreak and final devastation of an intelligent woman who falls in love with a rake." Now why would Anne write such a book? Well, the same reason why Romance Writers write today! However unlike the authors today she answers the question, "What woman wouldn't want to marry a dashing, reckless, dissolute fellow -- self destructive and careless of others-- and reform him through love?" Anne takes the question further when she answers it by writing a cautionary tale against such desires.

I didn't have a favorite quote out of this book. Mainly because I highlighted passages of great dialogue! I simply can not pick. Several passages stood out to me though that I just thought would be excellent for Today's Woman! For example, I loved the passage when she is defending her right to keep her son close to her instead of sending him off to school. Anne has the heroin of her book rebuking a pesty nosy person. This person thinks she is over protecting her son. The heroine of the book says, "I am to send him to school, I suppose, to learn to despise his mother's authority and affection!"

Another thing that struck me was the fact that Anne put in a paragraph where the rake was trying to win the heroines affection by going to church and trying to fool the aunt and heroin of his virtues. The rake says, "Its Sunday today isn't it? I'll go to church morning, afternoon, and evening, and comport myself in such a godly sort that you aunt shall regard me with admiration and sisterly love, as a brand plucked from the burning. " Well he goes to church and the heroin who loves this rake sees his behavior but still believes she can reform him. She says, "I must confess, I did not like his conduct during service at all. Holding his prayer book upside down, or open at any place but the right, he did nothing but stare about him, unless he happened to catch my aunt's eye or mine." -- Isn't this just like women today. They see the fruits but believe that their man will change. How said to live with the fact that "Women marry to change the man but the man marries for the woman to never change!"

The book is filled with wonderful Bible scripture and passages that are entwined with in the plot. And although you have to read the devastation that comes about from marrying this rake, and since Divorce was unheard of in the 1800's, I shall NOT tell you how the heroin finds true love! You must go get the book!