Today it’s B for Bronte and I pick Charlotte Bronte (of Jane Eyre) over her sister Emily (of Wuthering Heights). Plenty of comparisons have been made between the sisters and I side with Charlotte simply because I prefer Jane’s level headedness to Catherine’s waywardness.
.. made for quite a literary threesome. After Charlotte and Emily were brought back from the school, the girls read at home. They created an imaginary world and wrote about people who lived in that world. The three were all accomplished writers and poetesses as well. They even financed and published a book of poems together under the names of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell – keeping the same initials as their real names.
Tomorrow dear readers, for the letter C, I jump forward in time and pick a contemporary Indian author. Guesses, anyone?
If Austen’s works lacked emotion here was an author who could most certainly not be blamed for that. Jane Eyre is proof enough. Whether it was Rochester passionately in love, enough to hide away his first wife or Jane herself who hears his impassioned cries across the miles – oh yes passion there’s a plenty.
Her life in her books
Charlotte drew heavily from her life while writing. At 8 she and three of her sisters were sent to the Clergy Daughter’s School in Lancashire. She hated it there. Two of her sisters died there of Tuberculosis. This school makes an appearance in Jane Eyre as the Lowood School. Her experiences as a governess became Jane’s too.
Charlotte, Emily and Anne..
.. made for quite a literary threesome. After Charlotte and Emily were brought back from the school, the girls read at home. They created an imaginary world and wrote about people who lived in that world. The three were all accomplished writers and poetesses as well. They even financed and published a book of poems together under the names of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell – keeping the same initials as their real names.
Charlotte wrote Jane Eyre under the same pen name, Currer Bell. The book was an instant success. She wrote three other novels – Shirley, Villette and The Professor – and some poetry, however none was as popular as Jane Eyre.
Her heroine was a plain Jane
Charlotte felt very strongly, that it wasn’t right for the heroine to always be beautiful. Her sisters insisted it was impossible to make a heroine interesting if she wasn’t beautiful, Charlotte vowed to prove them wrong. Said she, “I will prove to you that you are wrong; I will show you a heroine as plain as small as myself, who shall be as interesting as any of yours.” And so Jane was made plain (and named ‘Jane’!) yet how enchanting was she! Like Austen’s heroines she too was no weakling demanding to be judged for who she was rather than where she came from.
On Austen
Charlotte was critical of Jane Austen’s Works saying they lacked ‘heart’. She mentions as much in one of her letters in 1850, “The passions are perfectly unknown to her,” says she.
So pick your favourite now.. Charlotte, Emily or good old Austen – Jane, Catharine or Lizzy – Rochester, Heathcliff or Darcy?
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Tomorrow dear readers, for the letter C, I jump forward in time and pick a contemporary Indian author. Guesses, anyone?
This post is part of the April A to Z Challenge, 2014
Also linking to the Ultimate Blog Challenge.
Yet another common love….
"I will prove to you that you are wrong; I will show you a heroine as plain as small as myself, who shall be as interesting as any of yours." And how magnificently she proved that.
I had written a post on Jane Eyre…
I'd pick Charlotte and Jane over the others any day!!! To think that she made Jane such a strong character in that century!! I read the abridged version as a child and hated it then. Read the original as an adult and simply fell in love with it!!
Incidentally, i have read only Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights by the Bronte sisters. But now, i'm making a mental note and shall pick up these books for future reading!
I love the plain jane heroine! Thanks for the insightful article.
Jamie Dement (LadyJai)
My A to Z Challenge
Caring for My Veteran
Me too Jamie.. a plain heroine is a rare one. Thanks for dropping by.
Tulika, after Austen, I was rather hoping for Bronte and here you are with your post. 🙂
That said, I would pick Heathcliff over Rochester, any day. But that's probably because I read Jane Eyre when I was too young for it. Look forward to what C brings.
Cheers,
Monica
Welcome here Monica. Do try Jane again.
That's a very critical and well explained point of view. Lovely article, indeed.
And btw, are we having Chetan Bhagat over? lemme know if my guess is correct 🙂
No no no and no again.
I refuse to choose. I love them all. I loved that Bronte's heroines were plain Janes. Great choice of authors. And I cannot guess tomorrow's author because I remember someone did over at our conversation on WT.
Hugs!
Lol.. Vidya.. so you know! It's the season for 'leaking' question papers it seems! Yeah I love them all too. All wonderful in their own way.
Very cool! I learned a lot that I didn't know about these characters.
Shawn from Laughing at Life 2
Welcome here Shawn.
This was wonderful…I think Jane Austen created timeless characters…Charlotte Bronte was a beautiful character 🙂
I thought so too. She didn't need to be beautiful at all.
Its nice to read about authors I didn't know, makes me feel Dumb at times 🙂
Hey Ananya I don;t think there's anyone in the world who has read them all.. so there. Besides, it's never too late to start off.
i never read those!! but aftr readin dis post n d response, am definitely adding it to my list 🙂
i never read those!! but aftr readin dis post n d response, am definitely adding it to my list 🙂
Try them Swathi and do tell me which was your favourite.
Jane Eyre
I just wanna grab that book and read it all over again..
Not a bad idea at all.
Jane Eyre and Rochester–definitely the most romantic couple, in my book!
Good choice Elaine.
Again one f my fav…. made me go back to school days when I read all these… 🙂
Glad you liked it.
Wuthering heights was once a big favorite, read most books:-) May maybe will again now- thanks for reminding me in this wonderful way:-) And of characters…. Aaahhh Mr Darcy *Sigh*
😀 Mr Darcy.. The strong silent one.
I prefer Charlotte, actually, but Jane Eyre was a great book too, as was Pride and Prejudice. 🙂
The Doglady's Den
It's a tough choice Debbie.
get always confused with those "period women writers"…And then there is "Little Women".. Maybe because I read them when I was not much into books..I never noticed the minute differences like passion and "character sketches" etc… All had so many characters, with old English dialogues..
And C is for Chetan Bhagat I suppose…
Little women is a story for another day. Read them again Archana, I'm sure you'll like them better.
I'm not much of a Bronte reader, have tried only Wuthering Heights… will pick them up some time 🙂
Do that Sreeja
Austen forever and of course our lovely Darcy!! 😀
Richa
Me too Richa… I like her restraint.
As much as I love Austen, Charlotte may be right about her characters having a lot more depth and resonance. Austen's are happier reads than Jane Eyre or Emily's 'Wuthering Heights' of course!
Now we know who you are not featuring for C or I'm hoping not – a certain Mr Bhagat! 😉
He's there by not being there!
I have never read the Bronte sisters either but your post here leaves me intrigued! ♥
Jane Eyre's a good place to start Kathy.
Humph!! So much for suspense.
And is C for Chitra Banerjee ??
Never read the Bronte sisters!! Loved this post … will add them to my wishlist 🙂
Try them Priya.. Pretty intense and great reads.
It's been ages ago that I read the Bronte sisters!! Must read them again!! And tomorrow is it Chetan Bhagat?
Everyone loves to hate Chetan Bhagat!!! Nope, not him.
Wuthering Heights an all time favorite .. You have set up classic mood..need to pick up an old book and re read
That's the idea. But no more classics tomorrow.
Never picked up Bronte, may it is time. 🙂
Do that Maggie.
Darcy Darcy all the way 🙂 I somehow loved his non chalant yet charming persona 🙂
another beautiful post…
That seems to be the consensus :-D.
I'll be honest…never really got into Wuthering Heights but I did like Jane Eyre. I know everyone seems to love Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights but yeah…wasn't for me. 🙂
Well he was a sulky, angry character.. not so pleasant even though he loved Cathy.
Thanks Tulika yet again for rekindling old love! Wuthering Heights is amongst my fav!
🙂
I found Heathcliffe a little creepy though I enjoyed Wuthering Heights immensely. Yes I think Jane Eyre was more believable. Still Darcy's my man and Lizzy my favourite heroine, so I'll take Austen over the Brontes. Enjoying your posts Tulika.
Creepy he certainly was. In fact I found the book a little too dark when I first read it. Jane Eyre's nicer and Darcy/Colin Firth…sigh!
Chetan Bhagat is next???
Pinksocks.. Galat jawab. Here's another clue – it's a lady again.
You are my sister from another mother 🙂 How I love the Bronte sisters. And Jane Eyre occupies a place of pride in my bookshelf.
And please tell me you haven't picked that dreaded Indian author who goes by CB for tomorrow. I will commit virtual suicide. Then again, it is you writing, so here's hoping 😉
You can breathe, my child.. Chetan Bhagat, it is not. Though I won't say I wasn't tempted.. Lousy sentence construction, I know.. but then we're talking Chetan Bhagat. Gosh! that's mean!
love the Bronte sisters too..so many memories 🙂
We all grew up on them. What a family it must have been, isn't it?
You are my new best friend!!! Jane Eyre is my favorite, again!!!! 🙂 🙂
:-D.. let's hope we concur all the way.
You triggered memories of many years ago. Thank you for encouraging me to revisit those books.
I am glad Carol. They are all worth a re-read.
Oh Tulika, you are taking me back to my school years…I used to love reading Bronte sisters 🙂
Fun isn't it?
I love the picture at the top of your blog! I'm stopping in from the A to Z Challenge. Nice to meet you! – Margo – http://www.margokelly.blogspot.com
Thanks for visiting Margo.
I love the Bronte sisters and Charlotte is definitely my favorite! I remember being in love with Heathcliff!! Oh you made me feel so happy with this post
Oh yes Heathcliff was that angry yet tragic hero one could fall in love with.