No particular reason for the timing of this post, perhaps because of the ruling on the Jane Austen Twitter abuse case (in which a woman threatened another woman with rape because the other woman campaigned to put the face of one of the most famous authors in the world on a £10 note – some people are just crazy) but at least it got me thinking about these fantastic women of the 19th century. The 19th century was not exactly a feminist period, women still didn’t vote, they wore corsets that barley allowed them to breathe and their main responsibilities were still confined to the house (nothing is wrong with that as long as it is BY CHOICE!).
In a bizarre ironic way this might have been the very reason women such as Austen and the Bronte sisters became writers, women were not studying trade, they were focusing on literature studies which made them educated but in a “polite and proper manner”, they were probably bored from all the social visits to cousins and neighbours, thus in between teas and lunches they became prolific writers. However great these ladies are I definitely favour the Bronte sisters one hundred percent (at least Charlotte and Emily I admit I haven’t read Ann yet)
I completely agree that Jayne Austen’s writing is beautiful, however I always resented the what and not the how: her books are always about society girls that want to get married, more of gossip stories of socialites, indeed she describes accurately and in a most sensitive way the social traps of women at that age but she never seemed to try to break out of it, her heroines are always playing within the rules society dictates which I find a bit dull (just a personal view). I understand that life for women of the 19th century were quite limited to the house, marriage, children and gossip but one would hope, at least in fantasy world, a prolific novelist can push these boundaries a little bit.
The Bronte sisters are a different story, their books are filled with complex, tormented characters with tragic circumstances, the heart is torn between love and fear of Mr. Rochester and a love hate relationship with Heathcliff. These characters are suffering from the same limitations society is putting on them either by class or by gender, but they are making far more bold choices and are living turbulent lives as expected from a good gothic novel.
As a child Mr Rochester of Jane Eyre used to haunt me in my dreams, him and his crazy wife that you heard her screams in the nights – even now I get shivers down my spine. And Heathcliff, ohh the revenge crazed Heathcliff that nothing good will come out from his deeds but boy don’t we all love him? These stories were filled with passion and unattained love, these stories criticised society life of the 19th century in a much more bald way than the subtle politeness of Jane Austen
So as much as I am delighted in having Jane Austen decorate the £10 note I still prefer the bold and the dangerous Bronte sisters.
einatsohar 