Diana - Tenant - ch 1-5

After our discussions about women writing under pen names, I found it interesting that in the preface to the second edition, Bronte writes, "I am satisfied that if a book is a good one, it is so whatever the sex of the author may be" (5). She hid her identity, in part because she felt the topics in her book would not be taken seriously if they were known to be written by a woman.

The gritty topics of alcoholism, domestic violence, and adultery in this book shocked me, particularly because Bronte wrote in the early 1800s. I thought entertainment of the time would reflect what I supposed to be the generally Puritan morals most people embraced. However, I recently discovered that in the 1780s, one in three young women who got married in Massachusetts were already pregnant when they married. So much for Puritan ideals.

Bronte makes liberal use of foreshadowing, as when Gilbert makes an odd, intimate statement upon his first meeting Mrs. Graham. "I would rather admire you from this distance, fair lady, than be the partner of your home" (15).

As the mother of four sons, I laughed when I read Mrs. Markham's comment about the vicar. "I wish to goodness he had a son himself! He wouldn't be so ready with his advice to other people then;--he'd see what it is to have a couple of boys to keep in order" (17).

Bronte gives us excellent insight into her characters, as when Gilbert thinks, "She thinks me an impudent puppy. Humph!--she shall change her mind before long, if I think it worth while" (15). Here we see not only Gilbert's peevish, immature manner, but we also get a glimpse at how he thinks of himself. He's confident that he can gain her interest if he deems her worthy and puts his mind to attracting her.

Anne Bronte treats us to the same dry humor Jane Austen exhibited in Emma, which will make Tenant an enjoyable read. "Mrs. Wilson...oft repeated observations, uttered apparently for the sole purpose of denying a moment's rest to her inexhaustible organs of speech. She had brought her knitting with her, and it seemed as if her tongue had laid a wager with her fingers, to outdo them in swift and ceaseless motion" (33).

I'm looking forward to seeing how Bronte develops the story.