Guiding Questions for Chapters I-XV
In the opening chapter, Gilbert and Fergus are explaining to their mother what they have spent the day doing. What is the significance of this brief scene?
What is the significance of the first description we get of Wildfell Hall in the long third paragraph of Chapter II?
Chapter III deals with the question of how to raise a young boy. What do you make of this debate, and does the novel come down on one side or the other?
Near the end of Chapter VI, Gilbert observes his mother and sister making busy preparations in the kitchen. How do you interpret the inclusion of this scene?
Fergus often says things out loud that others would only dare whisper in private. What do you think about his comments to Helen Graham in Chapter VII when he suggests that gossiping is a kind of game? Is it?
Chapter IX makes a big deal out of "eyes." What is their importance to this point in the novel?
In Chapter XII, Markham debates whether or not he should reveal his love to Helen. What do we make of the language he uses in trying to convince himself to do so?
Take a close look at the encounter between Gilbert and Mr. Lawrence in Chapter 14. How would you characterize Bronte's depiction of the assault?
The beginning of this book had many descriptions to set the scene, but the descriptions seemed to be from the general public’s point of view. In chapter two, the Wildfell Hall was described as “... cold and gloomy enough to inhabit, … its time-eaten air-holes, and its too lonely, too unsheltered situation”. I think this immediately puts prejudice on Mrs. Graham who lives there alone with her son and maid. They are already characterized as lonely people living away from society, which leads to much of the society judging them. As the book progressed, the narrator continuously builds a relationship with Helen, despite the prejudices. Eventually he gets a close relationship to her despite the fact that she didn’t want it. I think that is what makes the rumor that Mr. Lawrence may be Arthur’s father so heartbreaking to him, making him feel somewhat betrayed by Helen. Although he sees some characteristics that are similar, “Both, it is true, had more delicate features and smaller bones than commonly fall to the lot of individuals of the rougher sex”, he keeps on trying to tell himself that it is merely a rumor. This then leads into Gilbert’s later fight with Mr. Lawrence. He already strongly dislikes him after their brief conversation at the party, but his advice of staying away from Helen pushed him over the edge. I think Anne Bronte described this scene in the way that makes me feel that Gilbert is extremely jealous of Mr. Lawrence as his action “ was not without a feeling of savage satisfaction that [he] beheld the instant, deadly pallor that overspread his face, and the few red drops that trickled down his forehead, while [Mr. Lawrence] reeled a moment in his saddle, and then fell backward to the ground”. It feels like Gilbert’s jealousy of Mr. Lawrence’s relationship with Helen made him hit Mr. Lawrence and receive a fierce feeling of contentment. Even later in the chapter, it was clear that he didn’t regret his actions as he barely cared about Mr. Lawrence’s well-being after the encounter.
ReplyDeleteThis book to me feels like every teen romance I have ever read, but set in the 19th century! It feels like a book someone today would write about what they think a 19th century scandalous relationship would look like. Somewhere it felt ahead of its time was when Mrs. Graham was arguing with Mrs. Markham about how to raise Arthur, and although I’ll give it to Mrs. Graham that she is a bit of a helicopter parent, Mrs. Markham had no right to stay what she did especially in front of Arthur himself! Mrs. Graham said it best when she snapped back “‘Mrs. Markham, I beg you will not say such things, in his presence, at least. I trust my son will never be ashamed to love his mother!’” I think the novel does a really good thing when it shows both sides valid points, but at this moment Mrs. Graham won because you don’t scold a parent in front of their child; a child should think their parent is perfect for as long as they can because once you see them as a person you can’t go back to that innocent mind that you had before. In chapter IX there is a focus on the different characters eyes, Gilbert describes Eliza’s eyes saying they “lurked a something that [he] did not like; and [he] wondered how [he] ever could have admired them—her sister’s honest face and small grey optics appeared far more agreeable,” he describes Arthurs as “prematurely serious at times,” and he noticed Mr. Lawrence’s shy hazel eyes. I think the focus on eyes works as a way to introduce a trait of each character that we might’ve not noticed yet because it is said that eyes are the windows to the soul. Also the encounter between Lawrence and Gilbert in chapter 14 gave us a peek into the darker side of Gilbert, before I thought of him as a simple man in love, but now I see him as dark and a bit desperate. All in all I really liked these moments, they gave a good glimpse into the people we have been getting to know -- I’m excited to see how Mrs. Graham sees these people and how she sees Gilbert.
ReplyDeleteChapter III deals with the question of how to raise a young boy. What do you make of this debate, and does the novel come down on one side or the other?
ReplyDeleteThey talk of whether or not to introduce alcohol and such to a boy. Mrs. Graham would rather her son abstain while the town/Gilbert believe a boy should wade in the waters a bit. While i understand that they think she’s “coddling” her son, they’re being super hecking nosey. They haven’t seen the scariness of alcoholism so they don’t have perspective but if they did they would understand. But since they don’t I can’t fault them for that. Mrs. Graham is a progressive thinker, thank god, who believes “Such experience, to him (to use a trite simile), will be like the storm to the oak which, though it may scatter the leaves, and snap the smaller branches, serves but to rivet the roots, and to harden and condense the fibres of the tree. You would have us encourage our sons to prove all things by their own experience,
while our daughters must not even profit by the experience of others.” Gilbert’s mother thinks differently of course. She sees women as serving to men, and treats her children this way. She claims so highly of her son that “Then you must fall each into your proper place. You’ll do your business, and she, if she’s worthy of you, will do hers; but it's your business to please yourself, and hers to please you.”
Her poor daughter has to deal with a mother who believes her only purpose is to serve a man. No independence, no value. It’s utterly ridiculous. And yet, it is the point of view of Gilbert’s mother, and even Gilbert cause he has his dumb energy sometimes.
Chapter IX makes a big deal out of "eyes." What is their importance to this point in the novel?
Up to this point, Gilbert often describes and almost defines someone in his life by their eyes. His sister has “little merry brown eyes,” which means he sees his sister as an affectionate presence to him. Mrs. Graham’s “eyes I could not see, for, being bent upon her prayer-book, they were concealed by their drooping lids and long black lashes, but the brows above were expressive and well defined.” Her eyes are literally a mystery, as is much of her back story so to Gilbert for most of the novel, she is a curious presence that enraptures him. As for Eliza, in the beginning he sees her eyes as her biggest characterisic, “But her eyes—I must not forget those remarkable features, for therein her chief attraction lay—in outward aspect at least;—they were long and narrow in shape, the irids black, or very dark brown, the expression various, and ever changing, but always either preternaturally—I had almost said diabolically—wicked, or irresistibly bewitching—often both.” Despite his fascination, he sees how changing and wicked her eyes are, which at first attract him but ultimately repel him when he realizes her true nature which were revealed by her eyes in the first place. He finally realizes this in Chapter IX when Eliza is spreading rumors about Mrs. Graham and Gilbert sees “And she raised her face, and gave me such a look of sorrowful tenderness as might have melted my heart, but within those eyes there lurked a something that I did not like; and I wondered how I ever could have admired them—her sister’s honest face and small grey optics appeared far more agreeable.” Eyes are windows to the soul in this novel, which I can understand for Anne Bronte. You can see the drunkenness of a man in his eyes often, and the truth to a lie. Unsurprising that her main characteristics are supported by the eyes.
In chapter 1 Gilbert says “I would rather admire you from this distance, fair lady, than be the partner of your home.” I thought that kind of shows how immature Gilbert is which for shadow what will happen in later chapters. In chapter 3 one of my favorite quotes comes up. “the merest shadow of pollution will ruin the one, while the character of the other will be strengthened and embellished—his education properly finished by a little practical acquaintance with forbidden things. Such experience, to him, will be like the storm to the oak which, though it may scatter the leaves, and snap the smaller branches, serves but to rivet the roots, and to harden and condense the fibres of the tree. You would have us encourage our sons to prove all things by their own experience, while our daughters must not even profit by the experience of others.” In this quote in chapter 3, Helen basically burns Gibert. She saying if man have to learn and be challenged then why do women have to be sheltered. Show how Helen has experience something in the past that might have been avoided if she was not sheltered. This chapter is really interested because they bring up some points that are still debated today like how to raise each sex and the consumption of alcohol. Chapter 6 is also very interesting in the discussion between Rose and Mrs.Markham about how her brothers get special treatment and what the job of a women is in the home. Also with Gibert kissing Eliza and his mother’s response “Then you must fall each into your proper place. You’ll do your business, and she, if she’s worthy of you, will do hers; but it's your business to please yourself, and hers to please you.” Mrs. Markham is saying a women’s role in the home is to please the men. Then Gibert basically gets closer or tries to get closer with Helen liking her more that Eliza but not wanting to ruin the trust he has built up. Gibert though is acts like a teen girl literally 1st he like this girl then he does not like her because she is boring and likes another girl then gets jealous because of rumors but never confronts Helen herself about them. Then he gets mad when people talk bad about her and gets mad at her for wanting comfort from Mr.Lawrence. And is miserable for two whole chapters. I am kind of done with him. I know he likes her but please act like a grown up. Don’t get me wrong I really liked it and am interested in what will happen next. Where we stopped we might staring seeing growth from Gilbert. Also he gets mad at Eliza for being jealous(I agree) but he is just as irrational and jealous like he calls Mr.Lawrence a hypocrite when he is actually a hypocrite.
ReplyDeleteI am actually really enjoying reading this book which I did not expect. Generally it is somewhat difficult for me to read the books in this class because I find them quite boring at times. However, I was actually really interested while reading the book and I even wanted to continue reading once I had finished reading the assigned chapters. In terms of the questions, chapter III deals with the question of how to raise a young boy and I personally found this debate very entertaining and interesting. Gilbert’s mother and Mrs. Graham argue about whether Mrs. Graham conditioning her son to associate the taste of alcohol with being sick, so he now never wants to drink alcohol. Mrs. Graham believes that “By that means I hope to save him from one degrading vice at least. I wish I could render the incentives to every other equally innocuous in his case.” It is a very good idea on her part to try to keep her son away from the dangers of alcohol and alcoholism for the rest of his life by making him hate it so much. Mrs. Markham disagrees with what Mrs. Graham has done since she thinks that boys must learn how to resist temptation, and this is a good idea in principle yet it would never work. Since Arthur is averse to alcohol, unintentionally on his part, he will very likely never want to drink later in his life, while boys who just try to resist will give in at one point purely out of curiosity. Mrs. Markham later says “my dear Mrs. Graham, let me warn you in good time against the error—the fatal error, I may call it—of taking that boy’s education upon yourself. Because you are clever in some things and well informed, you may fancy yourself equal to the task; but indeed you are not; and if you persist in the attempt, believe me you will bitterly repent it when the mischief is done.” She is clearly showing her sexist feelings about how women are and should always be dependent on men by saying that Mrs. Graham was stupid to try to teach her son herself, rather she should have someone better, male, teach her son.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 14, Gilbert’s jealous attack on Mr. Lawrence seemed very dramatic and excessive given what it was for. Helen had already told Gilbert on multiple occasions that she did not have feelings for him in that way and he agreed to just be friends. When Gilbert seems Helen and Mr. Lawrence showing their affection for each other and proving the rumors about Helen’s past, he gets extremely upset and jealous. However, Gilbert’s love was entirely unrequited, which he knew, yet he still irrationally whipped Mr. Lawrence in the head so that he fell off his horse and fracturing his skull all because Gilbert was jealous. After leaving Mr. Lawrence in the road, he thought to himself, “Perhaps he might choose to be silent on the subject, for fear of raising inquiries as to the cause of the quarrel, and drawing the public attention to his connection with Mrs. Graham, which, whether for her sake or his own, he seemed so very desirous to conceal.” This shows that the clear intent behind his attack was Mr. Lawrence’s relationship with Mrs. Graham, which he feels jealous of and believes that Helen should want himself instead. So far this book has been a very fun and interesting read so I am looking forward to continuing the story.
So far, I’m really enjoying “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” a lot more than “Jane Eyre.” I think part of that is because it’s a lot more of a romantic comedy and follows some similar character structures to “Pride and Prejudice,” but also because that’s the genre I’d normally read anyways. From what I can tell so far, Gilbert is fairly intrigued with Mrs. Graham in the beginning of the novel. But it is also plainly obvious that Mrs. Graham is an independent woman and wants nothing to do with Gilbert, despite his curiosity. One thing I really admire about Mrs. Graham is her care and attention to her son. During an argument she had about how she should raise her son, her “clap back” was, “And why should I take it for granted that my son will be one in a thousand? --and not rather prepare for the worst and suppose he will be like his-- like the rest of mankind, unless I take care to prevent it?” (Chapter 6). I also find this quote interesting because she almost revealed that she didn’t want her son to turn out like her former husband, but instead caught herself and replaced it with “the rest of mankind.” From reading, I can tell Mrs. Graham is the QUEEN of clap backs and it honestly reminds me of Jane Austen’s writing and how she would insert witty remarks into her stories. Mr. Fergus seemed to have mock her when she expressed her happiness of her new, solitary home, as he claimed she’d never see people so they might as well not even try to be her friend. She responded, “No one can be happy in eternal solitude. Therefore, Mr. Fergus, if you choose to enter my house as a friend, I will make you welcome; if not, I must confess, I would rather you kept away" (Chapter 9). So far, I’m really enjoying this book, and I’m excited to see how the plot expands as we learn more about Mrs. Graham and Gilbert.
ReplyDeleteI certainly enjoyed reading the Tenant of Wildfell Hall. It is dramatized at some parts but thats what makes I intriguing. In chapter three, Helen and Gilbert come upon a disagreement. Gilbert doesn't agree with the way Helen raises her son, Arthur. He thinks that Helen should expose her son to sin and corruption to prepare him for the real world meanwhile she defends her position and still believes that she knows exactly what she is doing and how to raise Arthur. Mrs. Markham later on intervenes and agrees with Gilbert on the way boys should be raised in a way that encourages them to develop physical resilience a method that guarantees one gender will always have supremacy over the other, "Well then, it must be that you think they are both weakened and prone to err, and the slightest error, the merest shadow of pollution will ruin the one, while the character of the other will be strengthened and embellished—his education properly finished by a little practical acquaintance with forbidden things. Such experience, to him (to use a trite simile), will be like the storm to the oak which, though it may scatter the leaves, and snap the smaller branches, serves but to rivet the roots, and to harden and condense the fibres of the tree. You would have us encourage our sons to prove all things by their own experience, while our daughters must not even profit by the experience of others" (Chapter 3). In chapter 14 there has been quite a predicament in which Gilbert's jealousy gets the best of him, and hits Lawrence over the head with a riding whip leaving him alone with a fractured skull. I think Gilbert assaulting Lawrence was a dramatic move. There was simply no reason for him lash out like that...primarily because there was no solution that derived from that action. Moreover Helen already told Gilbert that she only wants to remain friends and nothing more so him seeing Lawrence and Helen being affectionate with each other doesn't give him the right to act out to the extent of assaulting Lawrence!
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