Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë[2†]

Charlotte Brontë, born on April 21, 1816, in Thornton, Yorkshire, England, was an English novelist and poet, best known for her novel “Jane Eyre,” which she published under the gender-neutral pen name Currer Bell[1†][2†]. She was the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood, and her novels have become classics of English literature[1†][2†].

Brontë’s work, particularly “Jane Eyre,” is noted for its strong narrative and portrayal of a woman in conflict with her natural desires and social condition[1†]. Her novel brought a new level of truthfulness to Victorian fiction[1†]. In addition to “Jane Eyre,” she also wrote “Shirley” (1849) and “Villette” (1853)[1†].

Charlotte Brontë’s writing has had a significant impact on English literature and is held in high regard in the gothic fiction genre[1†][2†]. Despite the challenges she faced in a society filled with prejudices and stereotypes for women, Brontë, along with her sisters, sought to rewrite the narrative for women[1†][3†].

Early Years and Education

Charlotte Brontë was born on April 21, 1816, in Thornton, Yorkshire, England[1†][2†]. She was the third of the six children of Maria (née Branwell) and Patrick Brontë, an Irish Anglican clergyman[1†][2†]. After the death of her mother in 1821, Charlotte, along with her siblings, was raised by her aunt, Elizabeth Branwell[1†][2†].

In 1820, the Brontë family moved to the village of Haworth, on the edge of the moors[1†][2†]. The children were educated at home for the most part, but Charlotte and her sister Emily did attend the Clergy Daughters’ School at Cowan Bridge in Lancashire for a brief period[1†][2†]. However, the school’s poor conditions and harsh discipline, which Charlotte later condemned in her novel “Jane Eyre,” led to the early death of her two older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth[1†][2†].

After their sisters’ deaths, Charlotte and Emily were brought home, where they and their remaining siblings, Anne and Branwell, amused themselves by making up elaborate stories about fantastical worlds[1†][4†]. When the girls grew older, they all took governess positions in private homes, and from 1835 to 1838 Charlotte taught in a girls’ school[1†][4†].

In 1831, Charlotte attended Miss Wooler’s school at Roe Head, where she studied for almost a year and developed strong friendships with Ellen Nussey and Mary Taylor[1†][5†]. She left the school the following year to teach her sisters, Emily and Anne, at home, returning in 1835 as a governess[1†][2†].

Charlotte started writing at the age of thirteen. Most of her early literary pieces were published in Branwell’s Blackwood’s Magazine, run by the Brontë family[1†][5†].

Career Development and Achievements

Charlotte Brontë’s career began as a governess, a role she undertook for the Sidgwick family[2†]. However, she left after a few months to return to Haworth, where the Brontë sisters opened a school, but failed to attract pupils[2†]. Instead, they turned to writing[2†].

Charlotte Brontë is best known for her novel “Jane Eyre,” which she published in 1847 under the gender-neutral pen name Currer Bell[2†][1†][2†]. “Jane Eyre” was a success upon publication and is widely held in high regard in the gothic fiction genre of literature[2†]. The novel is noted for its strong narrative and portrayal of a woman in conflict with her natural desires and social condition[2†][1†]. The novel brought a new level of truthfulness to Victorian fiction[2†][1†].

After “Jane Eyre,” Brontë wrote “Shirley” in 1849 and “Villette” in 1853[2†][1†][2†]. These novels, along with “Jane Eyre,” have become classics of English literature[2†].

In 1854, Charlotte Brontë married Arthur Bell Nicholls, but her life was cut short when she died during her pregnancy on March 31, 1855[2†].

First Publication of Her Main Works

Charlotte Brontë, under the pen name Currer Bell, published several notable works that have become classics of English literature[2†].

• Jane Eyre (1847): This novel is a strong narrative of a woman in conflict with her natural desires and social condition. The novel brought a new level of truthfulness to Victorian fiction[2†][1†][2†]. It became a success upon publication and is widely held in high regard in the gothic fiction genre of literature[2†].
• Shirley (1849): This novel, written after the success of Jane Eyre, is another significant work by Brontë[2†][1†][2†]. It further explores themes of gender and social issues, love, and feminism[2†][5†].
• Villette (1853): This is one of Brontë’s most celebrated novels, noted for its vivid portrayal of protagonist Lucy Snowe’s inner life and its innovative narrative structure[2†][1†][2†].
• The Professor: This novel was actually the first written by Brontë but was initially rejected by publishers. It was published posthumously after her death in 1855[2†][6†][7†].

In addition to these novels, Brontë also wrote poetry and non-fiction[2†][5†]. Her works often revolve around themes of gender and social issues, love, and feminism[2†][5†].

These works have not only cemented Brontë’s place in the literary canon but also continue to influence writers and readers today[2†][1†][2†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Charlotte Brontë’s work is noted for its intensely personal voice. Her novels show the moral and emotional growth of her protagonists almost entirely by self-revelation[8†]. They focus on individual self-fulfillment and express the subjective interior world not only in thoughts, dreams, visions, and symbols but also by projecting inner states through external objects, secondary characters, places, events, and weather[8†].

Brontë’s own experiences and emotions inform the narrative presence. Her personal voice, which blurs the distances separating novelist, protagonist, and reader, has led to much critical ambivalence toward Brontë’s work[8†]. Generations of unsophisticated readers have identified with Jane Eyre; thousands of romances and modern gothics have used Brontë’s situations and invited readers to step into the fantasy[8†].

However, Brontë’s novels are much more than simply the common reader’s daydreams. They are rich enough to allow a variety of critical approaches. They have been studied in relation to traditions (gothic, provincial, realistic, Romantic); read for psychological, linguistic, Christian, social, economic, and personal interpretations; and analyzed in terms of symbolism, imagery, metaphor, viewpoint, narrative distance, and prose style[8†].

Because the novels are so clearly wrought from the materials of their author’s life, psychoanalytic and feminist criticism has proved rewarding. In Brontë’s work, a woman author makes significant statements about issues central to women’s lives[8†]. Most of her heroines are working women; each feels the pull of individual self-development against the wish for emotional fulfillment, the tension between sexual energies and social realities, the almost unresolvable conflict between love and independence[8†].

Personal Life

Charlotte Brontë lived a quiet life at home in Yorkshire, despite her success as a writer[9†]. She was the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood[9†][2†]. Their upbringing was aided by an aunt, Elizabeth Branwell, who left her native Cornwall and took up residence with the family at Haworth[9†][2†].

In 1854, she married Arthur Nicholls, a man who had once worked as an assistant to her father[9†]. Their marriage, however, was short-lived. Charlotte Brontë died within a year of their marriage on March 31, 1855[9†]. The cause of her death is widely believed to be complications from her pregnancy[9†][2†].

Throughout her life, Charlotte Brontë maintained a strong sense of duty and care for her family, particularly for her younger siblings. Despite the hardships and tragedies she faced, her works often reflect a sense of resilience and a deep understanding of human nature[9†][1†][2†][9†].

Conclusion and Legacy

Charlotte Brontë’s legacy is one of enduring influence and inspiration. Despite her relatively short life, she left behind a body of work that continues to be celebrated for its critical analysis of society and the status of women[10†][1†].

Her novel “Jane Eyre” is considered a classic of English literature and has been adapted numerous times for screen and stage[10†]. Her other works, including “Shirley: A Tale”, “The Professor”, and “Villette”, have also been recognized for their depth and insight[10†][1†].

Brontë’s life and work have been the subject of numerous studies and literary analyses[10†][11†][12†]. Her legacy is not just in her own works, but also in the impact she has had on readers and writers who have come after her[10†][12†].

Despite the hardships she faced, Charlotte Brontë’s resilience and deep understanding of human nature shine through in her works[10†][1†][11†]. Her legacy is a testament to her talent and her enduring relevance in the literary world[10†][1†][11†][12†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: Currer Bell[1†]
• Born: April 21, 1816, Thornton, Yorkshire, England[1†]
• Died: March 31, 1855, Haworth, Yorkshire, England (aged 38)[1†]
• Nationality: British[1†][13†]
• Occupation: Novelist and Poet[1†]
• Notable Works: “Jane Eyre”, “Shirley: A Tale”, “The Professor”, "Villette"[1†]
• Notable Achievements: Charlotte Brontë’s novel “Jane Eyre” is noted for its strong narrative of a woman in conflict with her natural desires and social condition. The novel brought a new level of truthfulness to Victorian fiction[1†].

References and Citations:

1. Britannica - Charlotte Bronte: British author [website] - link
2. Wikipedia (English) - Charlotte Brontë [website] - link
3. Book Analysis - About Charlotte Brontë - Book Analysis [website] - link
4. History - Charlotte Brontë born [website] - link
5. Literary Devices - Charlotte Bronte [website] - link
6. English History - Charlotte Brontë [website] - link
7. Goodreads - Book: Works of Charlotte Bronte [website] - link
8. eNotes - Charlotte Brontë Analysis [website] - link
9. Encyclopedia of World Biography - Charlotte BrontË Biography [website] - link
10. Class with Mason - School of Literary Studies - Charlotte Brontë: Exploring the Life, Literary Impact, and Legacy [website] - link
11. Oxford Academic - Manchester Scholarship Online - Charlotte Brontë: Legacies and Afterlives [website] - link
12. Google Books - Charlotte Brontë: Legacies and afterlives [website] - link
13. SparkNotes - Charlotte Brontë Biography, Works, and Quotes [website] - link