Anne Bronte's "Agnes Grey"
The book was first published in 1847; found it a little shocking in
the portrayal of a middle of the road English family -- Agnes does a
stint of work as a governess and finds a cold, indifferent mother, a
domineering father and three wilfully unruly children whom she is not
allowed to discipline. The oldest, a young boy, is nothing less than
sadistic -- tearing baby birds apart in their nests, demanding complete
obedience from everyone around him, including Agnes.
Her next position isn't much better -- servants, including governesses -- are treated as though they do not feel or have lives of their own. When her father lays dying and Agnes asks leave to go home the family is put out at her insistence, wanting her to stay and see the new ball dress to be worn by her eldest student, Miss Murray, although they finally accede into letting her leave, to late -- she returns to a funeral rather than a death bed.
The book has a typical romantic ending for the time; Agnes marries Mr. Weston, a kind curate who comes into his own living, while her student, Miss Murray, marries a wealthy and socially superior Lord who was picked out by her mother and whom Miss Murray quickly learns to detest.
The text mainly highlights the complete lack of concern of the upper middle classes for their servants or tenants. No hint of Downtown Abbey's laissez-faire here. Bronte does not exaggerate the goodness of the servants -- they show Agnes as little respect as the family -- but you do get a feel for the simple neighbourly kindness that exists among the tenants, who help each other out when they can but also argue with each other when they think one of them is shirking their neighbourly duties.
Find I much prefer Anne Bronte's writing to her sisters. It may not have their raw emotion but there is no pulling of punches either; the ugly and the beautiful in human nature are equally, and unsentimentally, exposed.
Her next position isn't much better -- servants, including governesses -- are treated as though they do not feel or have lives of their own. When her father lays dying and Agnes asks leave to go home the family is put out at her insistence, wanting her to stay and see the new ball dress to be worn by her eldest student, Miss Murray, although they finally accede into letting her leave, to late -- she returns to a funeral rather than a death bed.
The book has a typical romantic ending for the time; Agnes marries Mr. Weston, a kind curate who comes into his own living, while her student, Miss Murray, marries a wealthy and socially superior Lord who was picked out by her mother and whom Miss Murray quickly learns to detest.
The text mainly highlights the complete lack of concern of the upper middle classes for their servants or tenants. No hint of Downtown Abbey's laissez-faire here. Bronte does not exaggerate the goodness of the servants -- they show Agnes as little respect as the family -- but you do get a feel for the simple neighbourly kindness that exists among the tenants, who help each other out when they can but also argue with each other when they think one of them is shirking their neighbourly duties.
Find I much prefer Anne Bronte's writing to her sisters. It may not have their raw emotion but there is no pulling of punches either; the ugly and the beautiful in human nature are equally, and unsentimentally, exposed.