In beginning her exploration of Brontë’s letters to Constantin Heger, Kauffman suggests that the letters reveal Charlotte Brontë’s transformation ‘from Heger’s correspondent into the novelist of Jane Eyre’ (Kauffman 1986: 160). Kauffman intends to connect the rhetorical strategies of the letters and of Jane Eyre to map ‘the metamorphosis of the rhetoric of passion from an authentic to a fictional discourse’ (p. 160).
To start with, Kauffman maps out the narrative of Brontë’s and Heger’s encounter including:
• Charlotte’s and Emily’s trip to Brussels in 1842 to learn languages;
• their return to England at the death of their aunt;
• Charlotte Brontë’s return to Brussels alone in 1843;
• and her final return to England in 1844.
Brontë began writing to Heger after her return and there is evidence to suggest that there were more letters than survive today. In the letters that do remain, Kauffman notes a variety of characteristics that fit the ‘amorous epistolary discourse’ on which her study focuses. These include:
• ‘the denial of the reality of separation’;
• ‘the desire for contact’;
• ‘despair at the master’s silence’;
• and ‘resigned desolation’ (p. 161).
In initial letters, Brontë is ‘submissive’ and puts ‘emphasis on having been given the authority to write’ (p. 161). However, when Heger write back with a firm, stern tone providing instruction as to how she must write, Brontë rebels and does the opposite; ‘she becomes more outspoken, more indignant, less submissive’ (p. 161-162). Kauffman notes that ‘[l]ike all amorous epistolary discourses, Charlotte’s letters are demands, pleas, threats, and confrontations, filled with the same marks of internal tension, contradiction, self-division, and torment’ (p. 163).
Kauffman, L. 1986, Discourses of Desire: Gender, Genre and Epistolary Fictions, Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Kauffman writes very insightfuly about the letters and charts CB's emotional track though them .
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIndeed there were very likely more, earlier letters. It seems Mme Hegar started keeping them when Charlotte's tone began to lose control.
It was very wise of Mme Hegar to pick them out of the trash. The letters meant little to CB's "Master" it seems, but I believe having them tucked away brought great comfort to Mme. They were powerful insurance at the time and a vindication today .
Those in the teaching profession would understand her even more than the rest of us
Having just finished" The Secret of Charlotte Brontë " by Frederika Macdonald,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI recommend it to the Bronte enthusiast...it's on the must read Bronte book list imo
Sometimes the older books, this one is from 1916, have much to tell us...because they are closer to the Bronte times and world view than the new ones
Macdonald, is an excellent writer and was taught by the Hegers and so knew them
The first part is about Charlotte's letters published three years before in 1913 ...and the 2nd part is about Macdonald,'s experiences at the Heger's school on the Rue d'Isabelle
During her school days ,Frederika was wrongfully accused of something by M.Heger and in front of the whole school ...the injustice of it make her so angry she sat in that one spot . She could not leave the place of the injustice...though the rest of the school had gone about its business as usual.. Frederika stayed in the Refectory alone .Eventual Madame Heger came to her
'My child,' she said, 'you are wrong to take so seriously the reproach
addressed to you by M. Heger as the result of a mistake. Mlle. Zélie has
explained to M. Heger and to me the accident. It was a pity, no doubt,
that this happened: but you have not any more blame than the others. All
is forgotten and forgiven. But you, my child, are wrong in this. Why do
you remain here, when prayers are already over, and without permission?
You know well it is forbidden.'
The interview between them that Ms Macdonald, records is remarkable ...and breaks somewhat Madame Heger's life long silence on what it is like to be unjustly accused and how one goes on
Macdonald, writs
Ever since I have known the story of Charlotte Brontë I have had the
firm conviction of what was in Madame Heger's mind when she spoke to me
of one who had imagined enemies in friends, and who, complaining of
injustice, had been unjust.
But since I have read Charlotte's Letters, the unmistakable proof is
that Madame Heger, so far as my memory serves me after all these years, actually
quoted the very words of one of these letters, about one dominated by a fixed idea,
and the slave of vain desires.