tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074545955842912793.post2762747126673161127..comments2024-03-26T23:35:38.726+01:00Comments on the Brontë Sisters: Charlotte Bronte, a ToryGeri Meftah Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00596915249757782612noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074545955842912793.post-25738783708609637682013-07-15T13:19:57.108+02:002013-07-15T13:19:57.108+02:00Yes, I wished as well that I lived in that time an...Yes, I wished as well that I lived in that time and could meet them and talk with them and be part of their circle.<br /><br />I as well wished Mary saved her letters. What would we learn about Charlotte? <br /><br />Geri Meftah Arthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00596915249757782612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074545955842912793.post-66106389680346064072013-07-14T23:31:18.580+02:002013-07-14T23:31:18.580+02:00Mary & Charlotte's letters to each other w...Mary & Charlotte's letters to each other would have been so fascinating to read, truly a shame that Mary chose to burn them, such a loss. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at the Taylor's when charlotte was there. Invigorating and lively political and social discussions, such as she was used to at home, I'm sure felt very normal to her, unlike those she most likely had at Brookroyd, which were most likely very proper and polite, and not at all 'course'.<br />xo J~24 Cornershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13630767883910250689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074545955842912793.post-42268874097553555762013-07-14T00:46:56.811+02:002013-07-14T00:46:56.811+02:00Indeed, I morn Mary's lost letters as much ...Indeed, I morn Mary's lost letters as much as Charlotte's in that exchange. Just the few of Mary's letters we have show an intelligence a forthrightness and a wit which stood alone in Charlotte's world until she started moving in London circles. ...and I would argue as to whether she found in effect any one better in those regards even then . In her way Mary was up to CB's best mentally ...and that was very rare in Charlotte's experience <br /><br />Mr. Bronte's Toryism stemmed, I believe, from his experience in Ireland as a youth. He bettered himself in the system, why could not others? .But more, he saw what lawlessness can do in rebellion and how it can call forth even more oppression.<br /><br /> In such a case one would likely uphold the law as the best of a bad lot and seek change though reform, which we know he did his whole life in a vigorous manner. <br /><br />Politically, Charlotte is often not sympathetic to the modern reader. When factory workers won a case against a criminal owner, she wrote to her father she was glad of course, but unhappy too since such events make the " lower orders "( a term she constantly uses about the working class ) unhappy with their lot and less likely to work. <br /><br /> lol It's little wonder Charlotte passed on composing the social change type of novel and yet who stood more for freedom of self? <br /><br />Sitting at the Taylor table must of been a revelation to Charlotte, not having heard such arguments before and certainly never so forcibly lol <br /><br /> Again, one must look to Rev Bronte's commitment to mental freedom for his children. How many others would have snatched Charlotte away and forbidden such company? <br /><br />Yet the Taylors became like family<br /><br />The differences between Charlotte and her husband , Arthur Bell Nichols, are often highlighted. But they were in accord in their conservatism and in their dry humor...powerful bonds .<br /><br /> It's to be remembered Charlotte did not submit to his views , in the most part she agreed with them ( expect for his attitude to Dissenters! lol! )<br /><br /><i>Despite the dazzling figure of Shirley Keeldar, though, the novel is fundamentally anti-idealistic. Its anti-Utopian stance sets it in a line of Tory pessimism going right back to Swift and Dr Johnson.. </i><br /><br />An astute observation. Dr. Johnson was another one who had dim views of upsetting the social order. But like Charlotte, he had great sympathy for individuals who found themselves in difficulties within that order . <br /><br />Basically the idea is humans are rascals...lol <br /><br />Near the end of Charlotte's life the Crimea war broke out . In a letter to Miss Wooler Charlotte expressed a different feeling about such matters that she had held before which she saw as a result of middle age approaching...the flowing sword of justice was slipping from her hand and she saw more the human cost. One can only wonder how else time and life would have modify her views or not ...Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05033117202223821117noreply@blogger.com