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The novel tells the story of Helen Graham, a young widow who moves to Wildfell Hall with her son to escape an abusive marriage. The novel is framed as a series of letters and diary entries, with the first half of the novel being told from the perspective of Gilbert Markham, a gentleman farmer who becomes infatuated with Helen.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is the second and final novel written by English author Anne Brontë.It was first published in 1848 under the pseudonym Acton Bell. Probably the most shocking of the Brontës' novels, it had an instant and phenomenal success, but after Anne's death her sister Charlotte prevented its re-publication in England until 1854.
Aug 29, 2024 · The story is framed as a series of letters from Gilbert Markham to his friend, recounting his experiences with a mysterious young widow, Helen Graham, who arrives at Wildfell Hall with her young son.
- Introduction
- Author Biography
- Media Adaptations
- Characters
- Topics For Further Study
- Themes
- Compare & Contrast
- Style
- Historical Context
- Critical Overview
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Brontë, is one of the first modern feminist novels. It tells the story of a young wife during the Regency period in England (1800-1830) who runs away from her drunken, adulterous, verbally abusive husband, an act virtually unheard of at this time in history. Brontë is the youngest sister of the famous Charlotte ...
Anne Brontë was born January 17, 1820, the sixth and last child of Patrick and Maria Branwell Brontë. She was born in the village of Thornton in West Yorkshire, England, but the family moved to Haworth just a few months later so that her father could take a higher paying position as the local parson. Brontë's mother died before her youngest daughte...
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was first adapted to television by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 1968. It was directed by Peter Sasdy with a script by Christopher Fryand starred Janet M...The BBC produced another adaptation of The Tenant of Wildfell Hallin 1996. The script was adapted by Janet Barron, and the production stars Tara Fitzgerald as Helen Huntington. Mike Barker directed...Benson
Benson is a servant at Grassdale Manor. He helps Helen, Arthur, and Rachel flee from Mr. Huntington.
Mr. Boarham
Mr. Boarham is Mrs. Maxwell's friend and one of Helen's suitors, but Helen refuses his marriage proposal because he repulses her.
Master Arthur Graham
SeeMaster Arthur Huntington
Brontë's novel was written and takes place during the early nineteenth century in England. Research the clothing fashions for both men and women of this time and place. What were the differences be...Huntington is an alcoholic who denies he has a problem. Findings from a 2005 survey in the United Kingdom show that 19 percent of men and 8 percent of women drink heavily at least once a week. Rese...In the early 2000s, domestic abuse remains a serious problem. Abuse does not need to be physical to do damage. Research domestic abuse in its various forms and read several case studies. How does H...Brontë's characters love to go on walks. Sometimes they stroll in the garden after dinner and sometimes they take longer hikes (for example, out to the sea). Take a walk or hike of you own in a par...Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a chronic substance abuse disorder. People who suffer from alcoholism are so preoccupied with alcohol that they cannot function normally. In the United Kingdom, as of 2001, alcoholism afflicted 8 percent of the population. In Brontë's novel, Huntington and several of his friends are heavy drinkers. Lord Lowborough and Mr. Hattersley each reform their lives, unlike Mr. Huntington and Mr. Grimsby. Lord Lowborough and Mr. Huntington both particularly seem affected by traditional si...
Piety
Piety is the state of being devout, in matters of religion and in matters of social or familial obligations. The daughter of a minister, Brontë was a pious woman who nonetheless struggled with her devotion several times during her short life. In The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, pious characters are rewarded. Despite extraordinary hardship as a young woman, Helen is firmly devoted to her religion and its moral precepts. Against all odds, she ends up a rich woman, happily married to a loving husban...
Marriage
In nineteenth-century England, marriage was an extremely important institution. Many women were raised with the understanding that their job, as young women, was to secure a good husband. For some, good was defined variously, as rich or loving or handsome or titled. Women were encouraged to marry young and to have children. Although there was pressure on men to marry also, education and business experience were important for middle-class men, so that they could maintain themselves, attract a...
1840s: According to the census, the population of England numbers nearly 15 million people. Approximately 1.5 million—or 9 percent—live in London, the largest city in the world at this time.Today:A...1840s: Personal communication is accomplished face-to-face or by letter-writing. Mass communication is achieved with newspapers, leaflets, and broadsides.Today: Cell phones and email are popular wa...1840s: The population of England is largely Anglican. Small numbers of Jews and Roman Catholics also live in Britain. Alternate religions such as Unitarianism and various other forms of Protestanti...Epistolary Novel
An epistolary novel presents itself as a letter or collection of letters. The form allows the author to write in the first person of the letter writer and to address a particular reader to whom the letter is addressed. This setup provides certain advantages and allows for greater intimacy in tone. This form gives the novel the semblance of fact; the text is a document and not made up or fiction. The use of letters in a novel is a way around the omniscient narrator, as well, because it permits...
Allusion
An allusion is an indirect reference to something external to the text, which economically adds another layer of meaning to the text for the reader who recognizes the reference. Brontë's novel is rich with allusion, particularly allusions to the Bible and occasionally to other literature. Her use of biblical allusions enhances her theme of piety by drawing an explicit connection between scripture and its relevance to the story of these characters. For example, in Chapter XX, Helen's aunt trie...
King George IV and the Regency Era
The Regency is the name for that period from 1811 to 1820 when the Prince of Wales served as prince regent in place of his father the ill King George III. King George IV reigned from 1820, when his father died, until his own death in 1830 at age sixty-seven. The prince regent was best known for his extravagant lifestyle—hallmark of the Regency era—which angered his father, King George III, who was known to be thrifty and plain. Prince George further upset his parents and Parliament by carryin...
Queen Victoria and the Victorian Era
Following the brief seven-year reign of George's brother, King William IV, Queen Victoria took the throne in 1837 when she was only eighteen years old. Three years later she married her first cousin, Prince Albert. There are rumors that Albert did not really want to marry Victoria but agreed to it because of her status and pressure from his family. Ultimately theirs was a very happy marriage. Over the course of her long life, there were seven attempts to assassinate or frighten Victoria, all...
Brontë's writing talent has long been overshadowed by that of her older sisters, Charlotte and Emily. Although their work was romantic, even gothic,Brontë favored realism in her novels, anticipating the shift in taste that occurred during the nineteenth century. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was a bestseller in its time, famous for its controversial ...
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall refers to Helen Huntingdon, who is staying in a few rooms of Wildfell Hall. She and her brother, Frederick Lawrence, were born there. Helen's mother lived there until her death, and Helen's brother still owns the hall. He prepares a few rooms for Helen and her son Arthur to live in after Helen escapes from her ...
Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell was a failure, but Agnes Grey, Anne’s biographical novel chronicling her years as a governess, sold well, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, with its unflinching look at alcoholism and unhappiness in marriage, caused a sensation when it was published in June 1848. Soon afterward, though, Branwell died of tuberculosis, and, three months later, Emily died ...
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Explanation and Analysis—Gilbert's Letter: As Gilbert’s letter to his brother-in-law Jack Halford opens and closes the novel—with Helen’s story in her own words in between—it can be considered a frame story. This is because Gilbert is the person who introduces readers to Helen and “frames” the story via his own descriptions and ...
