"When we wish to decide upon the merits of a governess, we naturally look at the young ladies she professes to have educated, and judge accordingly. The judicious governess knows this: she knows that, while she lives in obscurity herself, her pupils’ virtues and defects will be open to every eye; and that, unless she loses sight of herself in their cultivation, she need not hope for success. You see, Miss Grey, it is just the same as any other trade or profession: they that wish to prosper must devote themselves body and soul to their calling; and if they begin to yield to indolence or self-indulgence they are speedily distanced by wiser competitors"
Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte (1847) is a reread. I must have read it over twenty years ago and I was uderwhelmed at the time possibly because I had just finished Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights which is brilliant and Agnes Grey is not in that league. But since then I have read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Anne Bronte's The Tennant of Wildfell Hall and I have become a big Broute fan not only in terms of their writing but the courage these three sisters had in living their lives with death all around them and yet never giving up on their dreams.
So with that in mind it was time for a reread of Agnes Grey and I was pleasantly suprised. I liked the book the second time around. I found Agnes Grey to be a good first start to a novelist's career. Anne Bronte had talent and promise and she was ahead of her time in dealing with issues like what being a governess was really like and it was not an easy job.
Agnes Grey takes place in the North of England during the mid-nineteenth century where Agnes lives with her parents and sister Mary. It's a happy family but poor and when Agnes's father loses money in a bad business deal Agnes offers to apply for a governess position. She is excited about the idea. How wonderful to earn one's own money and be with children and teach them what they need to know.
The first family Agnes goes to work for are the Bloomfields. The children are a nightmare and the oldest son enjoys torturing small animals. Agnes soon leaves that situation and gets a new job working for the wealthy Murray family. They have two daughters, Rosalie and Matilda. These young women are not the terrors the Bloomfield children were but they are spoiled young ladies who are used to getting their own way.
Rosalie is beautiful but vain and a flirt. She is set on marrying Sir Thomas Ashbury but in the meantime why not have fun with other suitors, particularly the rector Mr. Hatfield who Rosalie actually cares about. Agnes tries to tell Rosalie that toying with the feelings of Mr. Hatfield is not a good thing to do. And Agnes has worries that Rosalie is making a mistake with Sir Thomas Ashbury who she senses is not a great catch. But Rosalie is set on marrying him and being the mistress of his great estate.
As for Agnes there is a love interest as well, the local curate Edward Weston. Agnes meets him when she is visiting Nancy Brown, a poor elderly woman with failing eyesight. Agnes enjoys talking with Nancy and Edward regularly checks in on Nancy as well. As Bronte heroes go Edward Weston is different. He is not violent like Heathcliffe or brooding and hiding a secret like Mr. Rochester. He's a good man, smart and he knows that religion is not simply words but deeds.
And so I am glad I reread Agnes Grey and a bit sad too because I have no further Anne Bronte novels to read and it's clear had she lived she would have had alot to say about Victorian society, religion and the role of women. But I am grateful for all of the Bronte novels we do have.
