THE LIFE OF EMILY BRONTE
A truly phenomenal woman
Emily Bronte’s novel “Wuthering Heights” is considered to be a classic in English literature. Her life was tragically cut short and she never lived to see her work achieve the recognition and success that it would.
Emily Bronte’s Early Life and Education Emily Bronte, born July 30, 1818 in Thornton, Yorkshire England. She was the 5th of 6 children born to Maria Branwell Bronte (an Englishwoman) and Patrick Bronte (an Irish priest). Emily’s mother passed away when she was only three years old. Her older sisters, Maria, and Elizabeth, also died shortly after. Emily, Charlotte, Branwell and Anne were raised by their father, Elizabeth Branwell and their aunt.
They were also avid readers and spent a lot of time playing games and inventing stories. The Bronte children were avid readers, and their education was primarily done at home. Patrick Bronte, a loving but stern father, encouraged his children to pursue intellectual interests and gave them a large library of books.
Emily, her siblings and their friends began writing stories and poetry at a very young age. They also collaborated in literary projects. Emily and Charlotte were educated in French and literature at the Roe Head School, Mirfield in 1835. Emily was homesick and in poor health and returned home within a few weeks.
Writing Career and Personal life After Emily left school, she returned to her isolated village in Haworth where she spent most of her time caring for her family and writing. Emily and her sisters published a collection under the pseudonyms Currer Ellis and Acton Bell in 1846. Emily contributed 21 of the poems in this collection. It was called “Poems By Currer Ellis and Acton Bell.” The book was not well-received at first, but later it was recognized as an important contribution to English Literature.
Emily wrote “Wuthering Heights” in the same year. It was published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell in 1847. This Gothic novel, set in the Yorkshire Moors, is about love, revenge and tragedy. The novel was met with controversy and mixed reviews at first due to its dark themes and unconventional structure. However, it has now become a classic in English literature.
Emily, despite her literary success lived a private and reclusive life. She did not pursue fame or fortune. She was deeply committed to her family, and her home in Haworth. She loved nature and often spent time on the moors.
Emily died at age 30 in 1848 after her brother Branwell succumbed to tuberculosis. Charlotte, her sister, wrote about her death, “She quietly left on the morning 19th in the presence her brothers and sisters and is buried in her village’s church.”
Emily Bronte’s legacy and impact Despite her brief life, Emily Bronte had a lasting influence on English culture and literature. The Gothic classic “Wuthering Heights”, has been adapted for numerous TV shows, stage productions, and films. The book has inspired many works of art and literature.
Emily’s poetry is also praised for the lyricism, and its depth of feeling. In her poem “No Coward Soul Is Mine,” she writes:
“No coward soul is mine,
No trembler in the world’s storm-troubled sphere:
I see Heaven’s glories shine,
And faith shines equal, arming me from Fear”
Emily’s work is the subject of scholarly and literary analysis. Critics praise her vivid imagination and unique view on the world. Harold Bloom, a wonderful literary critic, wrote “Emily Brontë is the greatest woman novelist of all time, but her greatness lies in the unique perspective she offers on the human condition.”
Emily Bronte’s literary legacy is not the only thing that will be remembered. Her courage and independence are also well-known. Emily Bronte, despite the restrictions placed on women during Victorian England pursued her writing passion and produced works that have endured.
Sources:
- “Emily Brontë.” Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emily-Bronte
- “Emily Brontë.” Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/emily-bronte
- Bloom, Harold. “Introduction.” Wuthering Heights. Bantam Classics, 2003.
