The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

I am posting a day early since I have a very busy day tomorrow.

There is a lot more action in this set of chapters as the story develops and the plot speeds up.

Chapter 17:
We finally get to learn Mlle Henri's story.
What do we learn about her life and her character?

Chapter 18:
Mlle Reuter is up to her tricks again. What does she do now?

How would you describe William's feelings for Frances?
How do we discover these?

Chapter 19:
This is an important chapter. Please discuss any events that you consider significant or interesting.

Chapter 20:
M. Pelet and Mlle Reuter have some ups and downs in their relationship. Who is the main cause of this?

Chapter 21:
William receives two letters- one from Frances and one from Hunsden. How do they affect him?

William faces an uncertain future, again. What is the cause?

A lot happens in these chapters! Mlle. Henri comes into much clearer focus, Pelet's suavity slips, Mlle. Reuter acts to my mind inconsistently.

I feel like the awkwardness of the author's storytelling becomes really obvious here. It would have been much more naturalistic if the incident with the rescued boy had been described when it happened instead of being retrospectively described as an excuse to haul in Monsieur Vandenhut when he becomes useful to the story.

Bronte seems to have a single model for relations between the sexes--at least relations that she smiles on: the master (male)-servant (female) dynamic. It makes her main characters feel very similar to me, and perhaps lies at the root of my disquiet with her books. Regardless of the strength exhibited by her female characters, ultimately they fail to become whole people because they are intent on wrapping themselves around the life of a man they admire. And yes, I know about the era and its mores, but in other books, women seem to find ways to be themselves without disappearing into the life of their partner. (Look no further than Anne Bronte's books, and even crazy Emily shows how destructive this self-immolating model can be for women.)

William continues to be cranky and judgmental. I can see more and more what Hunsden saw in him.

I agree with your assessment of Mlle Reuter.
I can't see her falling for William, who may be young and presentable, but who is dull and judgemental. It is out of character for her to act in that way.

Of course, it's possible he misinterpreted her again--maybe she saw her influence waning and tried to flatter him to draw him back in again; and perhaps she wanted Pelet not to feel too comfortable, so pretending she was enamored of William might keep him on his toes. She seems enough of a manipulator for that.

Reuter certainly is manipulative!

I felt like the author’s immaturity resurfaces in chapter 19. Charlotte inserts herself in the opening paragraphs to digress on the nature of what I’ll call depression. Unless you succumb to “sensual indulgence,” nothing that happens to you cannot be relieved by relying on patience, hope and religion. And her example for this is that William doesn’t fall apart when he loses Frances but can go on working and living his life.
And again in the final paragraph when William dreams of the angel whose motto is “Hope smiles on effort.” I found that paragraph....a bit annoying.
I see the point that Charlotte is trying to make. William is going against the grain throughout “The Professor” by attempting to further himself by his own efforts. But to me, the examples are too weak to support her themes. Charlotte cannot seem to fathom a situation that can truly break a person’s spirit. And William spends a month of his free time wandering around the city to find his “lost” first love and when he succeeds is surrounded by rainbows and hope. I remember being young - experiencing first heartbreak can feel like the world is over- but it just doesn’t translate for me to a mature conception of suffering.

On the other hand, regarding the letters William receives: I was surprised that William adds Frances’ income to his own income to arrive at an amount which could support the two of them. It seems radical at the time for a husband to “allow” his wife to work so that they can equally contribute to their own future together.
And Mr Hunsden’s imminent arrival makes me think that he will come to the rescue again to provide William with employment.

Shrewd objections, Jenny!

Valid comments, Jenny. William has no depth of feeling.
I also noticed that took Frances' income into consideration when planning the future, but it will all be a dream if he doesn't get another position soon.

Abigail wrote: "Bronte seems to have a single model for relations between the sexes..."

Abigail- I don’t know how interested you are in literary criticism but I found an article (link below) which I think speaks directly to your concerns about Charlotte’s female heroines disappearing into their masterful romantic partners. Title: Jane’s Crown of Thorns: Feminism and Christianity in Jane Eyre

https://www.wssd.org/cms/lib02/PA0100...

I found it last week when I was fruitlessly searching for evidence of Charlotte’s views on Catholicism. I almost posted it to background info but then realized it really doesn’t discuss The Professor at all and so isn’t exactly relevant. I think it makes a valid argument however about Charlotte’s possibly conflicting views on women’s religious obligations. Is a wife obligated to defer to her husband’s conception of God’s will? Or are women capable of and expected to have a direct relationship with God?

That does sound very interesting, Jenny, thank you! (I do at my advanced age still read lit crit, though not so much about the Brontes generally, but this one I will. It sounds as if it might even give me some insight into a character I'm struggling with in my current writing project.)

Jenny wrote: "I felt like the author’s immaturity resurfaces in chapter 19. Charlotte inserts herself in the opening paragraphs to digress on the nature of what I’ll call depression. Unless you succumb to “sensu..."

Great observations, Jenny. I think what bothers me is that William appears to embody Brontë's perfect human being and anything that doesn't live up to these standards is criticized. And not only criticized, criticized with such virulent repulsion bordering on hatred that I'm often appalled.

I agree that the process doesn't seem realistic. Or perhaps it's because she sort of glosses over the actual struggles to move the story along, and therefore they don't resonate, I'm not sure.

I was surprised too that William was ready to accept Frances' income. I would have expected that he would have rejected it, making her more subservient to him but that seems not to be the case.

It's curious how many times he seems to emphasize that she likes being corrected by him. Right and wrong are pretty black and white when teaching English perhaps but in marriage many, many shades of grey come into play and often you can simply be dealing with difference of opinion and have to come to a compromise. William is not big on compromise. I can't help but wonder how their married life is going to play out.

William is downright rude and insulting to Frances at first. She seems to accept it, was she supposedly in love with him already? Or she appreciates his criticism because she wants to improve herself? The fact that she becomes healthier and more beautiful might be mainly in William's eyes, but we are also told she improves as a teacher and disciplinarian.

It's only after Frances leaves and is found again that we are told of his real feelings for her, though we suspect from how much he writes about her. The unequal relationship is ironic now that she makes more money than he does. Frances doesn't seem to have any faults, except maybe lack of confidence in herself and her abilities.

The accolades for Frances made me wonder if Bronte had a crush on a girl at some point. That wasn't particularly shocking at the time, look at Jane Eyre and Helen (though they were younger.)

I wonder if William is rude and insulting because Mlle Reuter is always watching. She would make Frances' life miserable if William were nice to her.
And Reuter does make her leave eventually.

I agree, Rosemarie. There's that scene when he goes thoroughly through one of Frances's compositions, and at the end the entire school is watching them.

I know that Charlotte is known for, as Wikipedia states, her "protagonist's moral and spiritual development through an intimate first-person narrative." But William as narrator means we get so much of William's arrogantly rude and pompous commentary that it is wearing on me. I've also yet to see any "moral and spiritual development" in William's story. Maybe I just differ with what personal traits Charlotte values if William does, as Cleo asserts, embody Charlotte's perfect human being.
I imagine the story as better with an Austen or Trollope type narrator and not so much William. But then, of course, it wouldn't be a Charlotte novel. I don't think I'd have enjoyed P&P if narrated by Darcy (ignoring the fact he wasn't in the Bennett household) where instead of delightful observations and insights by the omniscient narrator, I'd see every person and event through Darcy's eyes. Of course, Darcy also engaged in heroic acts, did suffer the needed comeuppance and loved a strong woman he treated as equal as any man of the time did, so Darcy is really not that much like William.

If you become curious about P&P from Darcy's point of view, Brian, there are two halfway decent retellings (each in three volumes), by Pamela Aidan and Stanley Hurd.

I agree, Brian, that there is way too much William. Even with an omniscient narrator, most books don’t seem so heavy handed in their narration, if you know what I mean. Instead of the plot moving along through events, we just get William’s opinions, his voice is always between us and events. Not sure if that makes sense or quite how to say what I mean.

I think that William's narrative gets boring at times. Seeing everything from his narrow point of view can be irritating, especially regarding Frances.

Abigail wrote: "If you become curious about P&P from Darcy's point of view, Brian, there are two halfway decent retellings (each in three volumes), by Pamela Aidan and Stanley Hurd."

If Austenites will write a Pride and Prejudice and Zombies of course they'd write a P&P from Darcy's point of view. I do accept the "halfway decent" description, but three volumes to tell Darcy's view seems too much for me. I did enjoy watching the 3 part miniseries of Death Comes to Pemberley though. Thanks for the info, Abigail.

I am hoping that William settles down a bit in the last quarter, if only for Frances' sake. I'm hopeful that the return of Hunsden results in Jenny's forecast. I'm not bored by this book, just surprised at the degree of William's unpleasant commentary, and how it may reflect Charlotte's values.

My first time participating in a book discussion here at GR. Hope I manage it okay.

Abigail wrote:

Bronte seems to have a single model for relations between the sexes--at least relations that she smiles on: the master (male)-servant (female) dynamic.

Much of this book seems to revolve around the petty power, dominance-and-submission games that are a part of everyday relationships and William's ability (or lack thereof) to deal with them -- or engage in them himself. While William doesn't seem to necessarily go through any moral and spiritual development per Brian's comment, it does feel like the central conflict is his learning how to manage those subtle power games. Which, if I remember correctly, there was an element of this in Jane Eyre too (alas, I've not yet read Villette).

Jenny said:

Unless you succumb to “sensual indulgence,” nothing that happens to you cannot be relieved by relying on patience, hope and religion

You definitely see the vicar's daughter come through in this book. Plus this feels like a holdover from the "novel of sensibility" so prevalent in the late 18th to early 19th-century. Found myself rolling my eyes at the strident anti-Catholicism. Yet as unpleasant as William is on a number of points, his dominant tone with Francis made me swoon a bit. But I'm just weird that way.

As the book progresses,William does become more aware of the ways of people like Mlle Reuter, and remains true to his principals.

Cindy- you are right about William figuring out how to negotiate power plays. I hadn’t thought about that aspect of his development. Without a set “class” to belong to he probably has a more difficult time finding his footing in this society.

Welcome to the discussion!

Welcome to our group as well, Cindy!

Cindy wrote: "My first time participating in a book discussion here at GR. Hope I manage it okay."

Okay? In baseball terms, Cindy, you hit it out of the park on your first at bat. Not to pressure you but, of course, now we'll expect a home run every at bat.
Seriously, you had some good insights. And now that you have been welcomed into the fold, I feel free to express my concern about your Fifty Shades-type attraction to William. Be careful out there.

I agree, Cindy, you had great points about the unspoken assumption that life in this book is all about the power struggle. William couldn't stand his inferior position with his brother, even more than issues about his work or pay. And he resents Hunsden exerting power, even on William's behalf. The first thing he does with his students is establish his power, which is reasonable for a high-school teacher (the thing I had the most trouble with when I was one!) But he is doing that in every relationship. How much of his love for Mlle Henri is because of his superior status and how well she accepts it? I don't find his controlling condescension one bit appealing, but then I usually don't like "alpha" heroes anyway. I prefer a more modest type with a sense of humor, which William seems to lack, unless he finds amusement in manipulating others.

Robin, I agree that he does feel superior to Mlle Henri, and he does enjoy her acceptance of his dominance-but I he does love her, in his way.
Does he love anyone else?

Rosemarie, we can answer your question in the next thread . . ;-)

🤗

Jenny, I have to thank you again for the link you provided to the article about Jane Eyre. I got to read it this morning and it was very illuminating for me, pointing the way toward a solution to the conundrum that has been plaguing me in my current novel project! A real gift.

Abigail wrote: "Jenny, I have to thank you again for the link you provided to the article about Jane Eyre. I got to read it this morning and it was very illuminating for me, pointing the way toward a solution to t..."

Awesome! So glad it was helpful!

I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said. I did enjoy the scene when they met in the graveyard, but I found William's continual power plays disturbing.

Thanks so much for the warm welcome.

Jenny said:
Without a set “class” to belong to he probably has a more difficult time finding his footing in this society.

Ah, yes. Quite. I had forgotten about his dubious social standing.

Brian said:
Not to pressure you but, of course, now we'll expect a home run every at bat. Seriously, you had some good insights.

Cheers! Though, alas, I am sure to disappoint. Indeed I was wrong that this was my first time at bat as I left a fairly bland, nondescript comment regarding A Study in Scarlet. Regarding your expressed concern, I should note both that I have long since met my Mr. Rochester and that thankfully (or not?), kinky guys are like any other guys. ;-)

Robin said:
But he is doing that in every relationship. How much of his love for Mlle Henri is because of his superior status and how well she accepts it?

I have some thoughts on this but will state them in the thread on the closing chapters of the book where they are better suited. :-)