Comments on: “Villette” by Charlotte Bronte http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3507 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Wed, 13 May 2026 14:39:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3507&cpage=1#comment-19082 girldetective Sun, 07 Nov 2010 15:14:29 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3507#comment-19082 SPOILERS! Read no more if you haven't read the book, because a spoiled ending would be a drag. Then again, most people think CB spoiled the ending herself. Heh. I found the ending painful, but absolutely in keeping with the book. There was at least one, I think two, passages that foreshadowed a shipwreck, as well as all Lucy's comments about being unlucky with Fate. Further, her character was always ready to jump on life opportunities like going to London by herself and then Villette then applying for a job in the middle of the night, yet when it came to personal interactions, she always held back, observed, quashed her passion, until it was too late: didn't tell Dr. John he knew her, but waited till Mrs. Bretton recognized her. ripped up her passionate letters to Graham and sent the boring ones. Never let him know how she felt, then backed off when he found Polly. Was energized by acting, then said she'd never do it again. Didn't tell Paul about her feelings. Didn't give him the gift. Didn't volunteer to go with him... She's so afraid of her passion, love and emotion that she holds them in check until its too late. SPOILERS! Read no more if you haven’t read the book, because a spoiled ending would be a drag. Then again, most people think CB spoiled the ending herself. Heh. I found the ending painful, but absolutely in keeping with the book. There was at least one, I think two, passages that foreshadowed a shipwreck, as well as all Lucy’s comments about being unlucky with Fate. Further, her character was always ready to jump on life opportunities like going to London by herself and then Villette then applying for a job in the middle of the night, yet when it came to personal interactions, she always held back, observed, quashed her passion, until it was too late: didn’t tell Dr. John he knew her, but waited till Mrs. Bretton recognized her. ripped up her passionate letters to Graham and sent the boring ones. Never let him know how she felt, then backed off when he found Polly. Was energized by acting, then said she’d never do it again. Didn’t tell Paul about her feelings. Didn’t give him the gift. Didn’t volunteer to go with him… She’s so afraid of her passion, love and emotion that she holds them in check until its too late.

]]> By: Cindy Swanson http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3507&cpage=1#comment-19075 Cindy Swanson Sun, 07 Nov 2010 04:54:49 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3507#comment-19075 Villette is one of those books that I have re-read countless times. Jane Eyre is actually my favorite novel of all time, and I eagerly read Villette as a young girl. Somewhere I still have the copy I bought with my allowance circa 1967 in Beirut, Lebanon...now I have the urgent desire to find it! I agree with Krakovianka that the ending was devastating. When the narrator essentially says, "Okay, if you don't like this ending, imagine a happier one," I used to go ahead and believe the happier one! Great book, great author. Villette is one of those books that I have re-read countless times. Jane Eyre is actually my favorite novel of all time, and I eagerly read Villette as a young girl. Somewhere I still have the copy I bought with my allowance circa 1967 in Beirut, Lebanon…now I have the urgent desire to find it!

I agree with Krakovianka that the ending was devastating. When the narrator essentially says, “Okay, if you don’t like this ending, imagine a happier one,” I used to go ahead and believe the happier one!

Great book, great author.

]]> By: Krakovianka http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3507&cpage=1#comment-19059 Krakovianka Sat, 06 Nov 2010 17:43:54 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3507#comment-19059 When I read Villette (actually, I listened to the audio version at Librivox), I was devasted by the ending. I guess I prefer Jane Austen. I remember literally wailing aloud, "Charlotte, how could you?" Blast those unreliable narrators.... When I read Villette (actually, I listened to the audio version at Librivox), I was devasted by the ending. I guess I prefer Jane Austen. I remember literally wailing aloud, “Charlotte, how could you?” Blast those unreliable narrators….

]]> By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3507&cpage=1#comment-19044 girldetective Fri, 05 Nov 2010 22:48:19 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3507#comment-19044 I can assure you that those mass market Villette's won't be joining their prettier sisters, though the Oxford has more than earned its spot. I can assure you that those mass market Villette’s won’t be joining their prettier sisters, though the Oxford has more than earned its spot.

]]> By: Amy http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3507&cpage=1#comment-19042 Amy Fri, 05 Nov 2010 22:19:40 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3507#comment-19042 Looooooooooooove your Bronte shelf. Looooooooooooove your Bronte shelf.

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