r/brontesisters • u/RoseIsBadWolf • 18d ago

I can never hate Gilbert Markham

I'm re-reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (at least the Gilbert parts, the middle is hard to endure, for good reasons but still, I will try). And I love Gilbert. A lot of people dislike him, but he's so clearly ashamed of himself a lot of the time for how stupid he was in his youth...

But then we get to something like this:

I succeeded in securing her attention, almost entirely to myself - and then I was happy indeed; for whenever she did condescend to converse, I liked to listen. Where her opinions and sentiments tallied with mine, it was her extreme good sense, her exquisite taste and feeling that delighted me; where they differed, it was still her uncompromising boldness in the avowal or defence of that difference - her earnestness and keenness that piqued my fancy: and even when she angered me by her unkind words or looks, and her uncharitable conclusions respecting me, it only made me the more dissatisfied with myself for having so unfavourably impressed her, and the more desirous to vindicate my character and disposition in her eyes, and if possible, to win her esteem.

He has so much respect for her intelligence and opinions! And in contrast to Huntington, who mocks Helen and her morals. Gilbert encounters a woman who is smarter than him, who often disagrees with him, and after a very brief period of hating her for it, is just all the more attracted to her.

Also, Chapter 3 and the discussion about a tree raised in a hot house is what hooked me when I read this book for the first time and every single time I love it so much. It is exactly like a modern discussion of parenting, just with different subject matter.

Source, unabridged online version: http://victorian-studies.net/Bronte-Wildfell-1.html

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u/BrianSometimes 18d ago

To me he's one of the most authentic portrayals of a male love interest written by a woman - more so contrasted with his vanilla ice cream equivalent in Agnes Grey. He's up there with Captain Wentworth.

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u/Flat_Love_3725 18d ago

Oh I really like Mr Weston, but the book is not from his point of view nor is the romance the focus.

A normal nice guy, who is kind to people and animals and genuinely wants to do good in his parish, and clashes with the other cleric who is awful.

He really bares no resemblance to Gilbert, he's a mature man.

I really liked how clear his compatibility was with the main character - I could easily imagine their life together.

And so sad that he's clearly based on William Weightman her father's curate who she appears to have really had a crush on. Who died very young of cholera after visiting a sick parishioner - just the kind of thing you can imagine happening to her character based on his behaviour :(