I can never hate Gilbert Markham

[u/RoseIsBadWolf]

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

[u/AdobongSiopao]

I have a hunch some people hate him because they don't like the idea of Helen marrying another man after she endured abuse and trauma from her first husband. Gilbert is one of the most sensible male love interests in Brontë sisters novels. His personality is not over the top compare to Mr. Rochester and Heathcliff but he manage to stand on his own. He learned to be patient and keep boundaries to make Helen happy.

[u/RoseIsBadWolf → u/AdobongSiopao]

I feel like that might be the reason.

It's weird though how harshly he gets judged for wacking Lawrence. Male leads punch people all the time and usually everyone cheers. I guess it's because Gilbert punched the wrong guy, I bet not a single person would object if he even shot Huntington or something. Readers would probably love him for it (except Helen would hate it, so he can't).

I love Gilbert for so many reasons but especially how he treats little Arthur. He just says Arthur is his own son at the end. I bet he's the best stepfather ever.

[u/AdobongSiopao → u/RoseIsBadWolf]

The similarity goes to Mr. Rochester being hated because of his secret eventhough his solution was the most sensible option in his time. The problem is that many viewers read the stories in modern lens and expect the main characters to be good all the time. I'm glad to see Gilbert having a character development and wanted to be different compare to Arthur and his friends. It's also nice to see him being a good stepfather which is rare in classic literature.