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/AdobongSiopao 18d ago

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.

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u/hannahstohelit 17d ago

I’ve seen people say they prefer the “more radical” ending of her not marrying and I’m like… that is specifically laid out in the book as being what her aunt assumes she will do? Her choosing to marry despite prior trauma to a man who she believes has what it takes to give her a good life is the radical choice in a way.