Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from Agnes Grey, by Anne Brontë
In vain I expressed my sorrow; in vain I lingered for some symptom of
contrition; she really “didn’t care,” and I left her alone, and in
darkness, wondering most of all at this last proof of insensate
stubbornness. In my childhood I could not imagine a more afflictive
punishment than for my mother to refuse to kiss me at night: the very
idea was terrible. More than the idea I never felt, for, happily, I
never committed a fault that was deemed worthy of such penalty; but
once I remember, for some transgression of my sister’s, our mother
thought proper to inflict it upon her: what she felt, I cannot tell;
but my sympathetic tears and suffering for her sake I shall not soon
forget.
Another troublesome trait in Mary Ann was her incorrigible propensity
to keep running into the nursery, to play with her little sisters and
the nurse. This was natural enough, but, as it was against her mother’s
express desire, I, of course, forbade her to do so, and did my utmost
to keep her with me; but that only increased her relish for the
nursery, and the more I strove to keep her out of it, the oftener she
went, and the longer she stayed, to the great dissatisfaction of Mrs.
Bloomfield, who, I well knew, would impute all the blame of the matter
to me. Another of my trials was the dressing in the morning: at one
time she would not be washed; at another she would not be dressed,
unless she might wear some particular frock, that I knew her mother
would not like her to have; at another she would scream and run away if
I attempted to touch her hair. So that, frequently, when, after much
trouble and toil, I had, at length, succeeded in bringing her down, the
breakfast was nearly half over; and black looks from “mamma,” and testy
observations from “papa,” spoken at me, if not to me, were sure to be
my meed: for few things irritated the latter so much as want of
punctuality at meal times. Then, among the minor annoyances, was my
inability to satisfy Mrs. Bloomfield with her daughter’s dress; and the
child’s hair “was never fit to be seen.” Sometimes, as a powerful
reproach to me, she would perform the office of tire woman herself, and
then complain bitterly of the trouble it gave her.
When little Fanny came into the schoolroom, I hoped she would be mild
and inoffensive, at least; but a few days, if not a few hours, sufficed
to destroy the illusion: I found her a mischievous, intractable little
creature, given up to falsehood and deception, young as she was, and
alarmingly fond of exercising her two favourite weapons of offence and
defence: that of spitting in the faces of those who incurred her
displeasure, and bellowing like a bull when her unreasonable desires
were not gratified. As she, generally, was pretty quiet in her parents’
presence, and they were impressed with the notion of her being a
remarkably gentle child, her falsehoods were readily believed, and her
loud uproars led them to suspect harsh and injudicious treatment on my
part; and when, at length, her bad disposition became manifest even to
their prejudiced eyes, I felt that the whole was attributed to me.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë
Context of the Excerpt
Agnes Grey (1847) is Anne Brontë’s first novel, a semi-autobiographical work that draws on her experiences as a governess. The novel follows Agnes Grey, a young woman from a modest but respectable family who takes up a position as a governess to support herself and her financially struggling family. The excerpt provided depicts Agnes’s struggles with her charges—particularly Mary Ann and Fanny Bloomfield—at her first position with the Bloomfield family. The passage highlights the challenges of governess life in Victorian England, where governesses occupied an ambiguous social position: neither family nor servant, yet expected to discipline unruly children while facing blame for their misbehavior.
Themes in the Excerpt
The Plight of the Governess
- Agnes is caught between the demands of her employers and the defiance of her pupils. She is powerless to enforce discipline effectively because the parents undermine her authority.
- The passage illustrates the isolation and helplessness of governesses, who were often scapegoated for children’s misbehavior. Mrs. Bloomfield blames Agnes for Mary Ann’s stubbornness and Fanny’s deceit, despite Agnes’s efforts.
Childhood and Discipline
- The excerpt contrasts Agnes’s own childhood (where maternal affection was cherished) with the emotional neglect of the Bloomfield children.
- Mary Ann’s indifference to punishment ("she really didn’t care") suggests a lack of emotional attachment, possibly due to her mother’s coldness. Agnes, in contrast, recalls her own childhood terror at the thought of being denied a goodnight kiss, emphasizing the importance of love in discipline.
Class and Power Dynamics
- The Bloomfields, as wealthy employers, hold power over Agnes. Their black looks and testy observations reinforce her subordinate position.
- Agnes’s inability to please them—whether in dressing Mary Ann or managing Fanny’s behavior—highlights the impossible expectations placed on governesses.
Deception and Manipulation
- Fanny’s falsehoods and spitting/bellowing reveal her manipulative nature. Because she behaves well in front of her parents, they assume Agnes is at fault, demonstrating how children could exploit the governess’s vulnerable position.
Literary Devices & Stylistic Analysis
First-Person Narration & Subjectivity
- The passage is told from Agnes’s perspective, making her frustrations and sympathies immediate to the reader.
- Her reflection on her own childhood ("In my childhood I could not imagine a more afflictive punishment...") creates contrast with the Bloomfield children’s upbringing, deepening the reader’s empathy for her.
Irony & Understatement
- Agnes’s restrained tone ("I left her alone, and in darkness") masks her exasperation, while phrases like "incorrigible propensity" and "minor annoyances" understate the severity of her struggles, adding dry humor.
- The irony lies in how the Bloomfields blame Agnes for problems they themselves create (e.g., Mrs. Bloomfield’s dissatisfaction with Mary Ann’s dress, despite Agnes’s efforts).
Repetition & Parallel Structure
- The anaphora ("At one time she would not be washed; at another she would not be dressed...") emphasizes the relentless, cyclical nature of Agnes’s struggles.
- The parallel complaints from Mr. and Mrs. Bloomfield ("black looks from mamma, and testy observations from papa") reinforce their united disapproval.
Imagery & Sensory Language
- Darkness ("in darkness") symbolizes both Mary Ann’s emotional detachment and Agnes’s isolation.
- Animalistic comparisons (Fanny "bellowing like a bull") dehumanize the children, suggesting their wild, untamed nature—a stark contrast to the "gentle child" their parents perceive.
Foreshadowing & Dramatic Irony
- Agnes’s observation that the Bloomfields will eventually see Fanny’s true nature ("when, at length, her bad disposition became manifest even to their prejudiced eyes") foreshadows her inevitable dismissal—a common fate for governesses in such situations.
Significance of the Passage
Social Critique of Victorian Parenting & Governess Life
- The excerpt critiques upper-class parenting, where children are spoiled and governesses are expected to perform miracles with no real authority.
- It reflects Anne Brontë’s own experiences, offering a realistic, unromanticized view of governess life—unlike the idealized portrayals in some contemporary literature (e.g., Jane Eyre, though Charlotte Brontë’s novel also critiques the role).
Agnes’s Moral Strength vs. the Bloomfields’ Flaws
- While the Bloomfields are hypocritical and quick to blame, Agnes remains patient and reflective, even in frustration. This reinforces her moral integrity, a key theme in the novel.
- Her sympathy for her sister’s childhood punishment contrasts with the Bloomfields’ lack of empathy, highlighting the moral failure of the wealthy.
Psychological Realism
- The passage delves into child psychology—Mary Ann’s defiance as a reaction to neglect, Fanny’s manipulation as a survival tactic.
- Agnes’s internal conflict (wanting to discipline but also understanding the children’s emotional needs) adds depth to her character.
Key Takeaways from the Text Itself
- Agnes’s Voice: The passage is introspective yet restrained, revealing her exhaustion without outright complaint. Her comparison to her own childhood makes her suffering more poignant.
- The Children’s Behavior: Mary Ann’s stubbornness and Fanny’s deception are not just personal flaws but products of their upbringing—their parents’ indifference and favoritism.
- The Parents’ Hypocrisy: Mrs. Bloomfield’s complaints about Agnes’s efforts (e.g., dressing Mary Ann) while doing nothing to help expose her as a neglectful, critical mother.
- The Governess’s Dilemma: Agnes is damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t—if she disciplines, she’s "harsh"; if she doesn’t, the children are "uncontrolled."
Conclusion
This excerpt from Agnes Grey is a microcosm of the novel’s central themes: the struggles of governess life, the failures of aristocratic parenting, and the resilience of a morally upright but powerless young woman. Anne Brontë’s sharp observations, dry wit, and psychological insight make the passage both a social critique and a deeply personal narrative. Agnes’s quiet endurance in the face of injustice reflects Brontë’s own experiences, offering a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the harsh realities of Victorian domestic labor.