The relationships between family members in Literature
This is an excerpt from the paper...
The relationships between family members often serve as the central focus in works of literature. In particular, many writers place significance on the dynamics within the sibling relationship, as such relations often present complex, provocative models of interaction. Indeed, in Persuasion by Jane Austen, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontd, and The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, relationships between siblings serve as important formal and thematic elements of the novels, and provide for richer characterizations of their key figures. However, it is important to note that Austen, Brontd, and Collins do not utilize the sibling relationship to the same ends within their respective works. For Austen, relations between the Elliot sisters in Persuasion are used to firmly situate Anne as the novelÆs heroine, while Brontd and Collins exploit the relations between siblings within their novels not only as thematic elements, but to help drive the plot along as well. In Persuasion, Austen introduces readers to the Elliot sisters, Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary, who are the daughters of the highly respected Sir Walter Elliot. When the novel opens, the sistersÆ mother has been dead for thirteen years, and the family is suffering the repercussions of Sir WalterÆs lavish overspending. Elizabeth and Anne, the two oldest daughters, remain unmarried, while youngest daughter Mary is married to the wealthy Charles Musgrove and has two small sons. The differences in temperament between the
. . .
usten declares, ôAnne was tenderness itself, and she had the full worth of it in Captain Wentworth's affectionö (Austen 288). It is through AnneÆs relationship with her sisters that the reader comes to realize this.
For Brontd, the sibling relationship within Jane Eyre serves as a formal element, as well as a thematic one. Indeed, the Rivers siblings play a significant role in determining JaneÆs fate, and their relationship, thus, is a critical aspect of the plot. Jane meets the Riverses after she has fled from Thornfield, and is desperate for food and shelter. The siblings take Jane in, and become close friends to her. Soon, she discovers that they are in fact her cousins, and when Jane comes into a significant inheritance after the death of her uncle, she shares the good fortune with the Riverses. Such affection develops that St. John falls in love with Jane, and asks her to come to India with him as his wife.
The relationship between the Rivers siblings is significant because their family can be contrasted with the Reeds. Indeed, the Riverses are depicted as a kind and decent family. Brontd explains, ôShe [Diana] possessed eyes whose gaze I delighted to encounter. Her whole face seemed to me full of char
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
Indeed Marian, St John, Unlike Elizabeth, Sir Walter, Anne Mary, Indeed Rivers, Brontd Collins, Persuasion Austen, Indeed Riverses, Woman White, sibling relationship, st john, rivers siblings, thematic elements, jane eyre, woman white, sir walter, formal thematic elements, brontd collins, anne novelÆs, formal thematic, solve novelÆs mystery, novelÆs heroine brontd, anne novelÆs heroine, sir percival count,
Approximate Word count = 2031
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)
More Essays on The relationships between family members in Literature
|
Customer Service
to Over
32,000 Professionally Written Papers!!!
