"The debate of 2011 is shaping up to be: Charlotte or Emily Bronte?" says the Daily Beast's Jennie Yabroff. "Ever since the release of Charlotte's Jane Eyre and Emily's Wuthering Heights within months of each other in 1847, the Brontë sibling rivalry has been an epic war of words."
So here's the question of the day:
WHICH SISTER WAS THE BETTER AUTHOR?
(My slightly off kilter interpretation of the sisters from here.)
15 comments:
Oh dear, I have no idea ! I DO know that I love these images. What great plates they would make !
Always a treat stopping by here ;)
I'm definitely team Charlotte when it comes to the narrative (I prefer the story), but in my mind, their writing is almost equally strong. Emily might have the edge a bit because her characters are so well drawn. But, I'd like to put in a good word for Anne too! The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is one of my favorites reads.
I have yet to read Wuthering Heights although I doubt I could fall in love with it more than I did Jane Eyre.
Team Charlotte! I could never understand the draw of Wuthering Heights whereas Jane Eyre is lovely and heartbreaking.
Oh, most surely both. I'm more vocal about loving Charlotte's work, but I could never really decide between the two (even if I've never really finished Wuthering Heights. Is that bad?).
Team Charlotte all the way.
I just reread I Capture the Castle and I was amused by a conversation between Rose and Cassandra about what would be preferable: living in a Jane Austen novel or a Charlotte Bronte one. "Which would be nicest -- Jane with a touch of Charlotte, or Charlotte with a touch of Jane?" Cassandra concludes: "Fifty per cent each way would be perfect."
I am, unfortunately, not much of a Emily fan. I cringe a little when I remember Wuthering Heights. I do, however, LOVE Charlotte. For me, there is absolutely not contest. Charlotte every time.
I prefer Charlotte. Though having only read one book from either sister, I don't feel like that's such a solid platform to make an opinion. But I loathed Wuthering Heights. I had to force myself to finish. Jane Eyre, I loved.
I do love them both, but if I had to pick one, it would have to be Charlotte! I fell in love with Jane Eyre and I can't wait to see the movie!
All the sisters are equal in my eyes. To come up with books like they did living in the middle of the Yorkshire moors...actually, maybe that's why they could come up with works like that. They had lots of peace and quiet and no distractions, except Branwell coming in drunk from a night spent at the Black Bull down the street.
I like wuthering heights better than Jane Eyre, but I'm looking forward to the film, especially because the one I was made to watch for my literature class (I think it was the 1996 one or something) missed the best parts of the book!
Emily, but I love James Joyce too, so maybe there is something wrong with me ;)
I read Wuthering heights in highschool and I absolutely loved the first half. Then I was just kinda waiting for something to happen. But I had just finished reading Gone with the wind before that and it might have still had an influence on me. I still haven't read Jane Eyre which I started a couple of weeks ago :( I really haven't had the time to read at all! I am enjoying it a lot for now though :)
That didn't answer your question, did it? :D
Charlotte!!! I studied "Jane Eyre" for A levels&there's a tendency for people to resent books that they are 'forced' to read&analyze but I was quite enthralled by the storyline.
Wuthering Heights on the other hand became a lil bit of a chore to finish. I kinda gave up after a few chapters. I can't deny that Emily was a talented writer but the plot took quite a while to unfold and the use of language was more sophisticated (ie harder to read!).
maybe I'm weird but I LOVE Wuthering Heights. It was a little hard to understand my first time disecting it, but it has become a favorite! I think I'd have to say that Emily wins. (although Jane Eyre is on the top 10 list too!)
Post a Comment