Essay on Charlotte Bronte's Villette
A Journey Through Isolation, Passion, and Resilience
Introduction:
Villette is a Gothic fiction novel by Charlotte Bronte. It was published in 1853 and was her last novel. Many critics considered it her most complex and satisfying work. The protagonist is an observer of life rather than a participant and knows little gratification in heart matters. "Villette is a great book, however will find it even more rewarding if you know French". The novel is in a Gothic setting, simultaneously it covers the themes of isolation, dubling, displacement, and subversion. The word 'Villette' originated from French and its meaning is 'small town'. Initially, the novel is set in the English countryside and later in the fictional Belgian town of Villette.
Mrs. Bretton Home:
Lucy Snowe is the narrator of the story. Lucy visited Mrs. Bretton. She is the godmother of Lucy. Mrs. Bretton is a Kind old woman. Lucy feels very comfortable and happy around her. At that time, a young girl arrives named Polly Home. She is self-possessed and exactly knows what she wants, but she misses her father badly. Polly always acts like a mature lady. Polly's homesickness is broken by the unexpected arrival of her father. She is overjoyed. Graham Bretton, son of Mrs. Bretton meets Polly for the first time and teases her by treating her like a lady she pretends to be. She resists him. Later they become friends. After two months Polly receives a letter from her father that he has settled on the continent and he is waiting for her arrival too. She is upset that she is going to leave Graham.
Miss Marchmont and Lucy:
Lucy leaves Mrs. Bretton and serves as a paid companion for Miss. Marchmont. She agrees and respects the old woman. One night after a storm passes, Miss Marchmont summons Lucy and tells her the story of her lost love, Frank, who had died thirty years before in a horseback riding accident after a year of courtship. Miss Marchmont promises to do something for Lucy's benefit the next day, but that night she dies in her sleep.
Explores London:
When Lucy is 23, she decides to seek her future in London. After coming to know the wonders of the city, she decides to take a boat to the continent. During the trip, she meets a young woman named Ginevra Fanshawe, who is on her way to school in Villette. After suffering from seasickness, she lands and faces her unknown future. After a night in a hotel, she journeys to Villette.
Ladies' Boarding School":
She gets lost on the way and stumbles upon the Ladies' Boarding School which is run by Madame Beck. She immediately asks for employment and is hired on the spot and her position is as the governess for Madame Beck's three children. Madame Beck is a master of spying in the middle of the night watching her employees and pupils through peepholes and making extensive use of informants. Lucy joined as a governess in Mrs. Sweeny's place, a drunken Irish woman. After that, Madame Beck appoints her as a substitute English teacher. The children are impresses by her teaching which made her to become the permanant English teacher in the school.
Madame Beck and Her Children:
Madame Beck does not have a smooth understanding with her own children as she is with her pupils. She ignores 'Georgette', the youngest, who is dying for affection; she indulges the vicious 'Desiree' who lies and steals constantly from her mother and everyone else. While allowing the adventurous 'Fifine' to do as she pleases, Fifine gets injury in his legs so she calls 'Dr. John', a physician for her family. Madame Beck spreads the rumour that Dr. John is seeking the affeection of the flirtatious door keeper, 'Rosine Matou'. Lucy is disappointed at the doctor's lack of judgement if that is indeed that case.
Reunion of Mrs. Bretton, Lucy and Polly:
Lucy finds enjoyment in walking in the school garden in the morning and later in the evening. She finds a love notes but she is unable to identify the writer and the recipient. Dr. John arrives there and she tells about the letter. Madame Beck had returned from jaunt and had been eavesdropping on their conversation. Dr. John has affection on Ginevra Fanshawe. Lucy knows about Fanshawe. So, she insists about Fanshawe to Dr. John. Another day while she is walking in the garden and goes long way reached small catholic church. There she meets the priest, Pere Silas. While returning she is caught in a storm and forgets her way and fainted in her way. Lucy wakes and she has no idea. The furnishings are associated in her mind with Mrs. Bretton. Soon Mrs. Bretton appears infront of her and she recognizes that Graham Bretton and Dr. John is the same person whom she has been knowing as a child. After seven weeks Lucy receives a letter from Mrs. Bretton, inviting for a dinner. There she meets M. de. Bassompierre and his daughter for whom graham has helped her once in a theatre at night. The daughter is the same little Polly who spends time at Bretton. She is now 17 and quite a composed lady. Graham and her father realize about the past. Now Polly is known as Paulina.
Clash between Paul and Lucy:
Lucy often clashes with Paul Emanuel. He becomes furious whenever anyone interrupts his class or even walk through the room. After being threatened she calls on Lucy to bear the next message. But Lucy handles the situation playfully and with great aplomb. Paul, rather than being angry, actually smiles at her, even when she accidently breaks his glasses. That evening, though he openly embarrases her when he sits next her, but she moves aside to give room. Soon after Paul's birthday Lucy exasperates beyond measure, stands up and wishes him by shouting and says "Long live the English", while at the same time denigrating the French.
Thought of Leaving Boarding School:
Paul and Lucy become close friends than they have ever been before. The relationship continues to be harder, however, largely because because Paul is jealous of anyone else's accomplishments. Between the increasing distance of her and Graham; the frequent insults of Paul, Lucy have the thought of leaving Madame Beck's Boarding School and starting her own school.
Disappearance of Ginevra Fanshawe:
One morning the whole school is in an uproar because Ginevra Fanshawe has disappeared, leaving her stuffed night gown in her bed. She eloped with Alfred de Hamal. Soon Lucy receives a letter in which Ginevra explains that the"nun" she has encountered on the ground of the school been none other than Alfred, who has taken advantage of the superstition to disguise himself and visit Ginevra during the night. M. de Bossompierre is furious about Ginevra's marriage, because de Hamal is an gambler and also Ginevra is underage. Later, they have a son eho becomes the delight of Ginevra's life and is spoiled rotten, while Alfred continues his gambling.
Opening of New Lady's Boarding School:
The day before Paul's departure he comes to visit Lucy at the school. No sooner does he enter her classroom then Madame Beck appears and insists that she needs him to come with her, and require his presence for the rest of the day. Paul insists that leaves instantly, and it shocked Madame Beck. He then takes Lucy for a walk and shows her a small but beautifully furnished apartment containing at the ear a lovely compact classroom. He than hands her a packet of advertisement announcing the opening of a New Lady's Boarding School under the supervision of Lucy Snowe. He has spent the preceeding weeks peparing this suprise, which he has shared with no one. It is his intention that Lucy leaves Madame Beck's eshtablishment and operates her own school, not only because this has been her long-cherished dream, but also they can communicate freely during his absence without Madame Beck's interference.
Conclusion:
Paul proposes his love for Lusy asks her to marry him when he returns from Indies. The next three years are happy ones as Lucy's School Prospers. She and Paul correspond regularly in anticipation of his return. As his ship travels toward Europe, an enormous storm arises, in that Paul's ship is lost and Lucy is left with nothing but memories and the school he so generously provided for her.
