Charlotte Bronte, the author of Jane Eyre, had only one very brief marriage. It was June 1854. Although she was only 38 years old at the time, she was approaching the end of her life.
A few months after their marriage, the Charlottes were invited to a friend's house. After a long walk on the wet grass, Charlotte caught a cold. At this time, she was pregnant and had a strong reaction. After returning home, she continued to vomit and even fainted. Doctors believe that it is physical failure. On March 31, 1855, a generation of writers with a wide reputation passed away after sending off several talented younger siblings (including Emily, who wrote the literary classic "Wuthering Heights").
Charlotte's marriage didn't take long. Her husband, Nichols, is her father's curate. Although he had been in love with Charlotte for a long time, he proposed in December 1852. Father does not approve of Charlotte's marriage. This is not only against her, her father has always been against marriage. After more than a year, the father's mood has changed, and his attitude towards his daughter's marriage has changed. After a short preparation, Nichols became Charlotte's husband. Less than a year later, tragedy struck.
Charlotte's most famous work, "Jane Eyre", was published in 1847, a long time before Charlotte's marriage. Among the works, the love between Jane Eyre, the governess, and Rochester, the master, is the most important and moving chapter in this work. The protagonist Jane Eyre, although she is thin, has no beauty, and is not high in social status, but her spiritual temperament has attracted Rochester, who has identity, status and is very strong. But in this mansion, there were often weird laughter in the middle of the night, guests were bitten and stabbed, and even the owner, Rochester, was almost burned to death... It turned out that the owner had a crazy wife. Everything seems to be over, but the love finally fades away. Although Rochester's mansion was finally burned down by a mad wife, Jane Eyre unexpectedly gained an inheritance. At the call of Rochester, who had lost his wife and was blind, she sensed it and ran away immediately. Marriage became the fruit of love at last...
This love that sounds and seems a little thrilling, not only at that time, but also in the eyes of readers more than a hundred years later, it is also quite infectious and attractive. At this time, a thought will arise: the author herself, has experienced such love? If not, how are those delicate, subtle, and even mysterious feelings brought to her writing like a god... Because, from the From the author's life, her marriage obviously has nothing to do with this novel. And "Jane Eyre" has obvious traces of the author's own life and knowledge.
In March 1857, Mrs. Gaskell, who had been in contact with Charlotte during her lifetime, published the first "Charlotte Bronte Biography". But in it, we fail to see any traces of Charlotte and other love affairs. Perhaps the biographer did not know about it; or, the conservative British society at that time would not tolerate love behaviors that exceeded moral boundaries.
It was not until nearly 60 years after Charlotte's death that the mystery was lifted by a donation from a family in Brussels, Belgium.
In 1913, the descendants of the teachers of the boarding school where Charlotte had studied in Brussels donated 4 somewhat mutilated letters to the British Museum. These letters were written by Charlotte in French to Mr. Haig, a teacher at the school. The content of the letter made it impossible to doubt that there was an unforgettable love between Charlotte and Mr. Haig at that time. This love, judging from the letter, seems to be Charlotte's stubborn, painful, and even desperate unrequited love.
In 2004, 160 years after the writing of these letters, Charlotte's original four letters were released from the deep museum and exhibited at Charlotte's former home in Yorkshire, England, where these letters were born. . The mystery of Charlotte's description of the characters' feelings of love in "Jane Eyre" can be completely revealed from this.
It was February 1842, and in order to stop being a lowly governess (those unpleasant experiences are strongly reflected in Jane Eyre), Sister Brontë was planning to open a school of her own. After her aunt agreed to provide the fund, Charlotte and her sister Emily went to Brussels, Belgium, where the cost of living was lower, to study at the boarding school run by the Haigs to improve their French and learn a little German for teaching.
Originally, they only planned to stay here for half a year, because the economic conditions were really limited. But Mrs. Haig suggested they stay a little longer and let Charlotte be the assistant English teacher and Emily teach a little music. In this way, although there is no salary, they are provided with room and board, and their studies can continue.
Because of the death of their aunt, the sisters returned to their hometown. At this time, Mr. Haig wrote to Charlotte's father, in addition to expressing condolences, he also gave high praise to the character of his daughters. The letter suggested that Charlotte would go back to school to continue her studies. Although we can't know for sure what happened between Haig and Charlotte at this time, it is clear that he has a crush on Charlotte.
Mr. Haig is an extraordinary French professor in Brussels. He was very knowledgeable and well known there. In his association with Charlotte, he also received an award from the Royal Gallery. He later became one of the most famous professors at the Belgian Royal Academy. He has a strong character and is quite similar to "Rochester" in "Jane Eyre". During Charlotte's studies there, he admired her literary talents and did his best to inspire her in literature. At that time, he gave Charlotte many books, including Pascal's "Thoughts", a complete set of Bernardin Saint-Pierre, as well as other collections of French poetry, German writings and so on. Strictly speaking, Charlotte's literary training was done here, although she had previously written with her sisters and ran her own tabloid, Pictures and Entertainment.
It is because of Rochester's appreciation and encouragement that Charlotte's potential literary talents are stimulated; his powerful and peculiar personality, his sincere help, naturally arouses admiration on the side of Charlotte, who is chasing an otherworldly spiritual life. Heart. These have made Charlotte's life, especially her literary career, have undergone great changes.
In January 1843, Charlotte returned to the Haigs' boarding school alone. Here, she is still a student and an assistant teacher. During the year, on the one hand, she felt lonely and depressed because of the departure of her sister and friends; but she must have received a lot of relief and support from Mr. Haig. At present, there is no information to reflect how much their friendship has developed, but their mutual state has aroused the suspicion of Mrs. Haig. To be more serious, it is jealousy.
In this case, the conservative social atmosphere makes it difficult for Charlotte to continue here. In January of the following year, she left Brussels and returned to her hometown. At the time, she and her sister were trying to open a school in the parish, but she couldn't leave her hometown, because her father's eyesight was failing and he had to be cared for by his daughter; and Haworth, the hometown, was too remote to attract parents to send their children here. Come. This long-awaited plan could not be implemented.
Despite the difficult circumstances at the time, Charlotte's thoughts of Haig did not diminish in the slightest. From her letters to Haig that have been preserved so far, it can be known that Charlotte has written several letters to Haig successively, with intervals of several months, half a year or even longer, but it seems that she has not heard back from Haig. Judging from this, before she left, Haig's house might have had some trouble with Charlotte, and Haig was unable or unwilling to respond to her.
Charlotte's letters to Haig are quite moving. Readers can see that over time, her emotions have grown stronger, and her words have become more direct and explicit. Through them, we deeply feel Charlotte's love-stirring feelings, but we can't help but feel grief and sympathy for the writer's plight when we think that these letters have not been echoed.
Among the existing letters, the first one was written on July 24, 1844 (judging from the content, Charlotte also wrote another letter in early May of that year; according to common sense, when she first returned from Brussels, that is, in January, There should also be a letter of thanks.) Charlotte had a good excuse for writing this letter: a lady she knew was going to Brussels, "and would love to bring a letter - I don't think it should be neglected to write to you good opportunity. In
Charlotte's letter, she first expressed her concern for Haig's work and body, and then expressed her understanding of Haig's long-term failure to reply. "Although I felt the greatest happiness when I saw your letter, I was also patient." Waiting to hear from you until you are happy and convenient to send it to me.
Charlotte has a lot of confidence in the future meeting between the two. Therefore, in order to prepare for the meeting, Charlotte recites half a page of French every day: "I like to learn this text - sir - when I read When it comes to French, I seem to be talking to you. Almost trivially ,
Charlotte talked about her life: wanting to run a boarding school; her father's body; her own efforts...and her desire to write: "I'm going to write a book and dedicate it to me My teacher of literature—the only teacher I have ever had—is dedicated to you, sir, and I tell you in French from time to time, how much I respect you—how much I appreciate your kindness, your advice..." The
letter was finished , seemingly inadvertently, Charlotte added, "I don't ask you to write to me soon, because I'm afraid to disturb you--but you have a good heart and won't forget that I'm always longing for letters-- Yes--I'm desperate for..." Of course, she was worried, "Sir--if I finally get a letter, if I think you wrote it out of pity--that would be too painful for me. "But Charlotte still expressed her confidence in wanting to see Haig again: "Ah, I'll see you someday--as it should be--I'll go to Brussels as soon as I make enough money, and I'll be there-- Even if the time is short, I will see you again. "
It was a great pity that Charlotte was not able to see Haig at last, nor did she receive the letter she thought might have caused her pain, which she had written out of "pity." In August, she sent another letter, but no reply. On October 24th, because someone was passing by Brussels, Charlotte hurriedly wrote another text message, wanting to be brought to Haig. The most prominent part of this letter is still the waiting for Haig's reply: "I just ask you if you have received several letters in early May and August, I have been waiting for Mr.'s letter for 6 months, waiting for 6 months, that's a long time. But I'm not complaining. For a little grief, I'll get a lot of compensation - if now you'll write a letter to this gentleman or to his sister to bring to me , there is no mistake."
Charlotte was desperate: "Good-bye, sir, I am sure you will soon have a letter--a thought that pleases me, for your kindness will never be lost in my memory, as long as As long as this memory lasts, so will the reverence for you."
Still, it's insubordination. But, "Mr. Taylor came back, and I asked him if he had a letter from me—'No, nothing. ''Be patient,' I said--'his sister is coming soon'--Miss Taylor has returned. 'Mr. Haig has nothing for you,' she said, 'neither letter nor news. '"
It was January 8 of the following year, and Charlotte wrote to Haig again. For the letter she had entrusted with it was undoubtedly delivered to Haig's house. Of course, Haig read it, but still didn't give the bearer a reply, not even a message. What a disappointment to Charlotte. The above few sentences are the beginning of her letter to Haig. It depicts Charlotte's conversation when she meets the messenger, and the strong hopelessness overflows on paper.
The long-term miss is to get the return of love. Charlotte's request at this time has been reduced to a minimum, only a short, even a few words "due to mercy", but none of them, as if nothing happened at all. This result is really embarrassing, and it hits those who have waited for a long time. Although she was born in a priest's family, and despite the severe constraints of social customs in England at that time, Charlotte couldn't hold back. She wanted to show the pain she had endured for so long without reservation:
"But when people do not complain, and try to restrain themselves severely—some of the faculties of the organism are about to turn against them—the outward composure is compensated by an almost unbearable inner conflict."
"Neither day nor night I can rest . , and it is difficult to be quiet. If I fall asleep, I have anxious dreams, in which I see that you are always stern to me, always melancholy, always angry."
"Forgive me, sir, If I write to you again - if I don't relieve my pain, how can I tolerate such a life?"
In fact, what I say now is all for the sake of confession, to get, or to maintain a heartbeat in my heart. So, Charlotte still doesn't want to lose:
"I take all kinds of blame - I only know: I can't, and I don't want to lose my teacher's friendship completely at will." The word "friendship", completely, It can be replaced with "love", because almost all friendships are difficult to achieve such a strong point. But that's not enough: "I'd rather endure great physical pain than heartbreak with violent remorse. If my teacher makes me lose his friendship completely, I'll be completely hopeless..."
Poor Xia Lottie was now completely begging: "Sir, poor people don't need much in order to live, they only ask for a crumb from the rich man's table--if people refuse these crumbs to the poor--they I 'll starve to death."
Such a letter, no matter the tone, no matter the expression of emotion, was beyond the limits of a woman in a conservative society, but Charlotte was desperate to send it. Although "I'm vaguely aware that there are some hard-hearted, sensible people who read these letters and say - 'she's talking nonsense' - in order to avenge them - I only hope that these people - take the 8 months The pain I've endured for a day..." Charlotte knew, of course, that it was out of line to speak like this, but, "When one is capable, one suffers in silence, and when it is unbearable, one speaks out of proportion. "
Such a letter, which goes far beyond the social moral background and expresses strong personal feelings, will almost kill the writer if not answered. However, judging from the letters later, Haig replied in a stern tone to a letter that Charlotte regarded as "advising" almost half a year later. In May 1845 she immediately wrote another letter, but this letter no longer exists. The last letter left at present was written on November 18, after Charlotte had endured another full six months:
"Summer and autumn seem too long to me; Self-restraint requires painful effort. You can't imagine what this means; but imagine: one of your children is 160 miles away, and you haven't written to him for six months, I haven't heard from him, and I don't know if he is in good health, so you can easily understand how uncomfortable such a burden is."
This letter, on the surface, has a calmer attitude than the previous letter, but it is about The result of patience. Because the writer was also deeply helpless and exhausted: "I tried my best, I looked for something to do, I decided not to talk about you... But I couldn't restrain my regret and anxiety - it was shameful - uncontrollable My own thoughts are enslaved by regrets and memories, and by the strong and stubborn thoughts that severely oppress my heart." However, just like the drowning man, he knew there was no hope, but he still hoped for a life-saving straw. In Charlotte, now expecting Haig to write her a letter. Even just a few words would be the greatest support for her emotions: "Sir, I earnestly ask you, when you reply to this letter, to talk about yourself, not about me; for I know that if you If you talk about me, you have to blame me, this time I want to see your kind face." A
simple reply, an ordinary piece of paper, is really a life-saving medicine for the current Charlotte:
"I know, Writing to an old student is not very interesting for you - but for me it is life. Your last letter supported me - 6 months of nourishment - now I need another A letter you will give me - not because you have friendships with me - you will not have many friendships - but because you have compassion and you will not cause long suffering to save a moment of trouble ."
Charlotte didn't dare to beg for "friendship" (in her mind, love, obviously), just trying to arouse Haig's sympathy. And "forbid me to write to you, - to refuse to answer, is to deprive me of the only happiness in the world..." These words now seem quite pale. Because she should also know in her heart that it is extremely difficult for her to get a letter written out of "sympathy", let alone "friendship".
Of course, no matter how you look at it, Charlotte's love is given to others to the maximum. Even after waiting so long and painfully, I don't want to hurt others a little. At the end of the letter, in apparently helpless circumstances, she still tries to leave a warm memory:
"—but after leaving Brussels, I never heard French spoken once—it sounded in my ears then As if music—every word is most precious to me because it reminds me of you—for your sake I love French with all my heart.”
“Goodbye, dear teacher—may God take special care to protect you, and a special blessing to you."
This is the last letter from Charlotte to Haig that we have ever seen. From the feeling point of view, it is quite desolate and relatively peaceful (compared to the third letter). The weapon of time has finally polished off most of the people's edge. Although there are residues, but only enough to hurt themselves. For others, nothing can be ignited. The last few sentences are almost a farewell. Such a strong emotion ended up in such a way that one cannot help but feel extremely sad.
From Charlotte's side, Hagrid was too hard-hearted. Take a step back and consider that in Europe nearly two hundred years ago, the social atmosphere was quite closed and conservative. Haig was a married man and a professor, and neither family nor social status would allow him to have a crush on a student. Although according to the information, he gave Charlotte many books to appreciate and inspire her development in literature, but this kind of goodwill is still a long way from breaking the family and social barriers and falling in love with a student. .
From what happened later, the reason why Haig did not reply to Charlotte was also related to the family. Most of the letters on display in Charlotte's hometown today bear torn marks. It is said that after Haig received the letter, in order not to cause family disagreement, he tore it up and threw it into the wastepaper basket. But his suspicious wife picked up the scraps and glued them back together as evidence that Charlotte was trying to seduce her husband. Perhaps, our descendants should really thank Mrs. Haig for her jealousy, otherwise, the extremely moving love letter from an outstanding novelist would not have survived, becoming the best evidence for us to perceive the depth of human suffering and the strength of indomitable endurance.
Perhaps, it was such a long-term accumulation of strength that Charlotte, a poor and frail British woman, completed her masterpiece "Jane Eyre" a year later. In this novel, we read the protagonist's most determined and tenacious will to work hard, and saw Jane Eyre's long and strong telepathy to Rochester. In the middle, we have reason to believe that there are a lot of Charlotte's own personal feelings, which have been fully expressed in those letters. From this point of view, Charlotte's long-standing mental pain is helping her soul sublime, so that she can dedicate a precious and wonderful flower to the treasure house of human culture, which should be relieved by Charlotte.
Of course, the protagonist in "Jane Eyre", after going through all the hardships, is united with his own "Rochester". Charlotte, although painstakingly searched, was finally fruitless. From this, we can understand the distance between creation and works, as well as the relationship between the ideal expression of the work and the desire of the actual author. Compared with the emotions expressed in these love letters, our calm words are probably only suitable for rationality. If we want to deeply understand the depth and breadth of human emotions, we should explore in the texts such as Charlotte's Love Letters. In this way, we can understand the incomparably precious meaning and value of emotion from its solid weight and the power it inspires.
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