Literature Network » Emily Bronte

Emily Bronte


Advanced Search

Emily Bronte (1818-1849), English author and one of the famed Bronte sisters wrote Wuthering Heights (1847);

Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living! You said I killed you—haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe—I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!

First published under Emily’s pseudonym Ellis Bell, the combination of its structure and elements of passion, mystery and doomed love as well as social commentary have made Wuthering Heights an enduring masterpiece. Set in 18th Century England when social and economic values were changing and land ownership did not always the man make, it is a world of patriarchal values juxtaposed with the natural elements. Bronte explores themes of revenge, religion, class and prejudice while plumbing the depths of the metaphysical and human psyche. Bronte’s own home in the bleak Yorkshire moors provides the setting for the at-times other-worldly passions of the Byronic Heathcliff and Catherine. Also having written much poetry, Emily Bronte’s works did not receive wide acclaim until after her death at the age of thirty. Wuthering Heights is still in print today and has inspired numerous television and feature film adaptations. As with most of the Bronte sister’s popular novels, people have tried to find biographical parallels in them. Emily has been characterised to mythic proportions as deeply spiritual, free-spirited and reclusive as well as intensely creative and passionate, an icon to tortured genius.

Emily Bronte was born on 30 July 1818 at 74 Market Street in Thornton, Bradford, Yorkshire, England. She was the fourth daughter of Maria Branwell (1783-1821), who died of cancer when Emily was just three years old, and Irish clergyman Patrick Bronte (1777-1861). After her youngest sister Anne (1820-1849) was born the Bronte’s moved to the village of Haworth where Patrick had been appointed rector. Emily had four older siblings; Maria (1814-1825), Elizabeth (1815-1825), Charlotte (1816-1855) and Patrick Branwell “Branwell” (1817-1848). Emily’s “Aunt [Elizabeth] Branwell” (1776-1842) had moved in to the Parsonage after her sister Maria’s death to help nursemaids Nancy and Sarah Gars raise the six young children.

In 1824, Emily, with her four sisters entered the Clergy Daughter’s School at Cowan Bridge, near Kirkby Lonsdale. When Maria and Elizabeth died there a year later of tuberculosis, she and Charlotte returned home to Haworth. Their father was a quiet man and often spent his spare time alone, so, the motherless children entertained themselves reading the works of William Shakespeare, Virgil, John Milton, and the Bible and played the piano, did needlepoint, and told each other stories. The four often ‘paired up’; Charlotte and Branwell started writing of their imaginary world ‘Angria’, Emily and Anne writing of its rival, ‘Gondal’. Penning their kingdoms’ histories and developing characters to populate them, the young Bronte girls found a creative outlet in writing stories and poetry. Emily was becoming an independent and opinionated young woman as her poem “The Old Stoic” reveals;

And if I pray, the only prayer
That moves my lips for me
Is, ‘Leave the heart that now I bear,
And give me liberty!’

In 1835 Emily enrolled at Miss Wooler's school at Roe Head, Mirfield where Charlotte was teaching, but she soon returned home when she became profoundly homesick and ill. After a few years as governess at Law Hill Hall in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Emily and her sisters Charlotte and Anne travelled to Brussels, Belgium in 1842. There at the Pensionnat Heger under teacher Constantin Heger they immersed themselves in the study of French, German and literature with the aim of starting their own school someday. When their Aunt Branwell died Emily alone returned to Haworth for her funeral and stayed on there, just her and her father. She helped around the home and continued writing and editing her poems. By 1845 her sisters had given up their dream of starting their own school and the three were together at Haworth again. It was Charlotte’s idea to publish the poems of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell in 1846. The following year Wuthering Heights was published to mixed reviews, although it was soon lauded as an original and innovative tragic romance. Tragedy loomed large in Emily’s life as well: her brother Branwell had become an alcoholic and addicted to opium and the family were constantly dealing with his depressions and at times mad ravings. He died in 1848 and while at his funeral Emily caught a cold and died soon after, on 19 December 1848. She now rests with her mother and father and sisters Charlotte, Maria, and Elizabeth and brother Branwell in the family vault at the Church of Saint Michael and All Angels in Haworth, West Yorkshire, England.

Yet, still, in evening’s quiet hour,
With never-failing thankfulness,
I welcome thee, Benignant Power;
Sure solacer of human cares,
And sweeter hope, when hope despairs!—“To Imagination”

Biography written by C. D. Merriman for Jalic Inc. Copyright Jalic Inc. 2007. All Rights Reserved.

The above biography is copyrighted. Do not republish it without permission.

Please submit a quiz here.

Recent Forum Posts on Emily Bronte

I Need Help Interpreting a Poem by Emily Bronte.

So, my language arts teacher gave me this poem by Emily Bronte, because I loved Wuthering Heights and I need help figuring out what it's about. I've never been really good with poetry. "No Coward Soul Is Mine" by Emily Bronte No coward soul is mine, No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere: I see Heaven's glories shine, And faith shines equal, arming me from fear. O God within my breast, Almighty, ever-present Deity! Life--that in me has rest, As I--undying Life--have power in thee! Vain are the thousand creeds, That move men's hearts: unutterably vain; Worthless as withered weeds, Or idlest forth amid the boundless main, To waken doubt in one Holding so fast by thine infinity; So surely anchored on The steadfast rock of immortality. With wide-embracing love Thy spirit animates eternal years, Pervades and broods above, Changes, sustains, dissolves, creates, and rears. Though earth and man were gone, And suns and universes ceased to be, And thou were left alone, Every existence would exist in Thee. There is not room for Death, Nor atom that his might could render void; Thou--THOU are Being and Breath, And what THOU art may never be destroyed Sorry if there's a huge amount of typos. Anyway, is it about Love or God or what? I have no idea. :redface:

Posted By AshleyMare at Wed 10 Dec 2008, 4:36 PM in Bronte, Emily || 2 Replies

Help me now. You will forever be praised.

Alright, so I have just finished the book (Wuthering Heights). I need to write an essay about recurring events/parallel structures in the book, and its significance. I found this essay on bookrags.com, which had to be paid for unfortunately ($7), don't call me stupid. I'm not in the mood.:flare: hehe. Anyway, here it is: In Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë's, the author uses repetition as a device to give us the full understanding of the characters and how they develop and repeat the past unknowingly. This is shown through the names of the characters and their actions throughout the novel. It would seem that nothing ever ends, but rather runs itself in a cycle, bringing the past into the present. This is first shown when the older Catherine names her daughter after herself. The older Catherine dies before the younger Catherine could grow to really know her mother, but is able to show a distinguished quality of her mother through her actions. This could be seen in the younger Catherine's taunting of Joseph's evangelical ways. Both mother and daughter share a tendency towards headstrong behavior and sometimes, even arrogance. However, no matter how much both were alike, the younger Catherine shows a transformation from the older and is given into compassion. The repetition of the characters' names from generation to generation gives meaning to the novel through other characters who interact with them. For example, Heathcliff often mistakes the younger Catherine for her mother in both her looks and her manners. There is also a repetition of abuse that becomes apparent through Heathcliff by Hindly. Heathcliff later displays the abuse he was once implemented with through Hareton. Heathcliff's abuse did not stop at one person, however. It continued on to Isabella, who witnessed the hanging of her dog by Heathcliff, was also forced to witness Hareton hang a litter of puppies. Linton becomes, more or less, much like the father and son, and is soon torturing cats. Another less evident display of repetition is abuse, in which the older Catherine is shown in rather bad light. The older Catherine became addicted to controlling the will of others, as well as manipulating them. The second Catherine shows her mother's dispositions to gain sympathy by manipulating others through her illness. ------------------------------------------------------------------- That's only 321 words, I need 750....I won't be copying word for word, cause that's plagarism. But what I need help on is...what 3 specific things could I talk about, IN DETAIL? And yes, I did waste money, but it has helped greatly, and I am desperate because this is a summer assignment. I apologise to those who will judge me from this one thread (because I find it unfair for people to be judgmental of someone, and it's easy to do that on the internet.) I want THREE body paragraphs. I know my first one will be about Catherine and her daughter....what stuff is there to discuss exactly...how are they alike, and how are they different? My second one will be about abuse.... the Heathcliff/Hareton/Hindley thing....but what's there to discuss, and what is its significance? There's not much to say, and how can I write more than 6-8 sentences about it?? What should my last paragraph be about, also? This is what I've written down myself so far, but I would appreciate some editing and advice: Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights is an enthralling tale of romance and tragedy. One of the tactics you will notice the author has used is repetition - it seems that nothing ever ends in the story. Character's names are recycled, and all horrors of the past are repeated in the present This is first noticed when Catherine Linton, whose maiden name is Catherine Earnshaw, names her daughter after herself. This is the most clear example in the book. Mother and daughter do not only share name, but specific characteristics also. Young Catherine treats her cousin Hareton with pity; she mocks him, and laughs at his misfortune of not being able to read or write. Likewise, Catherine treats her adopted brother Heathcliff in the same way - she laughs at him as he is a gipsy, a boy with no background. However, both Catherines learn to love their companions later on, yet each end their love story differently. Catherine prefers to marry the rich and graceful Edgar Linton, as she tells Nelly Dean, 'it would degrade me to marry Heathcliff'. Her daughter, however, has a happier ending - she marries the one she loves. The name of Catherine Earnshaw is recycled - the daughter of Mr and Mrs Earnshaw gives birth to Catherine Linton, who marries Hareton Earnshaw. Thus, the story starts and ends with a woman of the same name. Now, what I want to know is...what is the SIGNIFICANCE of all these recurring things? I need to discuss that just as much as I discuss the actual events. Also, my introduction is terrible, too short and doesn't say enough...I don't know what to say. (Excuse any grammar and spelling mistakes, I'm typing this late..)

Posted By Castaway at Thu 24 Jul 2008, 1:02 AM in Bronte, Emily || 21 Replies

Need help! Wondering what the importance of weather is in Chapter 10...

So, what's the significance of weather in Chapter 10? I need to know for English class, and will definitely put it into my own words and everything. :) But I honestly cannot find what is so important in that particular chapter, dealing with weather. Any help would be AMAZING! <3 ya forever!!! :) ~HisAgent101~ Pleease! Anybody? I could really use so help, people! ;) Thank you!!!

Posted By HisAgent101 at Sat 5 Jul 2008, 11:45 AM in Bronte, Emily || 0 Replies

Remembrance

Hey, I just read the poem 'Remembrance' by Emily Bronte and I was wondering if it was based on things that had happened to her. It seems to be about her love who died, but I can't find any evidence that she was in love with a man to that extent. I then read on this website that she was very close to her brother and then I thought perhaps the poem could be about his death. Any thoughts? It's a beautiful poem :D

Posted By Falling-Away at Thu 3 Apr 2008, 5:31 PM in Bronte, Emily || 0 Replies

Catherine and Heathcliff vs Cathy and Hareton

I've just come from the discussion on Tolstoy where a number of readers expressed admiration for the rakish character Dolokhov in War and Peace. I've never been a fan of the character, but I've always had a weakness for Bronte's Heathcliff. Wuthering Heights movies always portray Heathcliff as the classic gloomy and passionate lover, but in the book, he is really a ruthless evil person. Nevertheless, every time I read the novel, I find myself taking Heathcliff's side in the early part of the story, especially at the death of the first Catherine. This shows how a skilled novelist can mess with your mind. Bronte is telling us something else: that it is human nature to be drawn to the physically strong and powerful rather than the weak. Edgar Linton was a much finer man than Heathcliff, but he was soft and ineffectual. Catherine expresses her dilemma when she confronts her two lovers and says, "I have to put up with one's bad nature and the other's weak one." With her younger generation, Bronte has rearranged these personality traits to set forth her ideal humans. Hareton Earnshaw and the young Cathy Linton are physically strong, alert, energetic, able to survive in the rough country they had been born in, but at the core are compassionate and goodhearted. The sunny love between them is contrasted with the love between the older Catherine and Heathcliff, which was fierce, like a blind force of nature, and hurtful to the lovers themselves. In the young Linton Heathcliff, Bronte shows us what Heathcliff would have been like if he had lacked physicial strength - the worst possible combination - weakness AND selfishness. The younger Cathy is a large enough person to love Linton, demonstrating the greatest love of all - the love of the unlovable.

Posted By Bleakhills at Fri 22 Feb 2008, 9:09 AM in Bronte, Emily || 2 Replies

Wuthering Heights V. 2. Ch. 12 "frowning nab"

When Cathy and Ellen ride out to find Linton on the moors, Linton starts from his slumber. The text reads " "I thought I heard my father," he gasped, glancing up to the frowning nab above us. "You are sure nobody spoke?" " I would be very grateful if somebody could explain the use of the word "nab" here. Many thanks.

Posted By Rockhopper at Tue 29 Jan 2008, 1:05 AM in Bronte, Emily || 1 Reply

I need all you guys to help me!!!!!

I am doing a book report on Emily and i dont really know any thing about her I have to have a thesis statement by monday and I dont know what to say, I do know that I have to tell how Emilies life affected her writing. So if any of you can help by refreshing me on her life or can help me with a thesis statement then that would be great :yawnb:

Posted By yellowbananas09 at Sun 13 Jan 2008, 5:38 PM in Bronte, Emily || 8 Replies

The Brontë sisters - help needed fast!

I've been trying to find information about what kind of impact the Brontë sisters had on English literature but the same phrase "they had a great impact on English literature" keeps appearing everywhere and no one has really been able to explain to me what that means. I really wish someone could help me out here and tell me how they influenced the direction of English literature. I'd be really grateful.

Posted By EmmaO at Thu 1 Nov 2007, 8:42 AM in Bronte, Emily || 3 Replies

A question ... please get in !

Hello my dear how are you all.. I hope you all to be over fine. i'm a newcomer here in this, useful, website and i hope to get all the valuable advantages from all of you.... Anyhow, i'm here just to put a poor question need to be spelled out, and i hope getting the reasonable answer.... my question is about Emily Bronte .... you know i'm a student in Faculty of Arts, moreover, we, nowadays, studying this novel witch written by Bronte.... the question is: 1. Discuss revenge in Wuthering Heights. In what ways is it connected to love? What is the nature of love in the novel, that it can be so closely connected to vengeance? Yours Ahmed :yawnb:

Posted By Ahmed_Kaid at Tue 7 Aug 2007, 4:34 AM in Bronte, Emily || 1 Reply

Dissatisfaction with self resulting in adverse circumstances for all?

Hey.. Wuthering Heights is my favourite book of all time, unfortunately made the mistake of choosing it for my Extended Essay in school...which is making me dread the book!! I've been considering Dissatisfaction with self as a possible title for my essay... any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks..

Posted By Megha at Fri 20 Jul 2007, 3:44 AM in Bronte, Emily || 1 Reply

Post a New Comment/Question on Bronte



Shakespeare wrote over 150 sonnets!
Join our Sonnet-A-Day Newsletter and read them all, one at a time.
Email:
As Seen In: USA Today "Hot Sites"