Any George Eliot Fans? Bronte sisters? Elizabeth Barret Browning? - Page 2

[myjo]

My experience certianly suggests that it doesn't exist IRL.

I wonder if Emily Bronte was mentally unbalanced, or just extremely imaginative? The book is so dark, it seems like a writer wouldn't be able to stay sane while writing it. I know I've read about her personal life, but I forget what I read. One of the Brontes died of TB, was it her?

[mammastar2]

Originally Posted by myjo

My experience certianly suggests that it doesn't exist IRL.

I wonder if Emily Bronte was mentally unbalanced, or just extremely imaginative? The book is so dark, it seems like a writer wouldn't be able to stay sane while writing it. I know I've read about her personal life, but I forget what I read. One of the Brontes died of TB, was it her?

I was glancing through something by some lit critic or other recently, who suggested that Heathcliff is something of Emily Bronte's alter ego. It may have been Camille Paglia? Apparently she was tall, dark, intense and masculine...

[Murihiku]

There were six Bronte siblings and five of them died of TB (two as children). Charlotte was the only one who didn't and it seems she died of (I forget the technical name) extreme "morning sickness."

[Murihiku]

Heathcliff might well be EB's alter ego. There's a famous anecdote about how she got bitten by a dog, and immediately seized a poker, heated it in the fire, and then used it to sterilize her own wound!

[myjo]

Something interesting I read about her is that she was normally very quiet and shy. But she owned this huge boxer. The family had been told not to challenge this dog as the breed could be aggressive. But the dog started laying on the beds, so Emily was told that if the dog didn't stop, he would have to go. To Emily, that was not an option, the dog meant everything to her. Emily immediately started punching and screaming at the dog, telling him in no uncertain terms that he must stay off the beds. The dog took the abuse as meekly as can be, and never again layed on another bed. So I guess thats another example of her intensity and impulsiveness.