Charlotte Brontë’s Life and Works

Abstract

Charlotte Brontë’s work is inseparable from her life. More often than not, critics acknowledge the fact by making frequent cross-references between them. The Professor and Villette draw heavily on her experience in Belgium, and particularly on the relationship which developed between her and Monsieur Héger while she was at the pensionnat run by him and Madame Héger. The Lowood section of Jane Eyre is based closely on the experiences of Charlotte and her sisters at The Clergy Daughters’ School at Cowan Bridge. Her experiences as a governess, and her familiarity with the manners and character of clergymen are everywhere apparent in her work. The natural scenery of the West Riding is a constant backdrop in her novels, and characters often appear speaking in the rhythms and dialect of the locality.