The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Literary Elements

Epistolary novel, Social Criticism

Set in 1847 in England but flashes back to the period between 1821 and 1830.

First-person narration from the point of view of Helen. The subsequent parts are from Gilbert’s perspective.

Ardent, Candid, Pensive

Protagonist: Helen Graham; Antagonist: Arthur Huntingdon

The narrative is about a female protagonist emancipating herself from an oppressive marriage defying social conventions in order to lead a better life. The novel has other external conflicts but the major conflict the choice to flee, as she has to adopt a secretive life for her own good.

The claim in the narrative occurs when Helen confirms that Arthur and Annabelle are indeed been having an affair, though she puts up with it she is heartbroken.

The huge distinction between Helen and Arthur’s personalities foreshadows the tussle in their marriage that forces Helen to abandon the union and flee.

“If he has done amiss, I shall consider my life well spent in saving him from the consequences of his early errors, and striving to recall him to the path of virtue—God grant me success!”

In the statement, Helen understates Arthur’s stubbornness to stick to his ways including his alcoholism.

The novel has biblical references linked to the protagonist’s devoutness to the Christian faith. For instance, Helen’s aunt alludes to the burning lake in the book Revelations to seal her husband’s fate.

“Near the top of this hill, about two miles from Linden-Car, stood Wildfell Hall, a superannuated mansion of the Elizabethan era, built of dark grey stone, venerable and picturesque to look at, but doubtless, cold and gloomy enough to inhabit, with its thick stone mullions and little latticed panes, its time-eaten air-holes, and its too lonely, too unsheltered situation, - only shielded from the war of wind and weather by a group of Scotch firs, themselves half blighted with storms, and looking as stern and gloomy as the Hall itself.”

“Although I maintain that if she were more perfect, she would be less interesting.”

Through the infidelity between Annabella and Arthur, a parallel is drawn between the marriages of both households.

N/A

“The bright blue eyes regarded the spectator with a kind of lurking drollery”