Villette

The author brings women’s roles and status to the forefront in these chapters. The narrative introduces Madame Beck’s daughters, all of whom, according to Lucy, have flaws in some way. Désirée struggles with an unnamed psychological or behavioral condition that leads to her wreaking havoc on her environment. Definitions of mental illness were lax during this era, particularly where women were concerned; it was relatively easy to commit a “troubled” or “hysterical” woman to a sanitorium, which in practice often meant pathologizing women’s unhappiness with their lot in life. In fact, Brontë’s earlier novel, Jane Eyre furnished Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar with both the title and core argument for The Madwoman in the Attic—a work of feminist criticism that examines the role such figures play in Victorian women’s writing. However, Désirée’s mother treats her with compassion, letting her live as she wants without intervention or punishment. By showing Madame with her children, the author humanizes a woman who shows little emotion or compassion.

Madame’s interest in Dr. John highlights another reality of women’s lives: The premium placed on youth and beauty. After Dr. John ignores her, Madame gazes at her aging complexion in the mirror and emotes for the first time, showing genuine sadness and disappointment. Lucy cannot pinpoint if Madame’s desire is born of love or just the longing to be young again. However, her emotional break is short-lived, and she quickly resumes her stalwart mannerisms. Lucy watches intently and admires her mentor momentarily crack only to seamlessly regain her composure.

Lucy’s sympathy for Madame likely reflects her own experiences with Dr. John, who ignores her. When he does take notice of her, he speaks to her in abrupt and harsh tones, revealing he sees her as someone beneath him in social status. The introduction of Dr. John adds a layer of dramatic conflict for Lucy. Not since her time at Bretton with John Graham has she been around a male presence so pervasive and intense. John Bretton was still a boy, but his appearance and personality captivated Lucy. Dr. John is not a boy, and though Lucy cannot fully recognize her physical attraction to him, the way she studies his face suggests she is developing a romantic connection. She felt it the night of her arrival when they first met, and she is entranced by him every time they are in the same room. However, when Lucy’s discovery of the box of flowers turns her mind towards thoughts of attraction and love, she professes no interest in the affections of a man or in romance. In this, Lucy contrasts with the other girls at the boarding school as well as society writ large. In a culture that promotes marriage and motherhood as the noblest pursuits for women, Lucy stands as an outsider. Lucy is devoted to her career and herself—traits not seen as valuable or proper for a young girl coming of age in her era. At the same time, her apparent interest in Dr. John suggests that Lucy is not as averse to romance as she says she is; the challenge for her will be to find a relationship that does not stunt her chances for personal growth.

These chapters also return to the recurring motif of nature as a place of respite for Lucy. The medieval tale of the interred young woman who haunts the convent adds a layer of Gothic mystery to the narrative, yet Lucy finds nothing haunting about the serene garden adjacent to the school; rather, she sees it as a haven from the noisy and often rambunctious student body. The story of the summer storm returns to the motif of tempests as representing important moments in Lucy’s life. Though others may be terrified of the powerful gales, Lucy finds them inspiring and gazes into them, in awe of the raw fury and power. In the storm, Lucy sees a wildness she senses deep within herself but does not know how to access. Lucy Snowe is a young woman searching for meaning within herself rather than primarily in the external world. However, by burying her childhood trauma deep within her subconscious, she has simultaneously interred her passion. Lucy’s brushes with the romantic trysts of others begin to awaken her spirit, showing the reader that she is learning to trust her internal proclivities and act on them confidently.