Great paragraph by Charlotte Bronte, especially the last sentence, explaining why she explores the "simple" subjects of her own life:
"I cannot write books handling the topics of the day; it is of no use trying. Nor can I write a book for its moral. Nor can I take up a philanthropic scheme, though I honour philanthropy; and voluntarily and sincerely veil my face before such almighty subject as that handled in Mrs. Beecher Stowe's work, Uncle Tom's Cabin. To manage these great matters rightly, they must be long and practically studied-their bearing known intimately, and their evils felt genuinely; they must not be taken up as a business matter, and a trading speculation. I doubt not, Mrs. Stowe had felt the iron of slavery enter her heart, from childhood upwards, long before she ever thought of writing books. The feeling throughout her work is sincere, and not got up. "
Shafiq
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2 comments:
Incidently, "Jane Eyre" was dedicated in part to Stowe...
nice quote though!
I like how Charlotte Bronte writes "I cannot write books handling the topic of the day" because to me that's exactly what great writers do not do. Great writing transcends time and even if you are writing about today... someone reading your book 10 or 20 years later should still be able to relate and find himself or herself. A great novel is universal in its use of time I belief. And in transcending time you get to a study of the human condition at its core.
And when she says that "she explores the "simple" subjects of her own life" it makes me think that although simple is often the best writing, still, writers that tend to rely too much on autobiographical details and pass them off as fiction are so uninteresting. To me writing is about the "what ifs" of life, it's transcending the "simple" subjects of our own lives and exploring the more complex issues around us and outside of us.
You've got me curious though... I need to go grab a copy of "Jane Eyre"
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