Oct 14, 2008

Shirley | Characters

Once more, as in Jane Eyre, Bronte creates several sets of paired characters. The wealthy, animated, bold Shirley Keeldar contrasts with the shy, retiring, timid Caroline Helstone—both are worthy, honorable, attractive young ladies; but their situations are at odds: Shirley is an independent heiress; Caroline is under the thumb of her self-righteous uncle, the rector of Briarfield. The opposing ways in which these ladies deal with love is equally striking: Shirley refuses proposals and argues vigorously with her husband-to-be; Caroline (based, to some degree, on Anne Bronte) falls...