The role of a governess in "Agnes Grey" by Anne Bronte

“Agnes    Grey”    is    a    novel    about    a    governess    life    in    Victorian    times.    It    was    written    in    1847,    by    Anne    Bronte,    who    herself    worked    as    a    governess    all    her    life.    This    novel    is    very    authentic    and    realistic.    It    conveys    the    true    life    of    a    single    middle    classed    woman.    There    were    just    few    respectable    jobs    for    women    at    that    time    and    to    work    as    a    governess    was    one    of    them.    The    position    of    a    governess    was    quite    difficult.    She    had    to    confront    with    spoiled    children,    spiteful    young    ladies,    arrogant    parents,    to    cope    with    loneliness    and    isolation    and    endurehumiliations    of    her    masters    and    servants.    At    first    the    reader    sees    the    young    lady    inexperienced    and    idealistic,    but    later    the    novel    reveals    many    social    problems    and    shows    how    they    affect    her    after    facing    harsh    realities. Agnes,    a    daughter    of    a    poor    cottager,    decided    to    help    her    family    make    financial    ends    after    her    father    had    lost    their    wealth.    Her    decision    was    to    be    a    governess.    It    wasn’t    a    highly    paid    job,    the    salary    was    small,    but    economizing    her    money,    she    managed    to    save    some.    Don’t    work    at    all    was    the    most    respectable    position    at    that    time,    so    at    first    even    Agnes    family    was    not    very    happy    about    this    decision.    Another    reason    to    work    was    that    she    wanted    to    prove    that    she    was    not    a    child    anymore    and    she    could    act    for    herself    and    be    independent.    At    the    beginning    Agnes    was    naive,    full    of    romantic    dreams    about    the    life    which    is    waiting    for    her,    about    adventures    and    experiences    “How    delightful    it    would    be    to    be    a    governess!    To    go    out    in    the    world;    to    enter    upon    a    new    life;    to    act    for    herself;    to    exercise    my    own    unused    faculties;    to    try    my    own    unknown    powers;    to    ear    my    own    maintenance;    to    show    papa    his    little    Agnes    could    do;    to    convince    mamma    and    Mary    that    I    was    not    quite    the    helpless,    thoughtless    being    they    supposed.    And    then,    how    charming    to    be    entrusted    with    the    care    and    education    of    children!”    She    loved    children    and    expected    it    will    be    interesting    and    fun    to    teach    them.    Agnes    mother    helped    her    to    find    a    work.    She    wrote    to    her    father’s    relations    and    then    search    in    newspapers’    advertisements.    However,    Agnes    unrealistic    dreams    were    soon    broken    down    after    she    met    the    first    family.    Even    the    weather    on    the    trip    to    Bloomfields    dropped    a    hint    about    the    difficulties    that    are    waiting    for    her    “the    heavy    clouds    and    strong    north-easterly    wind    combined    to    render    the    day    extremely    cold    and    dreary”.    She    was    accepted    cold    and    very    formal.    Mrs    Bloomfield    was    not    a    “kind    and    motherly    woman”    as    Agnes    expected.    She    considered    herself    being    busy    to    teach    her    own    children,    but    talked    about    them    with    love.    She    thought    that    they    are    clever    and    good    on    the    whole.    Agnes    expected    that    she    as    a    governess    will    be    responsible    only    for    teaching,    but    then    she    found    out    that    she    also    had    to    look    after    washing    and    dressing    Mary    Ann,    the    girl    of    six    years    old.    Mrs    Bloomfield    was    afraid    that    the    girl    might    acquire    bad    habits    from    the    nurses.    The    governess    was    supposed    to    be    in    a    higher    position    than    simple    servants.    But,    on    the    other    hand,    the    governess    felt    lonelyand    isolated    “I    an    alien    among    strangers”.    She    couldn’t    communicate    with    the    servants,    because    it    was    a    step    lower.    But,    eventually,    Agnes    became    friends    with    the    nurse,    she    was    the    only    person    she    could    talk    with    and    who    sympathized    with    her.    Agnes    couldn’t    be    very    open    with    her    too.    Her    mother    warned    her    and    Mrs    Murray    asked    don’t    talk    about    children’s    problems    with    others.    So    if    she    had    problems    or    somebody    hurt    her    feelings,    she    had    to    suffer    that    in    silence.    The    Governess    couldn’t    consider    the    family    members    as    equal.    For    example,    uncle    Robson    always    ignored    Agnes    and    sometimes    when    he    noticed    her,    he    talked    “with    a    certain    supercilious    insolence    of    tone    and    manner”.    She    also    couldn’t    trust    them.    For    instance,    she    was    tricked    by    the    dissemblergrandmother,    who    at    first    seemed    nice    and    kind,    but    later    showed    her    real    face. The    children    in    Bloomfield’s    family    were    not    like    Agnes    expected.    They    were    spoiled,    malicious    and    “free    from    shyness”,    especially    the    young    boy    Tom.    The    governess    had    to    go    and    do    what    the    children    wanted    “I    must    run,    walk,    or    stand,    exactly    as    it    suited    their    fancy”.    She    couldn’t    say    “no”    to    them,    but    she    was    guilty    if    they    dirtied,    tore    or    wet    their    clothes.    She    had    to    use    her    time    to    clean    the    schoolroom,    because    servants    refused    to    clean    it    after    the    children    had    made    a    mess    there.    She    had    to    have    meals    and    teas    with    the    family,    and    after    the    supper    to    play    with    the    children    till    they    wanted    to    go    to    bed.    The    parents    showed    little    respect    to    Agnes,    for    example,    Mr    Bloomfield    called    his    children    Master    and    Miss,    but    he    spoke    with    Agnes    very    informal    and    uncivilly,    even    having    in    mind    that    she    was    a    complete    stranger    to    him.    The    governess    was    expected    to    control    children    but    it    was    almost    impossible.    They    were    wild    and    afraid    only    of    their    parent’s    anger    and    only    they,    not    a    governess,    could    punish    them.    She    was    expected    to    keep    them    in    order,    but    practically    she    had    little    power    on    them,    and    the    children    felt    that.    Master    Tom    was    probably    the    most    tiresome    child    that    Agnes    had    ever    met    “In    his    most    violent    moods,    my    only    recourse    was    to    throw    him    on    his    back,    and    hold    his    hands    and    feet    till    the    frenzy    was    somewhat    abated”.    He    use    to    show    a    bad    example    to    his    sisters    and    encourage    them    to    act    wrong    “’Burn    it,    Fanny!’    cried    Tom:    and    this    command    she    hastened    to    obey        ‘Marry    Ann,    throw    the    desk    out    of    the    window!’    cried    he.”    The    children    often    refused    to    learn    or    to    repeat    their    lessons.    The    only    one    way,    Agnes    tried    to    control,    them    was    to    give    them    a    certain    task    and    they    could    leave    the    schoolroom    only    after    they    had    finished    it.    When    the    children    behaved    tolerably,    Agnes    was    very    kind    and    obligingto.    In    this    way    she    tried    to    show    the    distinction    between    good    and    bad    to    them.    But    this    was    almost    useless    because    the    children    very    incorrigible,    their    uncle    Robson    encouraged    everything    what    was    wrong    in    them    and    the    parents    were    very    unreasonable.    Actually,    other    Bloomfields’    children    were    not    better    than    Tom,    Mary    Ann    preferred    to    lie    on    the    floor    as    a    dog    instead    of    learning.    Agnes    tried    to    do    everything:    argued,    scolded,    kept    her    from    playing,    but    nothing    helped.    Mary    Ann    shouted    loudly,    run    to    play    with    the    nurse,    she    didn’t    dress    the    clothes    Agnes    asked    and    didn’t    let    to    comb    her    hair.    So    if    they    were    late    for    dinner    Mrs    Bloomfield    just    used    to    “fix    her    cold,    stony    eyes”    upon    Agnes    “with    a    look    that    can’t    be    mistaken”.    When    the    little    Fanny    entered    the    schoolroom    there    were    more    troubles.    She    was    very    quiet    and    mild    child    next    to    her    parents    but    she    was    quite    different    with    the    governess.    The    loud    screams    were    heard    by    Mr    and    Mrs    Bloomfields.    And    they    were    very    surprised    by    “what    a    naughty    child    Fanny    is    getting”.    They    decided    that    the    behaviour    of    the    children    is    getting    worse    and    worse    from    the    day    they    entered    a    schoolroom. Agnes    had    to    keep    the    children    away    when    Bloomfields    had    visitors,    but    it    wasn’t    easy.    These    children    had    no    shame    “Tom    must    talk    to    them,    and    Mary    Ann    must    be    noticed    by    them”.    They    interrupted    conversations,    climbed    on    the    guests’    knees,    hanged    about    their    shoulders    and    disordered    ladies’    hair    and    clothes.    Mrs    Bloomfield    was    always    shocked    about    this    but    never    tried    to    prevent    it.    It    was    difficult    for    the    governess    with    her    “homely    garments,    everyday    face,    and    honest    words”    to    stop    them. After    a    year    Agnes    was    sent    home    because    Mrs    Bloomfield    thought    that    the    children    had    made    very    little    improvement,    and    “their    manners    were    uncultivated,    and    their    tempers    unruly”.    Then    Agnes    decided    to    try    again    and    put    an    advertisement    in    the    newspaper.    She    wrote    her    qualifications    “Music,    singing,    drawing,    French,    Latin    and    German”,    asked    for    a    higher    50    pounds    salary    and    for    two    months    holidays    during    the    year.    In    the    answer    she    got    was    written    that    “unimpeachable    morality,    a    mild    and    cheerful    temper    and    obliging    disposition”    not    study    subjects,    were    the    most    essential    requirements.    Agnes    expected    that    the    higher    family    will    treat    their    governess    “as    a    respectable,    well-educated    lady        the    pupils    being    older,    would    be    more    rational,    more    teachable,    and    less    troublesome”. Unfortunately,    Agnes    wasn’t    accepted    very    nicely    at    Murray’s    home    too.    She    herself    had    to    go    to    search    for    her    luggage.    When    the    servants    brought    it    they    were    laughing    and    talking    with    each    other    and    didn’t    pay    attention    to    her.    Mrs    Murray    came    to    see    her    only    the    next    day,    and    didn’t    have    much    to    say    to    the    governess,    just    “good-morning”    and    few    words    about    the    children.    The    boys’    education    was    more    important.    They    were    expected    to    be    good    at    Latin    grammar    and    the    girls    only    to    learn    good    manners.    Mrs    Murray    wanted    her    governess    to    be    mild    and    patient.    And    if    children    did    something    wrong,    Agnes    had    to    tell    her    because    she    “can    speak    to    them    more    plainly”.    She    was    asked    to    make    the    children    as    happy    as    she    could.    Later    on    Mrs    Murray    was    not    very    satisfied    about    Agnes    teaching.    She,    like    Mrs    Bloomfield,    blamed    her    governess    for    improper    behaviour    of    the    children.    For    instance,    she    blamed    Agnes    for    Miss    Matilda’s    rough    manners,    interest    in    dogs    and    horses    and    for    Miss    Rosalie’s    passion    in    reading    books    in    fields    and    lanes.    The    governess    didn’t    have    much    time    for    herself.    She    had    to    go    to    the    church    on    Sundays    with    the    family    and    sit    in    the    worst    place    of    the    carriage,    with    her    back    to    the    horses.    She    always    felt    sick    and    had    a    headache    for    the    rest    of    the    day,    which    had    to    be    pleasant    and    enjoyable.    The    higher    rank    people    treated    her    as    invisible,    like    Mr    Hatfield    who    slammed    the    carriage    doors    right    before    her    face.    After    the    church    whether    she    went    with    the    carriage    or    walked    with    the    ladies    depended    on    their    wish.    She    went    if    they    choose    to    take    her    and    if,    for    some    reason,    they    didn’t    take    her,    she    had    to    go    with    the    parents.    However    when    they    walked    Agnes    had    to    fell    back,    because    she    couldn’t    go    next    to    such    fine    ladies    and    gentlemen    “as    if    listening    to    what    they    said,    or    wishing    to    be    thought    one    of    them”.    All    Agnes    day    depended    on    children’s    will.    They    had    meals    in    schoolroom,    but    on    the    time    when    they    wanted.    Study    hours    also    depended    on    them    “John    would        send    maid    to    call    me    up    at    half-past    five,    without    any    scruple    or    apology        and    after    waiting    a    long    time    in    suspense,    discovered    that    they    had    changed    their    minds    and    were    still    in    bed”.    They    often    liked    to    do    their    lessons    in    the    open    air,    but    Agnes    frequently    caught    cold    by    sitting    on    the    damp    grass.    Nevertheless,    she    preferred    “the    risk    of    consequences    rather    than    trouble    them    for    her    convenience        to    submit    and    obligewas    the    governess    part”.    The    servants    took    example    of    their    masters’    and    were    ignorant    to    her    “they    entirely    neglected    my    comfort,    despised    my    requests,    and    slighted    my    directions”.    It    is    possible    to    notice    that    Murray    girls    liked    their    governess    a    little.    Of    course    they    didn’t    care    too    much    about    her,    but    she    was    always    sincere,    steadily    on    her    opinions,    and    very    different    from    their    mother,    “she    was    always    thinking    what    was    right    and    wrong”.    Agnes    cared    about    the    girls    and    wanted    good    for    them. Sometimes    Agnes    was    asked    to    accompany    Murray    girls    in    their    visits    to    cottagers    “to    give    them    a    small    donation    or    to    read    for    those    who    were    sick    or    seriously    disposed”Other    times    she    had    to    go    alone    and    that    she    preffered    much    more,    because    Murray    girls    looked    at    simple    people    as    to    „beings    entirely    different    from    themselves“    and    often    hurt    their    feelings.    Moreover,    going    alone    turned    better    to    Agnes,    because    she    was    able    to    find    some    friends    among    the    cottagers    and    get    to    know    Mr    Weston    better.    Unluckilly,    Murray    girls    found    attraction    in    torturing    their    governess.    She    was    trapped    at    home    with    various    unimportant    works.    The    girls    prevented    her    from    visiting    the    cottagers    and    going    to    the    church.    In    this    way    they    didn’t    let    her    to    see    Mr    Weston.    And    Agnes    couldn’t    do    anything    about    it,    she    had    to    act    according    to    their    wish. Ultimately,    Agnes    and    her    mother    established    a    private    school.    They    asked    their    father’s    relations    and    old    friends    to    find    their    first    pupils    or    to    assist    them    with    their    recommendations.    To    establish    a    school    was    the    only    way    to    avoid    humiliations,    which    a    governess    had    to    suffer    working    as    a    home    teacher    “a    considerable    difference    between    working    with    my    mother    in    a    school    of    our    own,    and    working    as    a    hireling    among    strangers,    despised    and    trampled    upon    by    old    and    young”. To    conclude,    “Agnes    Grey”    deals    with    many    problems    that    governess    had    to    suffer    in    English    society.    The    malicious    unruly    children,    arrogant    parents    and    their    wish    to    put    all    responsibility    on    a    governess,    but    not    giving    her    enough    control    on    children,    problems    of    class    society    that    led    to    humiliations    not    only    from    the    masters,    but    from    the    servants    as    well,    too    little    time    for    rest,    loneliness    and    lack    of    understanding    and    sympathy.    Whereas    this    book    reveals    a    real    life    of    a    governess    it    can    certainly    be    called    “a    governess    novel“.

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