Class Treatment of Animals in the Novels of Anne Bronte

Abstract

The 19th century represents a crucial epoch in the nascent field of animal studies, garnering the interest of scholars and writers from a variety of disciplines. The Victorian era initiated a discussion regarding the status of animals, a topic that endures in modern times. Anne Bronte, a prominent English Victorian author, presents her perspective on the contentious issue of animal rights in her literary works. The extent to which Bronte's characters respect, sympathize with, and look out for the well-being of animals is most evident in her novels. Through her straightforward portrayal of animals and their connections to people's social status, she shows how middle-class culture emerges in her novels. Anne Bronte's two novels, The Tenant of Widfell Hall and Agnes Grey, both feature animal writing, highlighting the vital part that an animal-centric worldview plays in the formation and maintenance of middle-class identities and traditions. Bronte’s protagonists come from the upper and middle classes, and these two socioeconomic groups clearly contrast in their treatment of animals. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to further our understanding of Anne Bronte's animal writing by analyzing its role in the formation of middle-class culture.