Bronte sisters brother

His influence can be seen in characters like Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights and Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre. As Charlotte explained: ‘We could not tell him of our efforts for fear of causing him too deep a pang of remorse for his own time misspent, and talents misapplied.’ In any case, Branwell’s world was now such a strange mixture of fact and fantasy that the news that all his three sisters had had novels published, under male pseudonyms, would surely have baffled and confused him. 

Branwell died at home on 24 September 1848.

The poem he enclosed describes the dreams and ambitions of a young and hopeful romantic, star-struck by the universe and building “mansions in the sky”. Contemporary accounts from the Brontë household further corroborate this narrative. Their creativity began with twelve wooden soldiers that Patrick Brontë gave to Branwell in 1826. For instance, after being dismissed from his position as a tutor due to an affair with his employer’s wife, Branwell turned to alcohol to numb his emotional pain.

The Brontë sisters, though constrained by gender norms, found solace and purpose in their writing. This sense of moral duty is very clear in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

Many novels of the time, like those by John Bunyan and Daniel Defoe, influenced the Brontës. But I wish it would please God to spare me not only for Papa's and Charlotte's sakes, but because I long to do some good in the world before I leave it.

Anne shared her thoughts with Ellen:

I have no horror of death: if I thought it inevitable I think I could quietly resign myself to the prospect ... As children, they loved to tell stories and play make-believe games, creating their own detailed imaginary worlds. Branwell’s tragic trajectory, on the other hand, serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked vice.

She wrote about the small portions of spoiled food, lack of heating and proper clothing, frequent illnesses, and harsh punishments.

Literary Friends

After the huge success of Jane Eyre, Charlotte's publisher encouraged her to visit London to meet her readers. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of rigid societal norms and the importance of recognizing the emotional toll they exact.

Historical accounts and letters from the Brontë family paint a picture of a man who turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, a decision that ultimately led to his downfall. Her only teaching experience was a difficult six months at a school called Law Hill.

‘On Ouse’s grassy banks last Whitsuntide / I sat, with fears and pleasures in my soul / co-mingled, as it roamed without control / o’er present hours and through a future wide / where love, me thought, should keep my heart…’

The poem quickly turned darker in tone. While Branwell's talents were squandered in a haze of drink and despair, his sisters channeled their creativity into writing, producing some of the most enduring works of English literature.

Emily Brontë reportedly referred to her brother as *"a burden,"* while Charlotte’s letters to friends describe his *"unreliable nature"* and *"frequent absences."*

To understand the severity of Branwell's condition, consider the historical context. Hundreds, then thousands, of visitors came from all over Britain and even from other countries. By his mid-thirties, he exhibited symptoms of chronic alcoholism, including severe liver damage, malnutrition, and a weakened immune system.

They were born in a village called Thornton and later lived in Haworth, Yorkshire. The family decided Emily would go with her to study, with Charlotte's salary helping to pay the fees. "Remembrance" was one of her 21 poems chosen for the 1846 joint publication with her sisters.

Anne Brontë

Portrait in pencil of Anne by her sister Charlotte.

Anne was not as famous as her other two sisters.

For example, an article about exploring central Africa, with a map, inspired geographical features in their tales.

Lord Byron

From 1833, Charlotte and Branwell's Angrian stories started to feature "Byronic heroes." These are characters who are very magnetic and passionate, but also arrogant and sometimes dark.