Slavery: Idée Fixe of Emily and Charlotte Brontë

Abstract

Slavery is a subject common to both Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre and Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. Even where a direct West Indian or African connection is absent, slavery–related themes such as brutality, exploitation, and deprivation are present. This article considers the background to the Brontë family's knowledge of slavery, and how it manifests itself in their work.