A. Start of the Hope

 

This hope is the first significant hope in the whole text, yet it is the most important hope we shall talk. This hope and the perdition of it had a very great influence on her. The situation in Wellwood, which one she accepted and tried to maintain bestowed her much. She began to grow up mentally. We can see that she changed her temper much, and thought much more maturely afterwards.

After Agnes’s family came to financial ruin, her father fell ill by the stroke. As summer was coming on, her father needed to spend a few weeks at a watering-place according to doctor’s suggestion. But there were not enough money available. Her mother was quite vexed on this matter. Anne made Agnes to express “The Independent hope” to her family orally. In this part, we can find a lot of psychology descriptions about Agnes Grey, which expresses the great passion of this hope.

Agnes was not seized by a whim, but has considered the matter for a long time. (We can get this from her dialogues when she speaks to her mother) Due to her puerility, she thought mostly about the benefit that being a governess can bring, but could not foretell the obstacles that lay before her as a governess. Agnes had little communication with the outside world before, so had little idea about the status of women of that era. So, Agnes would never know the troubles were waiting for her until she met them. Agnes expressed her eagerness both by the dialogues she said to her father and the narrations of her thoughts:

'Yes, papa, don't YOU say anything against it:  I should like it so much; and I am sure I could manage delightfully.' 

- Delightful task!

To teach the young idea how to shoot!  

To train the tender plants, and watch their buds unfolding day by day!  (Anne Brontë, 7.)

We could tell that she is crazy about going out to work, touching the outside world, and making benefit to the family. To her subconsciousness, all little children would think in the same way as herself when she was a little child. So she thought that she could teach and direct little ones well by referring to the clear remembrance of her own thoughts in the early childhood. Her mother had warned her before to mention the children’s fault as little as possible to Mrs. Bloomfield, for people did not like to be told of their children's faults. But her hopes still had depicted her to be the kind, warm-hearted matron. Thinking over the matter at the same side as Agnes, we would be delightful and happy for her. But the real world is cruel and not always the way people suppose. So readers’ worries are not unnecessary.

Her hope almost vanished by the cruel scourge of the Bloomfields. The children act much different from the way she had imagined. They do not obey instructions, all of them do not want to learn, and ready to make troubles for Agnes. Master Tom, not content with refusing to be ruled, wants to set up himself as a ruler. What’s more, Master Tom Bloomfield was dishonest and Mrs. Bloomfield accepted the face of him. Agnes’s religion belief was strong, and she thought everybody would be in the same way. So, she tried to use this to persuade Master Tom not to destroy lives and Mary Ann not to be so unregretful. But this is totally drawing water with a sieve.

Agnes was more blown by Mary Ann than by Master Tom. Mary Ann was also a girl. Agnes had hoped that she would act in the similar way as herself or her sister. But Mary Ann crushed her hope by action. Mary Ann did not have the certain characteristics that Agnes was so bestowed. When Agnes was young, neglect and disgrace were the most dreadful punishments. But Mary Ann was a quite different matter. It seemed that neglect and disgrace were great glory to her. And she would create much trouble to Agnes to get these glories. In vain Agnes argued, coaxed, entreated, threatened, scolded; in vain Agnes kept her in from play, or, if obliged to take her out, refused to play with her, or to speak kindly or have anything to do with her; in vain Agnes tried to set before her the advantages of doing as she was bid, and being loved, and kindly treated in consequence, and the disadvantages of persisting in her absurd perversity. Mary Ann was quite contented with her own evil doings. When Agnes forced Marry Ann to study, she would punish Agnes with loud, shrill, piercing screams. Often these dreadful cries would bring Mrs. Bloomfield up to inquire what the matter was.  But Mrs. Bloomfield was totally in Mary Ann’s side. So Agnes just could not go smoothly with Mary Ann’s study by any way. There were other occasions when she casually ask Mary Ann the word while she was thinking of something else, but with less success. On another occasion, Agnes pretended to forget the whole matter; and talked and played with her as usual. When evening came, Agnes was putting her to bed, when Mary Ann was still in a good mood. Agnes asked her to speak the certain work, but Mary Ann refused. Not only so, when Agnes threatened by refusing to kiss her, she output 'Well, I don't care.' This hurt Agnes deeply in heart, for in her opinion, this was an extremely punishment for a girl at that age. In vain, Agnes tried to prevent her hope to be broken up. Mary Ann made a significant contribution to break it.

Mrs. Bloomfield also made Grey to take the nursery of Mary Ann, which should be the nurse’s job. But she had no choice but to accept this for she determined to maintain this situation as long as her energy allows her. Not only for the sake of independence financially, but also for she wanted her friends to know what she can do! And she wanted to save something for her family. We can see her courage by this. But this is also a sign that indicates the negative ending of the highly bright hope that Grey had had before she came to Wellwood. Still in it, we can tell that a new hope comes into being: to keep the situation by Patience, Firmness, and Perseverance.