Villette facts for kids
Title page of the first edition of Villette
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| Author | Charlotte Brontë |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel Victorian literature |
| Publisher | Smith, Elder & Co. |
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Publication date
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January 1853 |
| Media type | Print: hardback octavo |
| Pages | 993, in three volumes |
| 823.8 | |
| LC Class | PR4167 .V5 |
| Preceded by | Shirley |
| Followed by | The Professor |
| Text | Villette at Wikisource |
Villette is a famous novel written by the English author Charlotte Brontë. She based the story on her own experiences as a teacher in Brussels, Belgium. The book tells the story of a young woman's journey to find her place in the world. It explores her inner thoughts and feelings, and her search for happiness and love.
Readers often enjoy Villette because it gives a very detailed look into the main character, Lucy Snowe's, mind. Charlotte Brontë uses descriptions of places, like old buildings, to help show Lucy's deep emotions.
Contents
What Happens in Villette?
The story begins with Lucy Snowe when she is 14 years old. She is staying at her godmother's house, Mrs. Bretton. A young girl named Paulina Mary Home, or "Polly," visits. Polly loves her father very much. She becomes very sad when he leaves.
Soon, Polly starts to like Mrs. Bretton's son, Graham. They become good friends. Lucy later tells Polly she must leave to see her father again. Polly is surprised and sad, but Lucy comforts her before they part ways.
Lucy's New Journey
Later, a family problem forces Lucy to take action. The book does not say exactly what happened. Lucy decides to travel to France by ship. On the ship, she meets a pretty but sometimes selfish girl named Ginevra Fanshawe.
When Lucy arrives in France, a kind gentleman helps her find her luggage. She then finds a job as a teacher at Madame Beck's boarding school. Madame Beck is a smart and careful woman. She often spies on her teachers and students. She hires and fires staff very easily.
Lucy feels quite satisfied with her new job, even if she isn't completely happy. Ginevra Fanshawe is a student at the school. She and Lucy become friends again. They often argue because Ginevra can be silly, but they always stay close.
New Friends and Hidden Feelings
A young English doctor, Dr. John, often visits the school. He is the gentleman who helped Lucy when she first arrived. He visits because he likes Ginevra. However, Ginevra says she doesn't like him much.
Later, Lucy discovers that Dr. John is actually Graham Bretton, Mrs. Bretton's son. Lucy and Graham become friends again, just like when they were children. Lucy secretly starts to love him. She tries very hard to hide her feelings. Eventually, she tries to move past her love for him. She does this by burying the letters he sent her.
Dr. John meets Polly again. She is now a beautiful young countess. They quickly become friends once more, and their friendship grows into something more. They get married and live a happy life together.
Love and Loss
Meanwhile, Lucy becomes good friends with Professor Emanuel. They eventually fall in love. However, many people, including Madame Beck, try to keep them apart. They finally force Professor Emanuel to travel away.
Before he leaves, Professor Emanuel and Lucy tell each other they are in love. He makes Lucy the principal, or headmistress, of a school while he is gone. The book suggests that he might die during his trip home.
Main Characters in Villette
- Lucy Snowe: Lucy is usually very quiet. She is thoughtful and calm. She is also very brave and strong. Like another famous character, Jane Eyre, she is very honest. Lucy does not think she is pretty. Ginevra often wonders, "Who are you?" and calls Lucy strange and mysterious. When she was young, Lucy did not like Graham Bretton as much as Polly did. But when she grew up and met him again, she secretly fell in love with him. She quietly watches Polly and Graham's happiness. She accepts that Graham is not hers. Later, she and Professor Emanuel fall in love. Many people try to stop them from marrying.
- Professor Emanuel: He can get angry easily and be quite irritable. But he is also very generous and kind. He can be proud and likes people to think he is great. He gets jealous easily and enjoys smoking.
- Graham John Bretton: Graham is a very handsome doctor. He is the son of Lucy's godmother. He is cheerful and has a good temper. He does not realize that Lucy loves him. He thinks of her as "quiet Lucy Snowe." He admits she "tasted nothing of my grace," meaning she didn't seem to notice his charm.
See also
In Spanish: Villette para niños
