| Agnes Grey is a young woman living in northern England. Her family becomes increasingly impoverished after her father loses some money in an ill-advised investment and becomes ill as a result. Agnes, her sister, and her mother all try to keep expenses low and to bring in extra money, but Agnes is frustrated that everyone treats her like a child. To prove herself and to earn money, she is determined to get a position as a governess, teaching children of rich families. Eventually, she gets a recommendation for a good family, a position, and her parents' permission. With some misgivings, she travels to Wellwood house to work for the Bloomfield family.
The Bloomfield family is rich and is much crueller than Agnes has envisioned. Mrs. Bloomfield spoils her children while Mr. Bloomfield constantly finds fault with Agnes's work. The children are unruly and Agnes is given no authority over them so that she cannot control them. Tom, the oldest Bloomfield child, is actually abusive, but nothing Agnes can do can stop the boy from torturing small animals. In less than a year, Agnes is relieved of her position, since Mrs. Bloomfield thinks that her children are not learning fast enough. Agnes returns home. Despite her first experience, Agnes is determined to try again. This time, she gets a position with the Murray family. She teaches Rosalie and Matilda Murray. Matilda is a tomboy, prone to lying. Rosalie is a flirt. Both girls are selfish and sometimes unpleasant, and although Agnes's position is slightly better than it was at Wellwood house, she is still often ignored or used in the girls's schemes and games. Agnes is also appalled that the beautiful Rosalie flirts with other men, including the curate, Edward Weston, even though she is engaged to be married. Agnes has feelings for Weston but it looks as though Rosalie will make him forget all about Agnes before Agnes must return home at the end of her term. | ||
|
Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 1600-1899 Romance/Romance Problems Yes Kind of romance: Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - a teen Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - society Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 () Europe Yes European country: - England/UK Small town? Yes Misc setting Writing Style Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
||