Chapter 21-The tenant of wildfell hall

Chapter 21 of “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” by Anne Brontë encapsulates a pivotal moment in Helen’s life, where the anticipation and reactions to her engagement unfold. The chapter opens on October 1st, as Helen records the settling of her engagement to Mr. Huntingdon, with Christmas chosen as the compromise date. Milicent Hargrave and Annabella Wilmot are named as bridesmaids, despite Helen’s lack of affection for Annabella, highlighting societal expectations and connections over personal preference.

Helen’s confiding of her engagement to Milicent brings forth a lukewarm response, underlying Milicent’s concerns about Mr. Huntingdon’s character and compatibility with Helen. Milicent expresses her reservations bluntly, noting a disparity in their natures and appearances, while secretly harboring a wish that Helen might have been matched with her brother, Walter—a reflection of personal desires and societal aspirations.

Annabella Wilmot’s reaction to the engagement is markedly different, laden with envy and competitiveness, envisioning her future as Lady Lowborough with superiority and ambition. This interaction starkly portrays the contrasting perspectives and expectations of marriage within their social circle, emphasizing Annabella’s focus on status and appearance rather than affection.

Moreover, the reactions of Mr. Huntingdon’s friends to the announcement, conveyed through letters filled with reproach and lament, offer an insight into the male camaraderie of the era, predicated on leisure and disregard for matrimonial bonds. They view Helen’s engagement to Huntingdon as a betrayal of their hedonistic lifestyle, foreshadowing the conflicts between personal desires and social responsibilities.

The chapter vividly contrasts differing views on marriage, highlighting Helen’s defiance in the face of societal and personal objections, and her conviction in her emotional choice. Her exchanges with Milicent and Annabella expose the limited scope for women’s autonomy within their societal framework, while the response from Huntingdon’s circle underscores the frivolous priorities attributed to men. Throughout, Brontë adeptly weaves a narrative of expectation versus reality, love versus convenience, and the looming challenges Helen may face in her marriage to Huntingdon, setting the stage for the complexities of their future together.