Agnes Grey in Who Doesn't Love a Classic?

Jun 19, 2014 Lara rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classic, religion, england, romance, society, education

This was the story of a young woman named Agnes Grey who, in order to help her family when they come under some hard financial trouble, decides to become a governess. Agnes believes she will be a great success and goes to work for her first family.

She quickly learns that this family, with all their wealth, is basically horrid. Try as she might she cannot get the children to learn almost anything and the family decides to go another way with their education after not too long. But Agnes is determ This was the story of a young woman named Agnes Grey who, in order to help her family when they come under some hard financial trouble, decides to become a governess. Agnes believes she will be a great success and goes to work for her first family.

She quickly learns that this family, with all their wealth, is basically horrid. Try as she might she cannot get the children to learn almost anything and the family decides to go another way with their education after not too long. But Agnes is determined not to fail so she advertises for another situation and lands at another house. This family believes in instilling the idea that nothing should be too hard for anyone and the children (who are older than her first charges) should never struggle to find any answers. This results in them not really learning anything…again.

But Agnes sticks with this family for a few years and during that time she tries to correct the children’s horrible ideas when it comes to morality and basic goodness. However it does not really work because Miss Murray spends most of her time trying to trick men into loving her and then basically laughing in their faces, including the object of Agnes’ affection.

While I did like this book for the most part I could certainly tell that this was her first novel. It had the feeling in many parts like that of a rough draft. It also felt very light in parts and direct and to the point, when compared to the works of her sisters. Anne Bronte did not seem to go on and on in the details of little things as they did. The one part she did get a bit carried away was talking about religion, but that was it.

However, I didn’t like the main character very much. I didn’t dislike her either but it seemed that she had a negative opinion of everyone aside from the members of her own family. It kind of seemed like a rich versus poor set up where all the people with money turned out to be wicked.

But for a first novel I would say it was pretty good. I didn’t hate it but I definitely didn’t love it. It was a very quick read though, so I definitely didn't feel like it was a waste of my time in any way. ...more

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Feb 24, 2021 Kate rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Great read

As a teacher I loved this story of a young governess and her difficulties with indulged entitled families (some things never change) and her patient search for true love.

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Jan 16, 2016 Megan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 19th-century, british-literature, classic, england, fiction

3.5* Parts were very well-written, but nothing grabbed me. Mostly it was more "a series of things that happened" than a well-put-together story. ...more

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