Albion And Marina Character Analysis

According to the editor’s notes of Tales of Glass Town, Angria, and Gondol, the story of “Albion and Marina” was Charlotte Brontë’s first love story (510-11). While the piece does contain many of the elements of a pastoral romance, what is more intriguing is the secondary note: “[The characters may have been] possibly influenced by a recent reading by Charlotte of her father’s didactic love story, The Maid of Killarney, or Albion and Flora” (510-11). Viewing the text through a didactic lens not only offers perspective on the characters themselves, but also the ideals revered in 19th century society. “Albion and Marina” specifically models gender and societal expectations through appearance, disposition, and actions. As Brontë begins her description of the story’s characters, she emphasizes select qualities about each of them and her depiction of the Duchess of Strathelleraye (Albion’s mother) reinforces the “angel of the house” archetype is a less than subtle way. Directly referring to her as an “earthly angel”, Brontë goes on to praise …show more content…
Keeping in mind that Brontë is writing through her male counterpart Lord Wellesley, the men are portrayed similarly to other Angrian heroes and later, the hybrid Brontë/Byronic figure. Like the distinction between Duchess Strathelleraye and Marina, the same is done for the Duke of Strathelleraye and his sons, Cornelius and Albion. The Duke of Strathelleraye is portrayed as a hyper masculine patriarch (“great possessor”) whose “mind, achievements, and character” cannot be depicted by a “pen so feeble” as the author’s (56). His description is limited as well, but his control is emphasized: “for more than thirty miles round every inch of ground belonged to him and every man was his retainer” (56). Through these portrayals, the land-owning and inheriting status of men is stressed and almost