Bronte-sisters Quote by Elizabeth Gaskell
![“[Charlotte Brontë] once told her sisters that they were wrong - even morally wrong - in making their heroines beautiful as a matter of course. They replied that it was impossible to make a heroine interesting on any other terms. Her answer was, 'I will prove to you that you are wrong; I will show…” quote by Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/831/elizabeth-gaskell-894_bronte-sisters_charlotte-bront-once-told-her-sisters-th_1552010.jpg)
““[Charlotte Brontë] once told her sisters that they were wrong - even morally wrong - in making their heroines beautiful as a matter of course. They replied that it was impossible to make a heroine interesting on any other terms. Her answer was, 'I will prove to you that you are wrong; I will show you a heroine as plain and as small as myself, who shall be as interesting as any of yours.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, 1854
A writer challenges the notion that heroines must be beautiful, arguing that depth and authenticity make a character compelling.
In simple terms: Beauty isn’t required for an interesting heroine.
Key Takeaway
Create complex characters beyond appearance.
Themes
literature
gender
characterization
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- character development
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
feminist critique
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you define an interesting character?
- What traits make a heroine compelling beyond looks?
A Different Perspective
Focusing solely on beauty can limit narrative richness.
![“The first day of January always presents to my mind a train of very solemn and important reflections and a question more easily asked than answered frequently occurs viz: How have I improved the past year and with [what] good intentions do I view the dawn of its successor?” quote by Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7b4/charlotte-bronte-144_bronte-sisters_the-first-day-of-january-always-presents_2721269.jpg)
