The Secret Society: Descendants of Crypto-Jews in the San Antonio ...

In the following chapter, however, Arthur regains his confidence and,
momentarily free of his mother’s chains, he approaches Sancho at Linden-Car. Gilbert
recalls,
In a little while, however, I was sensible that someone was approaching me, with
a light, but slow and hesitating tread. It was at my feet. On looking up, I beheld
him standing about two yards off, with his clear blue eyes wistfully gazing on the
dog, transfixed to the spot, not by fear of the animal, but by a timid disinclination
to approach its master. A little encouragement, however, induced him to come
forward. The child, though shy, was not sullen. In a minute he was kneeling on
the carpet, with his arms round Sancho’s neck, and in a minute or two more, the
little fellow was seated on my knee. 28
Here, Arthur bonds with Gilbert through the dog, and their relationship solidifies. The
dog serves as a mediator for Gilbert’s connection with Arthur, and Gilbert uses Arthur as
an excuse to call on or approach Helen several times before she gives him the diary.
Eventually, it is the indelible connection between Sancho, Arthur, and Arthur’s view of
Gilbert as a father figure that leads to Gilbert and Helen’s marriage.
Upon Markham’s arrival at Staningley in “Conclusion,” Arthur leaps out of the
carriage and immediately requests Mr. Markham’s approval and continued presence. The
first voice Gilbert hears from the coach is that of Arthur, who declares “Mamma,
mamma, here’s Mr. Markham.” 29 When it seems that Gilbert is reluctant to enter, Arthur,
sensing the possibility of the disappearance of his long-lost father figure, demands that he
enter, “running round from the other door; and seizing [Gilbert’s] hand in both his.” 30 He
proudly informs Gilbert that he is now seven, then drags him into the coach. Arthur
cannot bear life alone with his mother, which leads him to do everything in his power to
recover the man from which his mother last stole him away.
Although The Tenant of Wildfell Hall indirectly deconstructs Helen’s character
rather than directly, the approach is similar to that of Agnes Grey. Both novels animalize
characters to the point that they are capable of neither grasping human morality nor
making rational choices. In both cases, the animalization problematizes strong female
characters, characters that many critics hail as feminist icons, which causes the reader to
question the entire premises of the novels.
28 Bronte Tenant, 29.
29 Ibid., 476.
30 Ibid., 477.