変わりゆくブランウェル・ブロンテ像をめぐって

Branwell Brontë, the only son of the Brontë family, has often been described in the Brontë biographies as a drunken social outcast. However, in the last twenty years, researchers have found out that Branwell's image as afailure has been exaggerated to a great extent to illuminate his three sisters' diligence and glory. They also have attempted to re-evaluate his writings and artistic productions in a fair manner. Thus, the image of Branwell has recently been dramatically changed. In this paper, I will examine the changing image of the only son of the Brontës and consider how it affects the biographical aspects of the Brontës. The relationship between Charlotte, the eldest of the four siblings, and Branwell will also be re-considered.