Agnes Grey（I） 艾格妮丝·格雷（英文版）

AgnesGreyisthedebutnovelofEnglishauthorAnneBront?(writingunderthepennameofActonBell),firstpublishedinDecember1847,andrepublishedinasecondeditionin1850.ThenovelfollowsAgnesGrey,agoverness,assheworkswithinfamiliesoftheEnglishgentry.ScholarshipandcommentsbyAnne'ssisterCharlotteBront?suggestthenovelislargelybasedonAnneBront?'sownexperiencesasagovernessforfiveyears.Agnes,hersisterMary,andtheirmotheralltrytokeepexpenseslowandbringinextramoney,butAgnesisfrustratedthateveryonetreatsherlikeachild.Toproveherselfandtoearnmoney,sheisdeterminedtogetapositionasagoverness.Eventually,sheobtainsarecommendationfromawell-placedacquaintance,isofferedaposition,andsecuresherparents'permission.Withsomemisgivings,shetravelstoWellwoodhousetoworkfortheBloomfieldfamily.ThechoiceofcentralcharacterallowsAnnetodealwithissuesofoppressionandabuseofwomenandgovernesses,isolationandideasofempathy.Anadditionalthemeisthefairtreatmentofanimals.AgnesGreyalsomimicssomeofthestylisticapproachesofbildungsromans,employingideasofpersonalgrowthandcomingtoage,butrepresentingacharacterwhoinfactdoesnotgaininvirtue.