"Life's too short ..."

 

Charlotte Brontë (1816-1854) by George Richmond, 1850

https://es.wikipedia.org/

"Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs." 

(Charlotte Bronte)

Charlotte Bronte's life was indeed short. She died just before her 39th birthday. During her brief life she endured much tragedy: at the age of five her mother died, and two years later her sisters Maria and Elizabeth died within a few weeks of each other from tuberculosis. When Charlotte was 32, her three adult siblings - Branwell, Emily and Anne - all died of T.B. during a nine-month period, Branwell having previously been addicted to drugs and alcohol. She married the local curate, but died, again from T.B. during pregnancy.

How amazing then that she produced so much wonderful writing, or perhaps she was able to do that because of the tragedy she experienced.

Writing prompt: 

• Do you agree with Charlotte's words (above)? Are you 'nursing animosity' or 'registering wrongs'? If so, set a timer for seven minutes, and write about them. 
• Have you experienced tragedy in your life? If so, is it possible to write about it, perhaps just for five minutes? 
• During the Corona pandemic there has been great suffering and talk of the numbers of people dying. It is almost 170 years since Charlotte died. Do you think our attitude to illness and death has changed since then? 
• Charlotte's 'Jane Eyre' remains one of my favourite novels. Have you enjoyed the writing of Charlotte, or her sisters? If so, explore the reasons why in your writing.