B. The Hope TO Maintain the Situation

 

About this hope, I must argue that Grey’s characteristics had conflict itself with maintaining the situation. Though Agnes was trying to do good for the children, but she made a terrible mistake. In the first place, education is not a must for these children. And their mother would never be contented with Agnes whatever she had tought the children. Agnes was too honest and conscientious in her duty. In fact, if she stands in the future to consider the situation, she would find that the children need not to be educated well. For in that era, society does not require them to have much education. A little ink would be enough for them. So if she had tried to create good relationships with the children, the job would be much easier. And Mrs. Bloomfield would be pleased if her children spoke well of her. But this is a later story, we can’t change facts. Let we analyze in details:

The children were not so kind as to follow her instructions. They did not want to study, and what is more important, they considered displeasing Agnes as an amusement. Agnes was so duteous that she tried to get them learn something tooth and nail. There were times that Master Tom would not listen to Agnes, and irritated Agnes on purpose by not concerning on his studies and refused to do the work Agnes had asked him to do. Agnes had to force him to study, even hold his hand and force him to draw his lessons and read for him his lessons. Sometimes, thank haven, Tom would do his work in a short time, and then run away to play outside. But Mary Ann was always Agnes’s headache, for she refused to study in any way. She would prefer rolling on the floor to any other amusement:  down she would drop like a leaden weight. Then, in order get her to study, Agnes would hold her with on arm with great difficulty, and took a book with the other from which she was to read or spell her lesson. But when Agnes was too tired to hold her, she would lie down as a log, and do nothing till dinner or teatime, when she must be liberated, as Agnes could not deprive her of her meals. Her only weapons- Patience, Firmness, and Perseverance were used in this way. And to her point of view, she made little progress by this, and it seemed that she has made a small victory. But the future was yet not to be known.

There was a short carefree time afterwards. The children’s grandmother seemed to be a kind woman and comforted Agnes at first. She talked kindly to Agnes and listened to her troubles. She also pretended to stand in the same side with Agnes at first. Agnes defined that she is the new hope of her staying there. But good times didn't last long. Not a very long time passed, grandmother turned out to be a spy on her to get her misdeeds, and then told them to the Bloomfields. After Agnes found this, she said less to grandma. But for Mrs. Bloomfield and grandma were conflict to each other, Agnes made use of this to lighten her pressure. And Agnes was out of the hope of having a friend there in Wellwood. And all other relatives and visitors were the cause of the children’s escaping study and learning to be cruel.

Unshaken firmness, devoted diligence, unwearied perseverance, unceasing care, Agnes was, she was dismissed by Mrs. Bloomfield’s unjustness. Though feeling unjust, Agnes said nothing, the maintaining hope was dismissed, but a new hope was on its way. Mary thought not every family was the same as this, so she was sure she would find some place that is suitable for her. She left Wellwood, with a complex mood, but also with a bright hope of future.