'Buried Alive' - The Treatment of Trauma and Repression in Villette

Abstract

Charlotte Bronte's novel Villette shows the most integrity and at the same time conflict with the glorified status bequeathed upon women. In light of their hopless situation the protagonist, Lucy Snowe can be viewed as a 'default' product of society, who suffers from psychological instability and emotional imbalance. In addition, her "heretic narrative" mirrors this dysfunctionality of mental struggling, and serves as a method of treatment.