The Strange One

On my affinity with Emily Brontë

The only verified painting we have of the sisters—painted by their only brother, Branwell Brontë

“Who are you?”

“You wait and see.” — Emily (Trailer) 2022

I finally watched the reimagining of Emily Brontë’s life a few nights ago, with Emma Mackey in the starring role. Overall, I thought the film was quite good. My only gripe is that they gave Emily a romantic interest. From what we know about her, she was a lone bird. I feel that by giving her this imaginary romance, it only furthers this misconception that she couldn’t possibly have written Wuthering Heights without having fell in love.

The mask scene was spectacular, I must say. The music they paired with the scene was so haunting, which is quite fitting. Through the course of the film, her sister Charlotte often calls her “the strange one”. This sense of feeling like an oddity is something I can relate to.

As a child, I have always felt like an oddball. In some senses, it almost felt like I was floating. I wasn’t in the same world as other people. Perhaps this is how I have come to know about how people operate—through years of observation.

We don’t know all that much about Emily because a lot of things were destroyed. However, if you visit the Brontë Parsonage in Haworth, Yorkshire (which I plan to do this coming year), you will see a lot of their belongings.

They lived a relatively secluded life. I know the Yorkshire Moors, and where they are in particular is very suffocating. Back then, they didn’t have the fortune of being able to look to the internet for information about the wider world.

While Emily is known for Wuthering Heights, she was a fabulous poet. Up on those moors, she found a friend in the darkness.

Come, the wind may never again

Blow as now it blows for us;

And the stars may never again shine as now they shine;

Long before October returns,

Seas of blood will have parted us;

And you must crush the love in your heart, and I the love in mine!

— from Silent is this House by Emily Brontë

If I am to be nothing more in this world, I will be an Emily by another name. There will come a time where I am not overshadowed.

You wait and see.

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