On Branwell Brontë’s ‘Extinguished Potential’

 

(SPOILER WARNING)

 

Aside from the notable (and duly-given) engagement with the Brontë sisters’ struggles against gender barriers and domestic discord in producing works of literary genius, the attention lavished on their elder brother, Branwell’s, deterioration is a particularly interesting element of the BBC’s To Walk Invisible.

In homage to the Brontë siblings’ heated imaginations, the motif of fire is employed during several flashback scenes to their shared childhoods. This serves as a distinct removal from the cinematic realism that effects the majority of the film. Halos of fire crown the young Brontë children’s heads as they play pretend with their dolls in the opening scene – overt symbols of their fiery and passionate imaginations. Branwell’s is just that bit more discernibly brighter than his younger sisters’.

This serves as an ironic piece of foreshadowing of his wasted creative potential. In addition to his especially explosive temper, which is a constant source of worry and strife for Charlotte, Emily and Anne throughout the film (not to mention their over-lenient father, often on the receiving end of Branwell’s tantrums and threats).

Overt depictions of mental health struggles colour the film, as Branwell in particular causes familial strife through his alcoholic and depressive tendencies. The flaming halos of imagination come full circle in the pseudo-hallucinogenic flashback just before Branwell’s untimely death. Standing before his sisters, young Branwell’s halo of fire has vanished completely, whilst theirs still burn bright.

This serves a purpose far from simply signposting his death in the falling action of the film. Branwell’s declined, frayed relationship with his family is reflected in the cinematography, symbolizing the creative and emotional estrangement between them. He looks on in despair as his sisters continue to make-believe without him – not-so-subtle symbolism for their blossoming literary careers whilst his screeches to a standstill. His God-given talent has been squandered. His fire extinguished. This metaphorical flashback ultimately reaffirms the sense that the embers of his creative spark had been snuffed out long before his death.

 

Niamh Bennett