SOPHIE THORPE addresses her anonymous commenters in her last ever column.
“Reader, I married him.” That was the moment when I fell in love with Jane Eyre. Every time I read them, those four little words leave me weak at the knees and my mind drifts off into a world where my own Mr Rochester awaits me.
But it’s not the happy ending that gives power to those words. There is something about the direct manner in which Charlotte Brontë addresses the reader, as if her words and her character’s actions are in need of justification or excuse. She writes those words cautiously, wary of the judgement of strangers. Those words expose her longing for our approval. The power comes from her inability to control the world outside her story, her fear of characters that she didn’t create, and her helplessness in the face of a plot she isn’t the master of. The power of those words lies in the author’s powerlessness over an anonymous reader.
All three of the Brontë sisters published their work under pseudonyms; under names that established them as male and Christian, because they had a vague impression that authoresses were liable to be looked on with prejudice. But I can’t help but wonder whether, if Jane Eyre had been published under the name Charlotte Brontë, not Currer Bell, would it have been as much of a success story? Would her tale of a strong, independent and intelligent female simply have been knocked down as feminist tripe?
A few weeks ago Laurie Pennie wrote an article in which she said: “An opinion, it seems, is the short skirt of the internet [and] as a woman writer… you come to expect the vitriol, the insults, the death threats.” Thank God I, as of yet, have no harrowing tales of death threats, people searching for my home address, or describing how they would like to rape me.
But that’s not to say that I have been spared all unpleasantness.
Every week I receive comments such as: “Give us a blozzer, love,” and never ending spiels of hatred. I’ve had people approach me in Life to tell me how much they hate me, or simply speak loudly about how crap my columns are as I walk past. And I’m just a woman writing a column for a university paper.
I can’t help but wonder if my columns would have provoked the same reaction if, like the Brontë sisters, I had published them as a man. As far as I am aware, none of my fellow (male) columnists have received the levels of abuse that I have. Is it a surprise that I am the only female columnist this term? After the treatment that Lexi and Louise got, why would a woman sign up for becoming Cambridge’s new hate figure?
My time as a Tab columnist is coming to an end, and it is time that I addressed you, my not-so-dear reader. I was fully aware of what I was signing up for this term, I willingly threw myself to the wolves, to the hordes of faceless commenters. But not everyone will be so prepared. So next time you decide to anonymously post some pithy comment on an article, you coward, maybe you should think about whether there is a point to your venomous statement. Think about whether it’s simply because it is a woman writing. Think about whether you would dare express that view under your real name. Because, reader, I’m done.
Sophie Thorpe
SOPHIE THORPE addresses her anonymous commenters in her last ever column.
CAMBRIDGE
“Reader, I married him.” That was the moment when I fell in love with Jane Eyre. Every time I read them, those four little words leave me weak at the knees and my mind drifts off into a world where my own Mr Rochester awaits me.
But it’s not the happy ending that gives power to those words. There is something about the direct manner in which Charlotte Brontë addresses the reader, as if her words and her character’s actions are in need of justification or excuse. She writes those words cautiously, wary of the judgement of strangers. Those words expose her longing for our approval. The power comes from her inability to control the world outside her story, her fear of characters that she didn’t create, and her helplessness in the face of a plot she isn’t the master of. The power of those words lies in the author’s powerlessness over an anonymous reader.
All three of the Brontë sisters published their work under pseudonyms; under names that established them as male and Christian, because they had a vague impression that authoresses were liable to be looked on with prejudice. But I can’t help but wonder whether, if Jane Eyre had been published under the name Charlotte Brontë, not Currer Bell, would it have been as much of a success story? Would her tale of a strong, independent and intelligent female simply have been knocked down as feminist tripe?
A few weeks ago Laurie Pennie wrote an article in which she said: “An opinion, it seems, is the short skirt of the internet [and] as a woman writer… you come to expect the vitriol, the insults, the death threats.” Thank God I, as of yet, have no harrowing tales of death threats, people searching for my home address, or describing how they would like to rape me.
But that’s not to say that I have been spared all unpleasantness.
Every week I receive comments such as: “Give us a blozzer, love,” and never ending spiels of hatred. I’ve had people approach me in Life to tell me how much they hate me, or simply speak loudly about how crap my columns are as I walk past. And I’m just a woman writing a column for a university paper.
I can’t help but wonder if my columns would have provoked the same reaction if, like the Brontë sisters, I had published them as a man. As far as I am aware, none of my fellow (male) columnists have received the levels of abuse that I have. Is it a surprise that I am the only female columnist this term? After the treatment that Lexi and Louise got, why would a woman sign up for becoming Cambridge’s new hate figure?
My time as a Tab columnist is coming to an end, and it is time that I addressed you, my not-so-dear reader. I was fully aware of what I was signing up for this term, I willingly threw myself to the wolves, to the hordes of faceless commenters. But not everyone will be so prepared. So next time you decide to anonymously post some pithy comment on an article, you coward, maybe you should think about whether there is a point to your venomous statement. Think about whether it’s simply because it is a woman writing. Think about whether you would dare express that view under your real name. Because, reader, I’m done.
CAMBRIDGE
‘Maybe try a different course’: Ranking Cambridge University lecturers’ brutal comments
CAMBRIDGE
No wonder Cambridge students always look stressed
Quiz: Find out where you’d sit in the Cambridge University college boat club eight
CAMBRIDGE
You go to Cambridge and don’t row? How else do you spend your free time?
Cambridge University college to install climbing wall inside 150 year old church tower
CAMBRIDGE
Pembroke has already converted the church on Trumpington Street into an auditorium
Cambridge University to ban use of the term ‘Oxbridge’ due to elitist connotations
CAMBRIDGE
Anyone caught using the word will be forced to undertake a mandatory ‘inclusivity training’
St John’s College Cambridge now has control over the SJV choir’s social media
CAMBRIDGE
The petition to save the mixed choir is supported by the former archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams
Cambridge University temporarily halts funding from fossil fuel companies
CAMBRIDGE
A report found that donations from oil and gas companies posed a ‘high reputational risk’ for the university
Eight cafés to try in Cambridge as a student before you graduate from university
CAMBRIDGE
Spoiler alert: Fitzbillies isn’t the only coffee shop in Cambridge
St John’s College Cambridge mixed choir is being disbanded
CAMBRIDGE
The decision means female sopranos will no longer be able to sing in any chapel services
Cambridge University colleges as songs with women’s names in the title
CAMBRIDGE
Get ready to update your playlist immediately x
Cambridge reading week – yay or nay?
CAMBRIDGE
All this reading isn’t for the weak
Cambridge men lose on penalties at the 150th anniversary of Varsity football
CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge was forced to substitute its goalkeeper following an injury on the third minute
THE RESULTS: Cambridge vs Oxford women’s football 2024
CAMBRIDGE
A short summary of the Varsity match for those of you who know nothing about football
Cambridge’s smallest pub has reopened after four years
CAMBRIDGE
Here’s everything you need to know about The Rad, a tiny pub on King Street
Review: Blackadder Goes Forth – Cambridge Does Comic Relief
CAMBRIDGE
A performance that did justice to the much-loved British comedy
Paint thrown over Cambridge University West site building in protest of its ties to Israel
CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge’s Laboratory for Scientific Computing has been under fire for its links to arms companies
A moral alignment ranking of Cambridge college rowing blade designs
CAMBRIDGE
Totally objective (based on free speed and vibez)
A definitive ranking of Cambridge stash from ugly to just about wearable
CAMBRIDGE
It’s me and my puffer against the world
THE REVEAL: Cambridge’s Top 10 BNOCs 2024
CAMBRIDGE
Never have I ever kissed a BNOC…
Review: Emma
CAMBRIDGE
An Austenite’s dream! (and Jane’s own nightmare)
Who are the candidates running for election at the Cambridge Union?
CAMBRIDGE
Voting opens Thursday 7th March after the weekly debate
All the savage Matty Healy lyrics Taylor Swift sings on The Tortured Poets Department
UK
‘They shake their heads and say God help her when I tell them he’s my man’
Richard Gadd speaks about how similar Baby Reindeer’s Martha actually is to his real stalker
UK
She did actually send him over 41,071 emails and leave 350 hours of voicemails
Student at £43,000 a year private school ‘smashed the skulls’ of two students with hammer
UK
The 17-year-old also tried to kill a teacher in ‘horrific attack’
After a tumultous MAFS Australia 2024 homestay, are Lucinda and Timothy still together?
UK
Rooting for them ngl
What have Timothy and Lucinda been up to since their MAFS Australia 2024 homestay fight?
UK
They’re still besties!
Here’s where to watch Richard Gadd next if you’re obsessed with Netflix’s Baby Reindeer
UK
He’s in a police show with Stephen Graham!
Digs at Davide to Lorraine Kelly drama: What Ekin-Su has been up to since Celeb Big Brother
UK
She’s been in the headlines a lot lately
Inside Nava Mau’s vibey life when she’s not playing the best character in Baby Reindeer
UK
Fully obsessed with her
After their tense homestay, are Jack and Tori still together after MAFS Australia 2024?
UK
I need answers immediately
Yikes! A snippet of Taylor Swift’s new album has allegedly leaked and people are SLATING it
UK
‘We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist’ is an actual lyric
Inside the life of Walton Goggins, the Fallout ghoul everyone is weirdly crushing on
UK
Yes, it’s possible to thirst after a man who looks like a carved pumpkin
What has Andrea been up to since leaving MAFS Australia 2024 with her head held high?
UK
She’s living her best life
Love Island’s Zach goes on huge rant about girls ‘wearing nothing’ and ‘selling themselves’
UK
‘People really out here selling themselves for some views/likes’
So, here’s the real reason why Martha calls Donny Baby Reindeer
UK
The show is named after the pet name Martha actually called him in real life
Lauren from MAFS Australia has been spotted on a night out getting close to her ex again
UK
There’s picture evidence!!!
Producers forced Tim to bring up cheating scandal again on homestays for more MAFS drama
UK
And edited their homestays to ‘look worse than it actually was’
‘Shameful’: Sydney Sweeney savagely claps back at claims she ‘is not pretty and can’t act’
UK
‘How sad that a woman in the position to share her expertise and experience chooses instead to attack another woman’
Okay, we finally know whether Martha’s emails in Baby Reindeer were actually real
UK
Sent from my iPhone
OMG! The viral four lads in jeans are back and the jeans got… baggy
UK
It’s been five years since the first picture was posted!
Lizz claims she’s no longer friends with Jack after Tori ‘forbid’ them seeing each other
UK
And apparently even tried to get Lizz fired?!
Definitively ranking all the episodes of Fallout series one from worst to best
UK
Kind of like picking your favourite child