The Tenant of Wildfell Hall a woman as narrator. Langland concluded that "if Charlotte Brontë was radical in claiming sexual identity for women, then Anne Brontë was radical in claiming professional identity for women." Robert Liddell, noting Anne's apparent distaste for Romantic tradition, claimed that "The Tenant" criticized both Branwell's life and "Wuthering Heights". Edward Chitham in "A Life of Anne Brontë" (1991) also juxtaposed the novels of Anne and her sisters'. He stated that in Anne's view "Wuthering Heights" exhibited elements which she called in the preface to the second edition of "The Tenant" a "soft nonsense," thus making "almost an accusation against Emily."
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is "more pliable," never shows any noticeable reform throughout the novel. Joshi concludes that Gilbert is "tottering toward a new form of masculinity" together with Jack Halford, his close friend, by exchanging confidences and, by learning to communicate and reveal emotions, doing what is considered to be feminine, he can redeem himself, become a new man and a worthy husband of Helen. Of all Arthur's friends, only Walter Hargrave has never been a heavy drinker. He uses this as a manipulation in an attempt to win her favour. When it doesn't work, he starts speculating that Helen cannot manage her