Consumption

Consumption

"...for her complaint was consumption..." (pg. 79)

Consumption is actually the disease known as tuberculosis. Tuberculosis used to be a death sentence, but now TB can be treated with simple antibiotics. Tuberculosis is a disease that most commonly affects the lungs but can affect any organ in the body. Consumption was a common disease during Bronte's time and took a very long time to take its toll on the body. Helen's quiet suffering from TB highlights her martyr-like characterization. Helen would have had a perfectly good reason to be more of a whiny or less honorable girl, but instead she ignores her sickness and does her best to do what she feels is right in the eyes of her elders and God.

Link: http://www.medicinenet.com/tuberculosis/article.htm