Some critics believe that the character of Caroline Helstone was loosely based on Anne and it has been speculated that Brontë originally planned to let Caroline die but changed her mind because of her family tragedies. Brontë resumed writing, but then her only remaining sibling, her sister Anne, became ill and died in May 1849. Her brother Branwell died in September 1848, and her sister Emily fell ill and died in December. While Charlotte Brontë was writing Shirley three of her siblings died.
