Wuthering Hights by Emily Bronte
Summary: The novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte begins with the narrator, Lockwood, paying a visit to his future landlord’s manor, Wuthering Heights, to discuss with the landlord, Heathcliff, the possibility of renting a
nearby manor. Upon his arrival, he is taken aback by Heathcliff’s melancholy attitude and lack of manors, and becomes suddenly fascinated by the mystery surrounding his host. During his visit a snow storm hits, making it necessary
for Lockwood to seek refuge within Wuthering Heights for the night. That night an apparition of a woman, later identified as Catherine Earnshaw, appears to him. This supernatural occurrence only fuels his curiosity of the history of
Wuthering Heights and its current owner. Upon settling into his new residence, he decides to ask for insight from his house keeper, Nelly, who readily launches into the tragically romantic tale. Her story begins when a young orphan boy is brought to the manor by Mr. Earnshaw, the owner at that time. Mr. Earnshaw takes an immediate liking to the boy, names him Heathcliff, and takes him in as a member of the family. Mr. Earnshaw’s son, Hindley, immediate despises the boy and refuses to treat him as anything more as a servant. However, Catherine Earnshaw quickly grows fond of Heathcliff; making the pair inseparable. As they grow, they fall deeply in love with one another. Later on, Mr. Earnshaw dies, leaving Hindley in charge of the manor and all of its affairs. Hindley openly disapproves of Heathcliff and Catherine’s romance; forcing them to sneak around in order to see each other. During one of their adventures, Catherine injures herself at Thrushcross Grange, the manor now being rented by Lockwood, owned at that time by a man name Linton. Catherine’s injury makes her spend 5 weeks at Linton’s manor in order for her to heal, during which she grows closer to him. Catherine returns home and her relationship with Heathcliff starts to strain, as her relationship with Linton continues to develop. Catherine goes on to marry Linton, despite her confession of intense love for Heathcliff. Heathcliff leaves the manor with a broken heart, only to return three years later fabulously
wealthy. He then uses his money to buy Wuthering Heights out from under Hindley as an act of revenge, and proceeds to visit Catherine at the neighboring manor despite her marital status. Heathcliff goes on to marry Linton’s sister, Isabelle, both in an act of revenge and as a means of acquiring Thrushcross Grange. Isabelle seems to bring out the demons inside of Heathcliff’s soul; causing him to become a violent and abusive man. A short time later Catherine
and Heathcliff get into a monstrous argument, resulting in a rapid decline in Catherine’s health. She manages to give birth to her daughter, also named Catherine, and shortly thereafter dies. Heathcliff is absolutely grief stricken, and begs Catherine to haunt him because he would rather live a life filled with misery than a life completely void of Catherine’s love. Later on, Isabelle flees to London to escape Heathcliff’s mistreatment and has his son whom she names Linton. The daughter, Catherine grows up knowing nothing of Wuthering Heights and its dark past until one day she stumbles on to its moors by accident. She then meets Heathcliff’s son whom she falls in love with. The novel ends with the pair blissfully in love, unaware of the cycle of previous behavior they have just fallen into.
Analysis of Major Characters:
Catherine Earnshaw - Catherine is the main female character of Wuthering Heights, and the love interest of Heathcliff. She is impulsive, selfish, and childish, yet beautiful and free-spirited. Throughout the novel, Catherine demonstrates two very different personalities. They can be identified by the two different men in her life. The Heathcliff side of Catherine is passionate and loving. This side of her values love above all else, and clings to her childhood. When speaking about Heathcliff Catherine says, “Whatever souls are made of, his and I are made of the same.” This demonstrates emotional depth that is not seen in Catherine unless it regards her destructive love for Heathcliff. However, her desire to be socially drives her to choose the other side of her personality. The Linton side of Catherine is selfish and shallow. She values social status and wealth above most everything. Her decision to marry Linton shows that despite her redeeming qualities and charm, she ultimately cares about herself more than anyone else.
Heathcliff - Heathcliff, the main male character, is best described as a tortured soul. He has many negative qualities and is not likeable or friendly by any means. The only person Heathcliff seems to care about throughout the novel is Catherine, and his love for her is his only redeeming quality. In chapter 16, Heathcliff says to Catherine, “Be with me always – take any form – drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!" This quote demonstrates the attitude of Heathcliff that he would rather suffer for the rest of his life than be without Catherine. However his one redeeming quality is the very thing that causes his destruction. He relies so heavily on Catherine for his well-being that when she does not chose him to be with he becomes a dark, angry man. The loss of Catherine ultimately ruins him and turns him into the angry man that he is at the end of the novel.
Setting: The novel Wuthering Heights was published during the Victorian Era. When it was first published it was not successful. The love affairs that are the center of the plot line were especially scandalous and frowned upon during this time period. The novel itself is set in the Yorkshire moors of Northern England. The rough terrain coincides with the trials that the characters face in the book. The isolation of the location also embodies the feelings that the characters have. The time period, approximately 1750 to 1802, of the novel contribute to the importance that is placed on social class throughout the novel. Social class during this time period influenced a person’s life heavily. This is important to the novel because social stature played a big role in Catherine’s reasoning.
Types of Conflicts: The three types of conflicts seen in Wuthering Heights are Man vs. Man, Man vs. Self, and Man vs. Society. Conflicts that fall under the Man vs. Man category can be seen in the rivalry and mutual hate between Hindly and Heathcliff, and the romantic struggle between Catherine and Heathcliff. A conflict in the novel that falls under the Man vs. Self category can be seen in Catherine’s torn feelings between Linton and Heathcliff. Finally, Man vs. Society can be seen in Heathcliff’s constant struggle to rise above the pre-conceived social class he was categorized in.
Major Themes:
One major theme seen in Wuthering Heights is the destructive power of love. The intense and all-consuming love between Heathcliff and Catherine leads to both of their downfall. Catherine dies as a result of the emotional stress that Heathcliff afflicts upon her, and Heathcliff values his love for Catherine over his sanity. The unhealthy obsession they have with one another seals their tragic fates. Another theme seen in the novel is the thirst for revenge. The only thing Heathcliff seems to place any value in besides Catherine is getting revenge on Hindley for his wrongdoings. This thirst for revenge however, proves to be dissatisfying to Heathcliff and does not help to heal the emotional wounds afflicted upon him in the manner which he desired. The final theme seen in Wuthering Heights is the fragility and shallow nature of social class systems. The importance that is placed on social class affects the lives of the character throughout the novel. Social class has the most effect on Heathcliff because his low stature causes him to lose the love of his life, and is also the root of the poor treatment he suffers at the hands of Hindley. Social class also affects Catherine’s life because her desire to climb to the top of the social latter causes her to marry a man she does not love. In the end Catherine realizes social class means has little value in death, whereas love is everlasting.
Major Symbols:
One major symbol seen in Wuthering Heights is the unpredictable weather that takes place in the book. The erratic storms and strong winds that blow through the moor stand as a symbol for the uncontrollable feelings that the
characters experience. Another symbol in the book is the moors in which the book is located. The raw unforgiving nature symbolizes the wild and dangerous nature of Heathcliff and Catherine. The final symbol seen in Wuthering Heights is the presence of ghosts. The ghost of Catherine haunting the manor symbolizes the fact that the characters will never be able to let go of the past and fully come to terms with the future.
Video: http://youtu.be/VNmWXt-8J1U
nearby manor. Upon his arrival, he is taken aback by Heathcliff’s melancholy attitude and lack of manors, and becomes suddenly fascinated by the mystery surrounding his host. During his visit a snow storm hits, making it necessary
for Lockwood to seek refuge within Wuthering Heights for the night. That night an apparition of a woman, later identified as Catherine Earnshaw, appears to him. This supernatural occurrence only fuels his curiosity of the history of
Wuthering Heights and its current owner. Upon settling into his new residence, he decides to ask for insight from his house keeper, Nelly, who readily launches into the tragically romantic tale. Her story begins when a young orphan boy is brought to the manor by Mr. Earnshaw, the owner at that time. Mr. Earnshaw takes an immediate liking to the boy, names him Heathcliff, and takes him in as a member of the family. Mr. Earnshaw’s son, Hindley, immediate despises the boy and refuses to treat him as anything more as a servant. However, Catherine Earnshaw quickly grows fond of Heathcliff; making the pair inseparable. As they grow, they fall deeply in love with one another. Later on, Mr. Earnshaw dies, leaving Hindley in charge of the manor and all of its affairs. Hindley openly disapproves of Heathcliff and Catherine’s romance; forcing them to sneak around in order to see each other. During one of their adventures, Catherine injures herself at Thrushcross Grange, the manor now being rented by Lockwood, owned at that time by a man name Linton. Catherine’s injury makes her spend 5 weeks at Linton’s manor in order for her to heal, during which she grows closer to him. Catherine returns home and her relationship with Heathcliff starts to strain, as her relationship with Linton continues to develop. Catherine goes on to marry Linton, despite her confession of intense love for Heathcliff. Heathcliff leaves the manor with a broken heart, only to return three years later fabulously
wealthy. He then uses his money to buy Wuthering Heights out from under Hindley as an act of revenge, and proceeds to visit Catherine at the neighboring manor despite her marital status. Heathcliff goes on to marry Linton’s sister, Isabelle, both in an act of revenge and as a means of acquiring Thrushcross Grange. Isabelle seems to bring out the demons inside of Heathcliff’s soul; causing him to become a violent and abusive man. A short time later Catherine
and Heathcliff get into a monstrous argument, resulting in a rapid decline in Catherine’s health. She manages to give birth to her daughter, also named Catherine, and shortly thereafter dies. Heathcliff is absolutely grief stricken, and begs Catherine to haunt him because he would rather live a life filled with misery than a life completely void of Catherine’s love. Later on, Isabelle flees to London to escape Heathcliff’s mistreatment and has his son whom she names Linton. The daughter, Catherine grows up knowing nothing of Wuthering Heights and its dark past until one day she stumbles on to its moors by accident. She then meets Heathcliff’s son whom she falls in love with. The novel ends with the pair blissfully in love, unaware of the cycle of previous behavior they have just fallen into.
Analysis of Major Characters:
Catherine Earnshaw - Catherine is the main female character of Wuthering Heights, and the love interest of Heathcliff. She is impulsive, selfish, and childish, yet beautiful and free-spirited. Throughout the novel, Catherine demonstrates two very different personalities. They can be identified by the two different men in her life. The Heathcliff side of Catherine is passionate and loving. This side of her values love above all else, and clings to her childhood. When speaking about Heathcliff Catherine says, “Whatever souls are made of, his and I are made of the same.” This demonstrates emotional depth that is not seen in Catherine unless it regards her destructive love for Heathcliff. However, her desire to be socially drives her to choose the other side of her personality. The Linton side of Catherine is selfish and shallow. She values social status and wealth above most everything. Her decision to marry Linton shows that despite her redeeming qualities and charm, she ultimately cares about herself more than anyone else.
Heathcliff - Heathcliff, the main male character, is best described as a tortured soul. He has many negative qualities and is not likeable or friendly by any means. The only person Heathcliff seems to care about throughout the novel is Catherine, and his love for her is his only redeeming quality. In chapter 16, Heathcliff says to Catherine, “Be with me always – take any form – drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!" This quote demonstrates the attitude of Heathcliff that he would rather suffer for the rest of his life than be without Catherine. However his one redeeming quality is the very thing that causes his destruction. He relies so heavily on Catherine for his well-being that when she does not chose him to be with he becomes a dark, angry man. The loss of Catherine ultimately ruins him and turns him into the angry man that he is at the end of the novel.
Setting: The novel Wuthering Heights was published during the Victorian Era. When it was first published it was not successful. The love affairs that are the center of the plot line were especially scandalous and frowned upon during this time period. The novel itself is set in the Yorkshire moors of Northern England. The rough terrain coincides with the trials that the characters face in the book. The isolation of the location also embodies the feelings that the characters have. The time period, approximately 1750 to 1802, of the novel contribute to the importance that is placed on social class throughout the novel. Social class during this time period influenced a person’s life heavily. This is important to the novel because social stature played a big role in Catherine’s reasoning.
Types of Conflicts: The three types of conflicts seen in Wuthering Heights are Man vs. Man, Man vs. Self, and Man vs. Society. Conflicts that fall under the Man vs. Man category can be seen in the rivalry and mutual hate between Hindly and Heathcliff, and the romantic struggle between Catherine and Heathcliff. A conflict in the novel that falls under the Man vs. Self category can be seen in Catherine’s torn feelings between Linton and Heathcliff. Finally, Man vs. Society can be seen in Heathcliff’s constant struggle to rise above the pre-conceived social class he was categorized in.
Major Themes:
One major theme seen in Wuthering Heights is the destructive power of love. The intense and all-consuming love between Heathcliff and Catherine leads to both of their downfall. Catherine dies as a result of the emotional stress that Heathcliff afflicts upon her, and Heathcliff values his love for Catherine over his sanity. The unhealthy obsession they have with one another seals their tragic fates. Another theme seen in the novel is the thirst for revenge. The only thing Heathcliff seems to place any value in besides Catherine is getting revenge on Hindley for his wrongdoings. This thirst for revenge however, proves to be dissatisfying to Heathcliff and does not help to heal the emotional wounds afflicted upon him in the manner which he desired. The final theme seen in Wuthering Heights is the fragility and shallow nature of social class systems. The importance that is placed on social class affects the lives of the character throughout the novel. Social class has the most effect on Heathcliff because his low stature causes him to lose the love of his life, and is also the root of the poor treatment he suffers at the hands of Hindley. Social class also affects Catherine’s life because her desire to climb to the top of the social latter causes her to marry a man she does not love. In the end Catherine realizes social class means has little value in death, whereas love is everlasting.
Major Symbols:
One major symbol seen in Wuthering Heights is the unpredictable weather that takes place in the book. The erratic storms and strong winds that blow through the moor stand as a symbol for the uncontrollable feelings that the
characters experience. Another symbol in the book is the moors in which the book is located. The raw unforgiving nature symbolizes the wild and dangerous nature of Heathcliff and Catherine. The final symbol seen in Wuthering Heights is the presence of ghosts. The ghost of Catherine haunting the manor symbolizes the fact that the characters will never be able to let go of the past and fully come to terms with the future.
Video: http://youtu.be/VNmWXt-8J1U
Citations:
"A Review." A Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.repeatfanzine.co.uk/Reviews/wuthering heights amy.htm>.
"A Review." A Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.repeatfanzine.co.uk/Reviews/wuthering heights amy.htm>.