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Consider the opening three chapters of "Wuthering Heights". How effective are they as an opening to

2003-11-20T18:52:00-05:00

Consider the opening three chapters of "Wuthering Heights". How effective are they as an opening to the novel? The first three chapter of "Wuthering Heights" are a strange mix of confusing names, relationships and bizarre scenery. At a glance, it seems the novel is very hard going and nothing compels the reader to continue, but Emily BrontÁ's potent writing style makes us want to persist with the book. The first three chapters, are narrated in the form of a diary, written by Thrushcross Granges' new tenant Lockwood. Lockwood's diary is very formal and direct both in structure "1801 - I have just returned from a visit to my landlord" and in its language "misanthropists heaven". The formality of the diary does not make for easy reading. At first, it creates a strong sense of distance between the narrator and reader. However, as the chapters progress, we warm slightly to Lockwood, this is intentional of BrontÁ, but unintentional of Lockwood. Through his many little blunders "unluckily it was a heap of dead rabbits." We feel as though we know him more the naiveté of his character shines through. One aspect of narration BrontÁ has made Lockwood particularly good at, is narration of external matters, such as appearances and surroundings "she was slender, and apparently scarcely past girlhood". He is however, unreliable when it comes to judging people. It is obvious to us, as an outsider, that Lockwood is not a good judge of character. He frequently makes mistakes about people. He infers that Heathcliff is a "capital fellow" yet as the reader, we can see that when Heathcliff’s "black eyes withdraw suspiciously" he is not a "capital fellow" at all. Lockwood however does not see this, and this is why the reader must remember that he is not the most reliable of narrators. By using Lockwood to introduce us to the story at Wuthering Heights, we get a good firm grounding. As Lockwood is a newcomer as are we, he sees things much as we would. The assumptions he makes "Mrs Heathcliff, your wife, I mean" we would probably make, if we had not already. By using Lockwood, we are not launched straight into life at Wuthering Heights. We are given an introduction first, so that we can learn about the characters, relationships and life at the house. Although the narration may seem off-putting at first, it does in fact draw the

Wuthering Heights and Daz 4 Zoe - Heathcliff and Daz

2002-01-18T13:00:00-05:00

How do the writers of ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Daz 4 Zoe’ influence their audience’s opinions of the main characters? Discuss with reference to Heathcliff and Daz.

Throughout the history of English novels, authors’ intricate techniques hold the power to entrap and sustain an audience, conveying manipulative messages through, characters, language and setting. This subtly moulds the many interpretations into one powerful impression, which a huge, combined audience can easily follow and enjoy. The elaborate contradictory structure surrounding the main protagonist, Heathcliff, of Emily Brontë’s tragic romance, ‘Wuthering Heights’, subtly evokes the empathy of those who read, causing:- “an unreclaimed creature, without refinement, without cultivation: an arid wilderness of furze and whinstone”. to become heroic, through his passionate devotion to Catherine using the empathetic, Bildungsroman structure of the novel to enhance our admiration for him. Brontë creates for us, the audience, a deep, entangled romance, twisting our emotions using the views and traits of the many characters to influence the plot, forming an extremely convincing novel. Both Nelly Dean, and Lockwood are key narrative characters in the plot, but their different upbringings and social status allows us to dismiss certain comments and remember others. Our first encounter with Heathcliff is as a mature adult, and related by Lockwood. The portrayal of Heathcliff is that of a suspicious, rude, unmannered man, with a dark air of mystery and evil. Yet, Lockwood described him as a “gentleman”, saying: “he has an erect and handsome figure” As the novel moves on, the plot moves backwards in time, using the unusual, ghostly experiences of Lockwood in the initial chapters, as a page turner, making us, the audience eager to read on. From the very beginning of the novel, Brontë creates great sympathy for the: “dirty, ragged, black haired child” known to the Earnshaws only as “Heathcliff”, as he spent the first years of his childhood as an orphan, wandering alone in the streets of Liverpool. This is already gently forcing the audience to subconsciously, forgive Heathcliff for any following mistakes he may make. Once adopted into the Earnshaw family, Heathcliff was doted on by his new father Mr. Earnshaw, who strongly favoured him over his daughter, Catherine, and son, Hindley. However, this continual devotion soon sparked anger and jealousy. Hindley grew to despise Heathcliff, taunting, and beating him whenever the opportunity arose. Heathcliff was brought, from this spitefulness, to lead his life, continually planning ways to seek revenge on his new-found enemy: “he grew bitter with brooding over

Wuthering Heights - Nature Vs. Nurture

2001-11-18T13:00:00-05:00

Wuthering Heights is a novel that indulges one of the most crucial themes; the theme of nature verses nature. The two households of the novel: Wuthering Heights and Thruscross Grange represents both the contrast between wilderness and civility which dominates the lives of its inhabitants. Being able to suppress your nature nurturing an opposed one would result into a deep conflict within the characters themselves. The best that would exemplifies such conflicts between the code of nature and nurture is Catherine Eranshow. "Her spirit always at high-water mark, her tongue always singing, laughing and plaguing everybody who would not do the same. A wild, wicked slip" A person with such characteristics would not be able to infuse herself within a civilized society conventions that would shape up and polish whatever is wild and uncultivated in her. By adapting herself to the upper class society accepting their environment she is working against her nature. The chances of success are limited and an inner rebel is unquestionable. In Catherine's character we see how her nature wins over her nurtured code. It all started the day she was bitten by the Linton's dog and was nursed there for awhile. She was taking by the glitter of the genteel society which raised her desire to be one of them adapting their false conventions. This idea brings me back to Dickens's Great Expectation when Pip visited Miss.Havisham's house and was ever taking by the false expectation of upper class. Her first rejection to her nature was the minute she laughed at Heathcliff instead of defending him: "Frightful thing! Put him in the cellar, papa. He exactly like the fortune-teller that stole my tame pheasant. Isn't Edgar" Cathy came around; she heard the last speech and laughed" (WH P39) Bit by bit we see how the nurture code develops gradually but still we have glimpse of her real nature striking at several situations she arrived as a lady wearing fancy dress and her hair was curled. Mrs. Lintons transformed Catherine into a young lady, and spent time on her education In matters of social grace. Catherine shows acceptance for such mannerly conventions of genteel society despite he promise to Heathcliff in that to act as free and savagely as they want. Interestingly enough, people around her predicted that such new conventions will not last : "But she much mind not to grow wild again here" (WH P41) The

Wuthering Heights - Reading Journal

2001-11-08T13:00:00-05:00

ENTRY I (chapter 1-4) The first chapter of Wuthering Heights introduces the narrator, Mr Lockwood. He has come to Wuthering Heights to meet his landlord Heathcliff, the owner of both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. Lockwood describes him as a handsome, erect, dark-skinned gypsy, though have the manners and dress of a gentleman. His black eyes, hidden under his dark brows, suggest his morose nature. His aloofness would make any guest feel unwelcome. Immediately, I, like Mr Lockwood, have become curious and drawn to Heathcliff’s world. Emily Bronte has wonderfully used descriptions of nature not only to give vividness to the story, but also to reach certain purposes. Firstly, the nature was used to show and give a hint about the characteristics of specific places or characters. For instance, in Chapter I, Wuthering Heights was described to be ‘an ancient fortress, standing against both the weather and outsiders”, “exposed in a stormy weather surrounded by stunted firs and gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs as craving alms of the sun”. From here I learned that Wuthering Heights, the title of the book, suggests the novel is not going to be set in an agreeable place, but rather a wild and mysterious location. Upon Lockwood’s second visit to Wuthering Heights, the characters of Cathy and Hareton are introduced. Cathy is a slender young woman with golden ringlets, a beautiful figure and a lovely face, though her attitude is cold, inconsiderate, rude and unfriendly. Hareton Earnshaw is poorly dressed, with the appearance of a servant. However, his manner is confident and arrogant. The way this chapter is told sets the mysterious mood for the reader. I became more curious and fascinated by the characters and story line of the novel. In chapter three, a sense of mystery and suspense are portrayed throughout the entire chapter. Horrific descriptions are used for the famous ghost scene of the novel. Sentences like ‘…I pulled its wrist on to the broken pane and rubbed it to and fro till the blood ran down and soaked the bed clothes’ are used to paint a frightful picture in the readers’ minds. The atmosphere of mystery and terror is further deepened by the behaviour of Heathcliff upon hearing Lockwood’s nightmares. Upon this point of the novel, I have developed a further curiosity of Catherine and her relation to Heathcliff. Chapter four begins the history of the Earnshaw family in Wuthering Heights with

Wuthering Heights - Analysis of pages 146-7

2001-11-07T13:00:00-05:00

Heathcliff, determined to see Catherine, vows not to leave her to Edgar's 'duty and humanity'. His scorn at these words reflects the opposing temperaments of the inhabitants of the two houses, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. The former is an untamed world of deep passions and visceral emotions, while the cultivated Thrushcross Grange temperament is characteristically languid and conventional. Nelly is of neither a Wuthering Heights nor a Thrushcross Grange temperament. Her normality in comparison to the other characters provides us with the perspective of an ordinary person on the ensuing conflict between the two sensibilities. She is adamant in her refusal to Heathcliff upon his request to see Catherine. Nelly believes that Catherine, torn between the two worlds, will 'never be like she was', as her 'character' has 'changed greatly'. Heathcliff is exemplary of the wild Wuthering Heights temperament, 'forcing himself to stay calm'. His comment that Edgar has 'nothing but a common humanity and a sense of duty to fall back upon' suggests that Linton's love for Catherine is vapid in comparison to his own. Such Thrushcross Grange values are scornfully rejected by Heathcliff, uttering them with a tone of contempt. In his opinion Catherine does not want these things. Heathcliff finds it incomprehensible that his love should be compared to Edgar's. His determination to see Catherine is illustrated by his forceful comment, 'I WILL see her!' which is by no means a request, but a statement of strong intention, based on a strong mind. Nelly repeats her steadfast refusal to admit Heathcliff, and he retaliates, saying he would 'be justified in going to extremes'. This further brings out his violent Wuthering Heights temperament, as does his comment earlier in the noevl, that he 'might have the priviledge of flinging Joseph from the highest gable, and painting the house-front red with Hindley's blood!' Heathcliff continues in passage two, telling Nelly that he is so secure in his visceral relationship with Cathy, so sure in her love, that if he were his husband, he would let Edgar see her. Heathcliff believes he has more concern for Catherine than Edgar does, because he would be prepared to tolerate her having a friend. Of course, notes Heathcliff, if Cathy's regard for Edgar ceased, he 'would have torn his heart out and drunk his blood!' Such graphic images reflect the gothic element of the Wuthering Heights temperament, to complement the violence. Nelly's relative status of an

Wuthering Heights - Obsession

2001-10-02T14:00:00-04:00

The word obsession is defined in the dictionary as: "a compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion." The novel Wuthering Heights, is a story about love turned obsession. An obsession that leads the characters to be impulsive, vindictive, jealous and stupid. These obsessions run and ruin the lives of all the characters in Wuthering Heights. Their extreme passions have direct effects on the lives of others, and carry over into other generations. First of all, there is Heathcliff, a pitiful man driven by his obsession for Catherine and revenge. We at first sympathize with him, when we see Hindley mistreating him and his undying love for Catherine and when she turns him down for Edgar we see a huge transformation in our dear Heathcliff. We see his plan of vengeance begin to unfold and your feeling soon change. He leaves Wuthering Heights for years, deserting his love, and is determined to be successful and powerful in hopes to re suitable for Catherine and impress the others. He comes back after three years, during which time nobody at Wuthering Heights or The Grange have known his whereabouts, and the first person he is eager to meet is Catherine. He's now a changed person driven by his obsession to be someone else. He tells Catherine: "I heard of your marriage, Cathy, not long since; and, while waiting in the yard below, I meditated this plan: just to have one glimpse of your face, a stare of surprise, perhaps, and pretended pleasure; afterwards settle my score with Hindley; and then prevent the law by doing execution on myself. Your welcome has put these ideas out of my mind; but beware of meeting me with another aspect next time." Being upset with the news of Catherine's marriage to Edgar he tries to hurt them both by marrying Edgar's sister, Isabella. Even though he doesn't love or even like her, instead in this one sided love affair Heathcliff takes advantage of the innocent girls feelings to carry out his obsession for revenge. He ends up ruining her life and inheriting her fortune. In marrying her he accomplished to parts of his plan, revenge and power. I also don't see how he can even say he loves Catherine in the first place, because how can true love exist at all when it's so intertwined with jealousy, hatred, and anger? Was he just being selfish or blinded by

Catherine's Character

2001-10-02T14:00:00-04:00

In the beginning Catherine is introduced to us as "high spirited", kind to Heathcliff, and a free spirit. These qualities originally made me like her and her love for Heathcliff. However her character drastically changes throughout the story. When she hurts her leg and is forced to say at the neighboring house, Thuscross Grange with the Linton's she returns to Wuthering Heights as a dignified, well dressed lady. She was easily swayed to the superior life style of the Linton's, and began to look down upon her old friend and soulmate Heathcliff. She even laughs at Heathcliff's rough and dirty appearance and says "I did not mean to laugh at you," she said; "I could not hinder myself: Heathcliff, shake hands at least! What are you sulky for? It was only that you looked odd. If you wash your face and brush your hair, it will be all right: but you are so dirty! (94)." We the reader, are left surprised and cheated with this reversal of Catherine. She becomes more and more selfish by the minute and try's to change Heathcliff, and begins to feel that he is infact beneath her. Which is one of the main reasons she starts to look at Edgar Linton in a new light. For he is a gentlemen, refined, handsome and rich. Her feelings for Edgar and Heathcliff become increasingly apparent. However, she claims to be in love with Heathcliff and says that they have the same souls "My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff" (122)." Although she is well aware that her love for Heathcliff is bound to change as time passes, she still is obsessed by her love for Heathcliff she confirms it in the above quotation and by saying that she will never, ever be separated from him. Why does she not marry him then? Well, she has another obsession too, she does not want to degrade herself by marrying him. Instead she thinks that by marrying Linton she can and Heathcliff can rise socially. So she goes ahead and excepts Edgar's proposal. This quick decision is baffling and hurtful. We can see she is marrying Edgar for all the wrong reason's she even confides to Nelly that "he will be rich, and I shall like to be the greatest woman of the neighborhood, and I shall

Wuthering Heights - Short Analysis Essay

2001-09-08T14:00:00-04:00

Conflict is the basic foundation for Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Much of this conflict results from a distinct division of classes and is portrayed through personal relationships, for example

Wuthering Heights and Frankenstein - Theme of the divided self

2001-04-26T14:00:00-04:00

Theme of the divided self within Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Thematically, the divided self is one of the most interesting themes within both novels and is of great importance to the development or ruin of the characters in both ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Frankenstein.’ Both authors when primarily exploring this theme focus upon the physical, mental or spiritual division within certain characters. In Emily Bronte’s novel ‘Wuthering Heights,’ the principal characters Cathy and Heathcliff are presented as needing this division within themselves to recognise their need for each other. This endurance of physical, mental and spiritual division whilst alive, allows them only tragically to experience when in death, complete entity within themselves. Primarily Cathy is not depicted as divided; instead, she is presented as belonging to a family unit, which seems to stay intact until the arrival of a ‘gypsy brat.’ Although Heathcliff creates a divide within the family due to his arrival, Cathy is seen to gain a friend with whom she feels she has an affinity both physically, spiritually and mentally, which will become increasingly evident as the novel progresses. However, this alliance throughout the novel is frequently thrown into turmoil by outside influences or factors. As we are informed from the onset, the “greatest punishment” that could be bestowed upon Cathy was separation from Heathcliff. Cathy and Heathcliff’s separation only therefore ensues as a result of their initial outing to Thrushcross Grange. Their promise to grow up together as ‘rude as savages,’ is destroyed when Cathy and Heathcliff are separated physically by many factors resulting from this visitation. Just as the Linton’s dog ‘holds’ Cathy, so too is the Linton’s house symbolically presented as separating her from Heathcliff, when Heathcliff resorts to peering in through their ‘great glass panes’ to see Cathy, after being physically ‘dragged’ out of Thrushcross Grange. Cathy is also depicted as physically separated from Heathcliff even when she returns to Wuthering Heights. Instead of a ‘wild, hatless little savage’ with whom Heathcliff has an affinity with, she returns as a ‘very dignified person.’ Heathcliff is now therefore separated physically from Cathy, not only by appearance but as he said in the previous chapter, her superiority “to everybody,” including him. The presentation of Cathy and Heathcliff as physically divided is not only literally seen through the differing households but also through Cathy’s own actions and attire. Although Thrushcross Grange is symbolically portrayed as repressing Cathy and

Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange - Contrast

2001-04-04T14:00:00-04:00

Never have two more opposing places existed than Thrusscross Grange and Wuthering Heights. Wuthering Heights is a dwelling characterized by fiery emotions, primal passions, bitter vengeance, and blatant evil. Thrushcross Grange is a peaceful, beautiful abode which epitomizes all that is good and lovely. Emily Bronte includes these two places in the Romantic novel, Wuthering Heights, to create a contrast which furthers the overall theme of good vs. evil. Wuthering Heights is a house set high upon a hill where is exposed to extreme weather conditions. Storms often come “rattling over the heights in full fury.” - Storms which have “growling thunder,” and “great drop.” The name of the place itself is symbolic of it’s nature, “‘Wuthering’ being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which it’s station is exposed in stormy weather.” The Heights are not very pleasing to the eye either. Bronte describes the building as a harsh, cold house where, “the narrow windows are deeply set in the wall and the corners defended with large jutting stones.” She depicts it as having a “pervading spirit of neglect,” being filled with un-cheerful things such as drab decor and cruel dogs. The description of, “a few stunted firs at the end of the house,” and, “a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun.” proves that even the vegetation surrounding the structure conjures images that lack warmth and happiness. The people which occupy the house tend to be rather severe and brutal also. Heathcliff, the protagonist, is a very vile and wicked man who spends his entire existence on earth seeking revenge and ruining the lives of others. A character from the story proves this by her question: “Is Mr Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil?” Catherine, another tenant of the is a wild and willful girl who marries Edgar Linton, against her better judgement. Later, she dies because she cannot find a way to reconcile her passionate love for Heathcliff with her position as Edgar’s wife. Posthumously, she haunts Heathcliff for twenty years. Hindley Earnshaw is yet another example of the ferocity at the Heights for, “he neither wept nor prayed: he cursed and defied; execrated God and man, and gave himself up to reckless dissipation” He has a keen hatred for Heathcliff and a weakness of character

Wuthering Heights: Sympathy with the Villain

2001-04-04T14:00:00-04:00

Heathcliff, the main character in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, has no heart. He is evil to the core - so savage that his lone purpose is to ruin others. Yet at the very moment at which the reader would be expected to feel the most antipathy towards the brute -after he has destroyed his wife, after he has degraded the life of a potentially great man, and after he has watched the death of his son occur with no care nor concern, the reader finds himself feeling strangely sympathetic towards this character. The answer to this oddity lies in the presentation of the character himself, which causes us to be more pitying of him than we otherwise might. Bronte’s describes the young boy, Heathcliff, as”dark, almost as if he came from the devil,” immediately spurring the reader to view the character as evil and immoral. His actions from thence forward largely tend to enhance this notion. From the very get go he hates Hindley, and although the feeling is mutual, Heathcliff certainly does his just portion of cruel deeds. In one incident Mr Earnshaw has given both Hindley and Heathcliff a colt. When Heathcliff’s colt goes lame, he threatens to blackmail Hindley if he does not trade with him. At a young age, he begins to plot revenge against Hindley. “I’m trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back,” he says, “I don’t care how long I wait, if I can only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do!” And in his adult years, we find him teaching Hindley’s son Hareton to swear desiring that the boy become just as foul as he. As the novel continues, Heathcliff develops another aversion. This time, to the man that married his lover, Edgar Linton. In one particular scene Edgar, Catherine, and Heathcliff are all involved in a passionate dispute. “I wish you the joy of a milk-blooded coward,” he says, “....I compliment you on your taste. And that is the slavering, shivering thing you preferred me too. I would not strike him with my fist, but I’d kick him with my foot and experience considerable satisfaction.” After the completion of this speech, Heathcliff proceeds to just as he had discussed. Later, to gain power of Edgar, Heathcliff elopes with Edgar’s sister, Isabella. Their marriage proves to be far from delightful, for Heathcliff has no

Wuthering Heights

2001-01-31T13:00:00-05:00

In Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte, the characters are quite intricate and engaging. The story takes place in northern England in an isolated, rural area. The main characters involved are residents of two opposing households: Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. Wuthering Heights is a tale of a powerful love between two people, which transcends all boundaries, including that between life and death. The author, Emily Bronte, uses parallelism in this novel. Much of what happens in the first half of the story corresponds to events in the second half. This parallelism also extends to the characters; the first generation of characters is comparable to the second generation. Some might argue that these characters are duplicates of each other and that they share many traits. This is not the case for Catherine Earnshaw and Cathy Linton, a mother and her daughter. These two characters are different in numerous aspects of their personalities and lifestyles. Catherine Earnshaw and Cathy Linton differ a great deal when it comes to their family life. Catherine’s father did not love her because she was forever misbehaving. He once told her, “[N]ay Cathy, I cannot love thee; thou’rt worse than thy brother. Go, say thy prayers, child, and ask God’s pardon. I doubt thy mother and I must rue the day we ever reared thee!” Relating to Lockwood, Nelly noted that young Catherine was such a “wild, wicked slip” (37) that she never seemed as content as when she was being scolded. She was born into a rich, well to do solid family. Her dad, Mr. Earnshaw, was strict man; her mom, Mrs. Earnshaw, was a devoted, quite snobbish woman. Catherine was conceited all throughout her youth, which is clearly a contributing factor to her immaturity. She also shows how she likes and loves to be given excessive attention. This causes her problems all the way until she becomes an adult. A very important aspect of Catherine is, of course, her personality. She can be described as conceited, mischievous, willful, and “had the bonniest eye, and sweetest smile” (45). The readers can clearly see the special traits and features that make her unique in a special way. As a little girl, she has a very strong attitude. She is the type of girl that will react in a rather aggressive way when she doesn’t get what she wants. She is so used to always getting what she wants,

Wuthering Heights

2000-11-23T13:00:00-05:00

Wuthering Heights - Catherine and Heathcliff

2000-05-23T14:00:00-04:00

A Presentation of the Personalities of Heathcliff and Murray Kempton once admitted, ‘No great scoundrel is ever uninteresting.’ The human race continually focuses on characters who intentionally harm others and create damaging situations for their own benefit. Despite popular morals, characters who display an utter disregard for the natural order of human life are characters who are often deemed iconic and are thoroughly scrutinized. If only the characters of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights were as simple as that. Set on the mysterious and gloomy Yorkshire moors in the nineteenth century, Wuthering Heights gives the illusion of lonesome isolation as a stranger, Mr. Lockwood, attempts to narrate a tale he is very far removed from. Emily Bronte’s in-depth novel can be considered a Gothic romance or an essay on the human relationship. The reader may regard the novel as a serious study of human problems such as love and hate, or revenge and jealousy. One may even consider the novel Bronte’s personal interpretation of the universe. However, when all is said and done, Heathcliff and Catherine are the story. Their powerful presence permeates throughout the novel, as well as their complex personalities. Their climatic feelings towards each other and often selfish behavior often exaggerates or possibly encapsulates certain universal psychological truths humans are too afraid to express. Heathcliff and Catherine’s stark backgrounds evolve respectively into dark personalities and mistaken life paths, but in the end their actions determine the course of their own relationships and lives. Their misfortunes, recklessness, willpower, and destructive passion are unable to penetrate the eternal love they share. Heathcliff’s many-faceted existence is marked by wickedness, love, and strength. His dark actions are produced by the distortion of his natural personality. Although Heathcliff was once subjected to vicious racism due to his dark skin color and experienced wearisome orphan years in Liverpool, this distortion had already begun when Mr. Earnshaw brought him into Wuthering Heights, a "dirty, ragged, black-haired child"(45; ch.7). Already he was inured to hardship and uncomplainingly accepted suffering. Heathcliff displays his strength and steadfastness when he had the measles, and when Hindley treated him cruelly if he got what he wanted. From the very beginning he showed great courage, resoluteness, and love. Few have the audacity to be victimized (as Heathcliff was by Hindley after Mr. Earnshaw’s death) and find secret delight in his persecutor sinking into a life of debauchery which will undoubtedly cause his

Wuthering Heights

1999-08-24T14:00:00-04:00

Set in England on the Yorkshire Moors in the 19th century, Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights is the story of lovers who try to withstand the separation of social classes and keep their love alive. The main characters, Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff grew up on a middle class English countryside cottage called Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff was the servant and Catherine the daughter of the owner of Wuthering Heights. As children, Heathcliff and Catherine were the best of friends, a friendship which turned to love with the coming of age. Catherine married a man of the upper class society and was forced to end her love affair with Heathcliff. Catherine was happy in her marriage at first but later became overwhelmed with her desire to be with Heathcliff. She was forced to distinguish the difference between her love for Heathcliff and her love for her new life with money. In the end, Catherine Earnshaw¹s husband, Edgar Linton, died and Catherine finally realized that money and social class were not as fulfilling as her desire to have passion in her life, a desire which could only be met by Heathcliff. Throughout the book, Catherine tried to discover who she was and what exactly she wanted. In chapters 6 and 7, Catherine thought that she had finally discovered who she was and what she wanted. These chapters are the pinnacle of the story. It was the point in the book where the social classes were determined and Catherine¹s love for Heathcliff was forced to be supressed. Heathcliff and Catherine were still young and playing together innocently one day. This was before Catherine became a member of the upperclass society and realized that she could not love Heathcliff because of his social class. Heathcliff and Catherine wandered beyond the secure gates of Wuthering Heights to a large estate owned by Edgar Linton called Thrushcross Grange. They spyed through one of the windows and were caught by Linton. Heathcliff managed to escape in time but Catherine injured herself and was taken in by Linton¹s servants. Catherine stayed at Thrushcross Grange while Heathcliff return! ed to Wuthering Heights. She stayed at the estate for several weeks being nursed by Linton and his servants. The time she spent with Linton caused her to fall in love with him, causing her to permanently be separated from Heathcliff and the lower class life she used to know. Catherine became