The extract I am going to analyse belongs to the novel Wuthering Heights, the only novel written by Emily Brontë and considered to be a classic of the English Literature. Emily Brontë (1818-1848) was an English writer and poet, and member of the Brontë family, in which some of them were also writers such Charlotte Brontë or Anne Brontë.
Regarding the genre, Wuthering Heights is a Gothic novel since we can find supernatural elements, cruelty, passion, or a dark atmosphere. There are examples of Gothic elements in this extract such as ‘’the bleak atmosphere of the chamber’’ and ‘’the delirium was not fixed’’. But also the novel is a realist fiction because of the incorporation of actual details and how it focuses on the relationships between the characters.
This novel belongs to Victorian period. The Victorian literature borrowed its name from Queen Victoria. In the Victorian period, important changes took place such as the improvements of the technology to increase factory production or the appearance of a middle class. Also there were scientific advancements with Darwin’s theories, among other happenings.
The analysed excerpt is in the first volume, chapter XII. There, Catherine locks herself in a room and refuses to eat because Edgar made her choose between him and Heathcliff. Eventually, she lets the servants to bring her food. Catherine believes she is dying and wonders why Edgar does not visit her. Because of her weak condition, Catherine believes she can see
One of the most dramatic scenes in the book is the death of Catherine. The first signs of her failing health physically and mentally come when she locks herself up in her room after Heathcliff and Edgar's fight. She fasts herself into a delirium, pulling out pillow stuffing and seeing faces in the mirror. Unlike ordinary death, which comes quick and painlessly, Catherine's slowly wastes her away into a ghost. About seven months later, she dies at childbirth, but returning to haunt Heathcliff. The main cause for Catherine's death is not childbirth, although it may have been the final contributor. Ironically, because of the spiritual link between Heathcliff and her, it is their separation that killed her. Brontë punishes the sinned by slow death, having the guilty put the wrath upon themselves. She also brings in the supernatural to prove that even at death, there is no peace. The precise description of the moments before Catherine's death emotionally charges and further involves the reader. Like Catherine, Heathcliff dies in a similar fashion, except his sufferings prior to death lasted eighteen years. He explains to Nelly, "What does not recall her [Catherine]? Those two [Catherine Linton and Linton Heathcliff] are the only objects which retain a distinct material appearance to me; and, that appearance causes me pain, amounting to agony." This is consistent because he has sinned the most of all
Russian cyber-interference in the 2016 U.S. elections as well as its aggressive posturing in Eastern Europe have proven to be a significant threat to U.S. security, both at home an abroad. HR 3364 proposes to punish Russia for its ongoing crusade in meddling in democratic processes/elections, while still maintaining support for U.S. allies around the globe. In order to combat Russian hostilities against the U.S. and its allies, U.S. foreign policy should first, place an emphasis on fiscal penalties over militaristic punishment, while still maintaining strong alliances in NATO; second, promote multilateral cooperation on past, present, and future economic sanctions; and third, balance punitive measures with positive incentives to signal to
After the first World War I many people wanted to isolate themselves from the rest of the world, they felt as though if they didn't get involved with foreign affairs they wouldn't have to deal with potential wars. Although, there was a group of people that felt the USA should get more involved with foreign affairs in orders to try and prevent another war from happening. Prior to World War II the US foreign policy towards Europe heavily taxed foreign goods in order to get the people to buy American made goods. The different views of the isolationist group and those opposed to isolation ultimately made the decisions to join the war more difficult.
Wuthering Heights was written during the Victorian Era, which was the time period ruled by Queen Victoria. This time period was seen as very “prudish, hypocritical, stuffy, and narrow- minded” (Kirschen 1). While this time period did carry some harsh and negative characteristics, they are not completely accurate. The Victorian Era was very socially strict, but there was also a strong artistic movement. Writers and artists had a lot of creative freedom during this time period and most of their works were highly sought after (Kirschen 1). Literature in this era was very connected to the Romantic period and played upon imagination, emotion, and self-reflection, but also played upon a Neo-Classical or traditional approach of what was publically acceptable (Roth 1). People were very power hungry during this portion of time (Kirschen 1). This allowed literature to create allegorical themes that represented society during this era of literature (Roth 3).
The curious life Emily Bronte, author of Wuthering Heights and a collection of poems, has been highly analyzed alongside those of her sisters and fellow writers, Charlotte and Anne, for decades. Born in 1818, Emily was the fifth of six children born to Patrick and Maria Bronte. Her father was curate of Haworth parsonage in Yorkshire, England, a home for local clergymen, where Emily spent nearly all of her life. The lonely parsonage offered few companions for Bronte besides her family, but included a large library which consumed her childhood. Bronte never married, and much of her later life was filled with caring for her alcoholic brother, Branwell. This solitary life and experience with Branwell seems to have heavily influenced Wuthering Heights, the only novel written by Bronte, which centers on a similar setting of isolated, lonely households and contains a heavily alcoholic character.
Wuthering Heights was written by Emily Bronte’, although she first published her novels under a gentleman’s name. Her famous novel has become a classic in English literature. It would be the least to say her imagination was quite impressive. Through her child imagination, Bronte’ and her siblings would write children stories. “Emily’s childhood created an imaginary nation, originating from the numerous poems devoted to the doings of the Gondals” (Bradner 129). The ‘Gondal’ poems they wrote inspired some of the fairly known novels. “The Gondals were written in her poetry as late as 1845” (Bradner 129). Wuthering Heights contains crossing genres, changing settings, multiple narrators, and unreliable narrators. Bonte’s techniques and ideals
Wuthering Heights is a novel which deviates from the standard of Victorian literature. The novels of the Victorian Era were often works of social criticism. They generally had a moral purpose and promoted ideals of love and brotherhood. Wuthering Heights is more of a Victorian Gothic novel; it contains passion, violence, and supernatural elements (Mitchell 119). The world of Wuthering Heights seems to be a world without morals. In Wuthering Heights, Brontë does not idealize love; she presents it realistically, with all its faults and merits. She shows that love is a powerful force which can be destructive or redemptive. Heathcliff has an all-consuming passion for Catherine. When she chooses to marry Edgar, his spurned love turns into a
There were many issues within the Victorian society, such as, social class, money, power and the science experiments. This essay will discuss those topics, how the lessons and struggles of this novel are important, and why they are related to the modern world.
Tom Robinson, a Negro man, was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a 19 year old and the daughter of Bob Ewell. The court case took place at the Maycomb County courthouse, and a huge crowd of people, both white and blacks came to watch the trial. The prosecutor was Mr. Gilmer and the defending lawyer was Atticus Finch. The case was directed by Judge Taylor. The result of the trail ended in favor of the pretender, the Ewell family. The crime took place on the evening of November 21st of last year, near the garbage dump. In Maycomb, the Ewells had lived behind the town garbage dump for years which were once a Negro Cabin.
CM: Through this quote , the reader can see how Catherine’s infatuation with Heathcliff is abusive to
Her every need is taken care of. Later, when she is confronted by Heathcliff, she is reminded of Wuthering Heights and begins to miss the place she once was so eager to leave. Catherine begins to see the Grange as superficial and confining, and at first she is only annoyed by this, but eventually the suffocating enclosure causes Catherine to lash out at her husband and all the Grange represents. Catherine, aware of her incestuous attraction to Heathcliff, believes the Grange is destroying her, and because of her disgust of the Grange and her sense of guilt, it does. In the process, Edgar too must suffer Catherine's pain because of his love for her.
In this excerpt from Emily Brönte’s poem “How Clear She Shines” the elements of Gothicism are displayed clearly. The overall cynical mood sets the scene for a gothic style of writing; the contrasts between truth and treachery, joy and pain, peace and grief, bring out a feeling of unease that is Gothicism. Emily Bronte expounded on these themes in her novel Wuthering Heights, a classic work of gothic fiction. This novel portrays two lovers with a very unhealthy relationship in which they are very passionate but take their passion to the extreme. The lengths they go for their love can initially be classified as traditional romanticism, but love turns into obsession and quickly grows grotesque. This transformation marks the transition from Romanticism into Gothicism. Gothicism is a style of writing that is characterized by fear, horror, and death, but can also include Romantic qualities like nature, individualism, and emotion. Romanticism is known for its emphasis on emotion and imagination; Gothicism takes these themes and twists them into something dark and disturbing. In Gothicism, elements of Romanticism are taken too far to the absolute extreme, resulting in grotesque outcomes instead of the predictable plot generated by most romantic novels. Emily Brönte uses the Gothic themes of doppelgänger, sublimity, and revenge to stress the surreal and outrageous actions and thought of the main characters, Catherine and Heathcliff, in Wuthering Heights.
Many authors use the setting of a novel to illuminate certain values and principles in their writing. In Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte utilizes this technique to enhance the theme of the work. The novel is set in a harsh environment in Northern England, highlighting two specific estates, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, as the main places of action. The dreary landscape and houses not only serve as the primary setting, but also as major symbols that aide in establishing the tone and enhancing the novel's theme of good versus evil.
The novel suggests that the building is far from civilised places, on page twenty-four, chapter two; “..On that bleak hill top the earth was hard with a black frost, and the air made shiver through every limb..” This says that Wuthering Heights is isolated on a bleak hill top, it is dull and miserable and the earth is “..Hard..” and contains “..Black frost..”. The use of “..Black frost..” is Gothic as it describes even the frost as evil. Normal frost is white but “..Black frost..” symbolizes evil. This is very Gothic. Emily Brontë uses a lot of imagery to create tension for the reader. For example on pages thirty-one and thirty-two, chapter three when Lockwood is shown to his chamber in Wuthering Heights by Zillah, Emily Brontë uses a lot of images to create the feeling that the room and the surrounding is coffin like. This makes the building, Wuthering Heights feel supernatural and very Gothic. The house itself is very Gothic, containing tall dark arches and gargoyle statues. There are lots of shadows. Emily Brontë chooses realistic descriptions of the building/house, Wuthering Heights; “..One or two heavy black ones (chairs) lurking in the shade..“. “..Black..” reoccurs frequently in the novel as it suggests evil. The word “..Lurking..” is interesting because it suggests that something does not belong in a place , it is mysterious, as in his case the chairs have no place in Wuthering Heights. Almost as is the chairs are alive and they have thoughts and
This is a strange book. It is not without evidences of considerable power: but, as a whole, it is wild, confused, disjointed, and improbable; This review, from Examiner publications, 8 January 1848, was one of the first receptions to Emily Brontë's novel, and concluded with the line, It is the province of an artist to modify and in some cases refine what he beholds in the ordinary world. There never was a man whose daily life (that is to say, all his deeds and sayings, entire and without exception) constituted fit materials for a book of fiction.