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How Does Bronte Present Violence In Wuthering Heights

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Within Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, avenging what are thought to be wrongdoings between the characters is a common theme. Throughout the story, Heathcliff Earnshaw is hellbent on having his revenge, as he believes this is the best way for him to feel better about what has happened to him. The adopted son goes to great lengths to form his evil plan and become someone he thinks he will be proud of. Instead, through his antics, Heathcliff brings himself down mentally and ends up more unhappy than when he began. As he tortures Hindley, Edgar, and Hareton, he starts to deteriorate and never recover as his anger and violence forms and blinds him from leaving a forty-year grudge alone. These acts of abuse and violence lead Bronte to portray violence as an option that will only destroy those who decide to pursue it. …show more content…

As soon as Heathcliff was adopted by Mr. Earnshaw, Hindley held a grudge against him as he challenged the possibility of inheritance and wealth. Hindley would degrade Heathcliff by name calling and abuse, and even hoped that a horse would “. . . kick out [his] brains!” Heathcliff resented Hindley for what he had done to him and got a lot of his own evil tactics from Hindley himself. Being around a negative and oppressing influence for long enough can have drastic effects on a person’s mental health and portrayal of them self and others. While in this mental state, Heathcliff exploits the weaknesses of Hindley and finally owns Wuthering Heights. This may be one of Heathcliff’s only justifiable actions, as the torment he faced from Hindley as a young boy was awful, but this is only the beginning of his downfall

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