“Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” - Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Many readers enjoy ‘Wuthering Heights’ as a form of escapism, a flight from reality into the seclusion and eerie mists of the Yorkshire moors, where the supernatural seems commonplace and the searing passion between Catherine and Heathcliff absolute. Yet Wuthering Heights reaches much further than its atmospheric setting, exploring the complexities of family relationships and Victorian society’s restrictions; similarly, in ‘A Room with a View’, E.M. Forster expands the relationship between Lucy and George to address wider social issues. Both novels explore and dramatise the conflict between human nature and society, between nature and culture.
Both Emily Brontë
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Cathy and Heathcliff cast off any guidance offered by society, whereas Lucy clings to her Baedeker, afraid of making decisions and forming her own opinions – things that were not expected of a woman in Edwardian society.
Cathy, seduced by the comfort and luxury of the Grange, becomes civilised to the point of being unrecognisable to Heathcliff when she “sails in” to Wuthering heights in her fine clothes. Ellen describes the reception of, “instead of the wild hatless little savage jumping into the house, and rushing to squeeze us all breathless ... a very dignified person”. The reader sees the events through the eyes of Ellen, and although she certainly approves of the transformation, it is likely that Bronte, and subsequently the reader, does not. The fact that she refrains from displaying her joy at being reunited with her family and will not hug them, suggests that her unguarded passion has been repressed by the influence of the refined Lintons. In much the same way, Lucy, while visiting Cecil’s mother, “kept to Schuman” as was proper, rather than releasing her passion in a torrent of Beethoven as she did in Italy. Both women have conformed to the obligations of society rather than freely expressing emotion, resulting in loss of self and surrender to “darkness” – the concept of which is more ambiguous for Bronte, as Heathcliff is the main association with darkness, described by Catherine as an “unreclaimed creature”, not quite part of the human world.
Since its publication, Wuthering Heights has intrigued its readers; a love story gone wrong, twisted by vengeance and heartbreak. Many important factors of the novel are displayed in the portion of the novel narrated by Ellen. The passage in Wuthering Heights in which Catherine Linton’s funeral is described is vital in explaining important relationships in the novel, particularly the relationship between Heathcliff and Edgar Linton.
Cathy, catching a glimpse of her friend in his concealment, flew to embrace him; she bestowed seven or eight kisses on his cheek within the second, and then stopped, and drawing back, burst into a laugh, exclaiming, 'Why, how very black and cross you look! and how - how funny and grim! But that 's because I 'm used to Edgar and Isabella Linton. Well, Heathcliff, have you forgotten me? ' (Bronte, 45). (Hindley is speaking).
The culture of set societal rules and conventions urges Catherine to be with Edgar, compelling her to be ‘the greatest woman of the neighbourhood’ due to them being relatively firm in their gentry’s status. This suggests the importance of her social status against the nature of her love for Heathcliff stating, ‘we would be beggars’, through employing the word ‘beggars’ the reader crafts the idea of her belief that she won’t survive without her status. Catherine admits ‘It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him’ Thus implying a swelling sense of her vanity and pride; enough to enjoy the position she gains from being married to Edgar despite her admiration for Heathcliff, being ‘more than (herself) than (she is)’and
In Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Heathcliff’s strong love for Catherine guides his transformation as a character. While Heathcliff enters the story as an innocent child, the abuse he receives at a young age and his heartbreak at Catherine’s choice to marry Edgar Linton bring about a change within him. Heathcliff’s adulthood is consequently marked by jealousy and greed due to his separation from Catherine, along with manipulation and a deep desire to seek revenge on Edgar. Although Heathcliff uses deceit and manipulation to his advantage throughout the novel, he is never entirely content in his current situation. As Heathcliff attempts to revenge Edgar Linton, he does not gain true fulfillment. Throughout Wuthering Heights, Brontë uses Heathcliff’s vengeful actions to convey the message that manipulative and revenge-seeking behaviors will not bring a person satisfaction.
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
The disorderly atmosphere of Wuthering Heights, generated by Heathcliff’s raucous behavior causes Catherine to gravitate towards a more uncivilized and mannerless version of herself. Several times, Catherine snaps at others and throws furious tantrums, as she scolds and even slaps Nelly for cleaning in Edgar’s prescence. The rambunctious setting of Wuthering Heights conjures a different Catherine, where, “to pracise politeness...would only be laughed at,” influencing her to act on rebellious
Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway and Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights share similarities in many aspects, perhaps most plainly seen in the plots: just as Clarissa marries Richard rather than Peter Walsh in order to secure a comfortable life for herself, Catherine chooses Edgar Linton over Heathcliff in an attempt to wrest both herself and Heathcliff from the squalid lifestyle of Wuthering Heights. However, these two novels also overlap in thematic elements in that both are concerned with the opposing forces of civilization or order and chaos or madness. The recurring image of the house is an important symbol used to illustrate both authors’ order versus chaos
Martha Nussbaum describes the romantic ascent of various characters in Wuthering Heights through a philosophical Christian view. She begins by describing Catherine as a lost soul searching for heaven, while in reality she longs for the love of Heathcliff. Nussbaum continues by comparing Heathcliff as the opposition of the ascent from which the Linton’s hold sacred within their Christian beliefs. Nussbaum makes use of the notion that the Christian belief in Wuthering Heights is both degenerate and way to exclude social classes.
At her age, Catherine should have felt the happiest she has even been after Edgar’s proposal, but her emotions toward Heathcliff changed all that. One way she states her love for Heathcliff by saying: “’My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath’” (Brontë 74), illustrating the everlastings of her emotions and that they will never fade no matter what happens. Yet on the other hand, her ambitions get the best of her in which she says to Nelly: “’I shall like to be the greatest woman in the neighbourhood, and I shall be proud of having such a husband [Edgar Linton]’” (Brontë 71). Instead of marrying for true love as seen throughout fairy tales, Catherine marries Edgar solely for reputation, following her mind instead of her heart. The conflict of her following her heart or her mind has led her into denial by imagining that by marrying Edgar she is doing the right thing and that she could raise Heathcliff, for at this time he is poor. Catherine is not the only one affected by denial, Isabella Linton is as well.
In this passage from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Catherine reveals her love for Heathcliff to her maid, Nelly. Unbeknownst to Catherine, Heathcliff was audience to the most detrimental part of her speech, in which she proclaims it would “degrade” her to marry him. Love is not the same for everyone, and Catherine, an unconventional character, realizes sometimes soulmates comes from non-traditional places. Catherine couldn’t be with her soulmate, Heathcliff, because of his lesser social position. Her pleading, desperate tone in this passage is a testament to the deep level of her love for Heathcliff and how badly she wants to be with him, but can’t because their marriage wouldn’t be commonplace. Catherine compares her two lovers, Edgar
Catherine Earnshaw’s true wild and passionate nature was nurtured by her childhood in the equally uncultivated moors. The state of her broken family only heightened this nature in her; only “tempered” when she stayed at Thrushcross Grange due to an injury. While “bleak” and “desolate” to an outsider like Lockwood, to the inhabitants of the Heights and the Grange, the moors were encouraging, especially to their temperamental natures. The moors were a catalyst that forever shaped Catherine’s life. She could never look out a window without ёremembering her free childhood wandering with her love, Heathcliff. Catherine developed traits of wildness, passion, and a desperate need for freedom as a result of this childhood. Even her “change” after
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is considered a masterpiece today, however when it was first published, it received negative criticism for its passionate nature. Critics have studied the novel from every analytical angle, yet it remains one of the most haunting love stories of all time. “Wuthering Heights is not a comfortable book; it invites admiration rather than love,” (Stoneman 1). The novel contains several different levels that force readers to ponder the text. It allows for individual interpretations of the novel. This makes the novel such a popular book to read. Wuthering Heights is a Gothic
Catherine’s intense love for Heathcliff combined with her attachment to Edgar is the reason for her pain and sickness throughout the novel. When asked by Nellie she says, “My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I 'm well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary.” (Bronte 82). Catherine’s love for these two men, especially Heathcliff, is the reason that many of the conflicts in Wuthering Heights occurred. When Heathcliff overhears Catherine’s decision to marry Edgar and runs away, Catherine waits for him in the cold rain for hours and catches the cold that eventually leads to her death. The fight between Heathcliff and Edgar causes her to go three days without eating and she weakens herself enough to get to the condition she’s in when she dies. Catherine battles with her decisions and feels deep emotions for both men. She marries Edgar, and despite their happiness, the relationship lacks the intense love that she feels with Heathcliff, as heard when she tells Nelly, “If all else perished and he [Heathcliff] remained, I should still continue to be; and, if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the Universe would turn to a mighty stranger” (Bronte 81). However, when she is with Heathcliff, the passion is what hurts her the most, as the two lovers juggle anger and joy because love and hate are so closely linked. Catherine’s love and
The confinement that characters within the texts experience can be translated into modern values based on equality. In the novel, Catherine Earnshaw is constantly controlled by the circumstances that control her; she’s ruled by her father and Hindley throughout her childhood, restricted by her injury at Thrushcross Grange, and forced to marry Edgar because of her isolation from the rest of the world. Even in her passionate relationship with Heathcliff, which reflects the spontaneous, exciting nature of the Romantic period, Heathcliff
This essay will analyse how gender roles are represented in Bronte’s ‘Wuthering Height’s by looking at the characters of Cathy and Heathcliff. By analysing these two characters it will be clear that the protagonists challenge social conformity during the Victorian period in England. To fully realise this it is important to first understand what the prescribed roles were that they were challenging. This will be achieved through close readings of the text and references made to secondary sources to provide evidence that this opinion has been fully investigated. It will be clear by the end to see that the characters challenge the roles expected of their sex during this time and together they challenge social norms. This essay will answer ‘yes’