A Pre-Envisioned Creation: Film Analysis

Katie Rector
Ms. Loe
AP Rhetoric T/Th 1
19 November, 2013
A Pre-Envisioned Creation: Film Analysis of Wuthering Heights In the process of reading, the mind shifts to an alternate state where you, yourself are the omnipotent creator, using the stylistic techniques and descriptions of the author to formulate your own opinions and your own images concerning the work. Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, one of the most passionately devastating novels of the Romantic era, affects its readers in a multitude of inexpressible ways. Each reader has conjured up their own special portrayal of the imagery and character depictions provided, with every scene of the dark, emotional novel engraved in their brain. The very idea of attempting to make a
The scene begins with Heathcliff rushing to visit Catherine after he hears that she has fallen ill. When Heathcliff arrives, the tension between the two crackles with anger and jealousy, however after Heathcliff threatens to storm off, Catherine begs him to stay and they embrace. The angle used during their tight embrace of one another focuses on Catherine’s hands, highlighting her wedding ring. The director uses this angle to show that although Catherine may be legally bound to Edgar by her wedding ring, she is bound to Heathcliff through love. The director also uses two very contrasting tones in this scene, one of reconciliation, yet one of regret. The tone of reconciliation is portrayed when Heathcliff and Catherine finally embrace, no longer relishing in their own pride, but openly expressing their love for one another. However, a tone of regret is conveyed as they realize the consequences of their choices to marry other people. This is especially evident in Heathcliff, who, by his abandonment of Catherine has caused her to fall ill, and she dies in his arms after their embrace. The director chose to utilize these contrasting tones in this particular scene because it follows the main themes of the novel; the unbreakable love between Catherine and Heathcliff but also the remorse
Throughout the book Catherine and Heathcliff have this noticeably deeper connection from the moment they meet. Even though their relationship is halted when Edgar marries Catherine, an ever-present sense of a strong love between the two remains. The movie excellently portrays this love triangle when Catherine confesses her deeper love for Heathcliff although she knows she will end up marrying Edgar. The film, like the novel, displays their love as still remaining strong to keep the interest and hope of the audience that Catherine and Heathcliff will one day be together. The movie also places emphasis on the two significant houses – Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. In the novel and the film Wuthering Heights, where Heathcliff and Catherine grow up represents passion, emotions and instability whereas Thrushcross Grange, where Linton resides symbolizes stability and peacefulness. Their depictions emphasize their representations, with Wuthering Heights shown as dirty, rugged, dark and mysterious while Thrushcross Grange is tidy and organized, surrounded by beautiful gardens and filled with elegant furniture. Arnold accentuated the significance of each place like the book because it represents one of the main themes of the passion and strength of Heathcliff and Catherine in Wuthering Heights and the passivity of Edgar in Thrushcross