Wuthering Heights was written in 1847; therefore it is accused of being uninteresting and hard to read, due to outdated language. The writing in Wuthering Heights is very beautiful. Modern writing lacks the poetic ring and flow of words that Emily Bronte is able to capture in the novel Wuthering Heights. In a beginning passage, Lockwood describes Heathcliff: “He is a dark-skinned gypsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman: that is, as much a gentleman as many a country squire: rather slovenly, perhaps, yet not looking amiss with his negligence, because he has an erect and handsome figure; and rather morose.” The description expresses puzzlement over Heathcliff as a character, with him being dark, untidy, and unhappy, while still being well dressed, well mannered, and somewhat tall and handsome. The sentence structure itself suggests Lockwood’s confusion in his appraisal of Heathcliff; it is an example of the artful language and vocabulary in Wuthering Heights. The first time I read this book, I sat down with a dictionary so I could look up every word I don’t know. After several pages of written definitions, it became clear all my word hunting was distracting from the story. I decided instead to rely on context clues, which expanded vocabulary and understanding. Learning is exciting and satisfying; learning is in itself a purpose to…
In the Victorian era, men were believed to be inherently superior to women by natural design. We see that in Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff appears to impose dominance over many of the characters in the novel as the story progresses. His quest for vengeance and his inability to deal with the death of Catherine eventually reveal his true nature as a maudlin sociopath…
Fezzik is like a super human. He is as big as a giant, yet he care about everybody and is the best friend you could ever have. He has brown curly hair and sideburns. His clothes are pretty raggy and not very fancy. He is very strong and helpful. The most noticeable part about Fezzik is that he is so big. “Was easily the biggest human being she had ever seen” (page 102). Here you learn that Fezzik is huge. “When Fezzik was a year old, he weighed eighty-five pounds.” Fezzik was not fat, but he was big. Being pretty big was normal sized for where he came from, but he was bigger than most. “ Fezzik looked fierce, but once they found out he was chicken, well, they weren't about to let an opportunity like that get away.”…
Nussbaum also establishes a conflict between the fundamental Christian world of the Lintons, and the chaotic world of Heathcliff. The distinction is clearly drawn as a virtuous and companionate world in which the Linton's live, while Heathcliff is drawn to immoral and devious actions. The author does not however see it this simple. The superficial piteous world is in fact shadowed by a shallow a fake ideal of life. Even Catherine realizes the forged environment in which the Linton's live, as she explains, "in whichever place the soul lives. In my soul and in my heart, I'm convinced I'm wrong." Even though Heathcliff is portrayed as a demonic figure, he also is shown as the romantic Christina lover. This love is the driving force behind his urge to fight against what is expected of him. Both the Linton's and Heathcliff are not given the satisfaction of…
The Story of Catherine and Heathcliff began when Catherine's father goes on a trip and instead of bringing back gifts he brings back a gypsy boy with dark skin and even darker hair. While others hated the newcomer, Catherine took a liking to him right away and they became inseparable. But after an injury Catherine or “Cathy” was forced to reside at the Linton’s, a pristine family who re-molded Cathy into a well mannered, well behaved, well spoiled girl. At her stay with the Linton’s Catherine learned about the value for money and social status. She realized that as much as she loved Heathcliff she would never marry him because he had no money or title, so instead she married Edgar Linton. An ill treated Heathcliff was devastated and ran away…
Heathcliff is considered to be the main protagonist of the novel so Catherine is the dominant female spirit, which prevails the novel. She is a character dominated by obsession and her single greatest obsession is her love for Heathcliff. It is this, which gives food to her soul, which controls her life and gives a sense of meaning, purpose and…
“He'll love and hate, equally under cover, and esteem it a species of impertinence to be loved and hated again...” (Brontë, 2). This quote describes the actions taken by Heathcliff throughout the novel, while he undergoes a transformation from a true and romantic lover to a cruel and uncaring hater. Although he may appear to be selfless and simply a man deeply in love, his actions involving jealousy, hatred, abuse, and vengeance cause him to breakdown and alter his love for Catherine into a burning and passionate vengeance against all who have got in the way of his love for her. In Emily Brontë's novel, Wuthering Heights, she uses her character Heathcliff to show what occurs when true love is transformed and warped into nothing but obsession and pure lust.…
Heathcliff, to some, began life as a crime. His foster brother Hindley shunned him as a reject from society while viewing Heathcliff’s very existence a grievous crime, particularly because Mr. Earnshaw’s love and affection were displaced towards Heathcliff instead of himself. Far later in the novel, this terrible attitude backfires upon Hindley, who is misused and cheated out of ownership of Wuthering Heights by Heathcliff. This crime parallels another: Heathcliff’s abhorrent abuse of both Hindley in his weakened state and Hindley’s son Hareton, who is made the stablehand instead of the rightful owner of the Heights. Heathcliff also trespassed when he imprisoned Catherine upon her visits to his son Linton. He coerced her into marrying Linton while her own father was dying, and so gained ownership of Thrushcross Grange as well as the Heights.…
Heathcliff is treated terribly by all but Catherine, and she becomes his solace; his only friend. Her companionship is likely what kept him sane for longer. When she distanced herself, growing closer to the Lintons after staying there for several weeks (page 52), his attitude changed. Resentment and jealousy begin to form. She was not spending as much time with him, leaving him to endure whatever punishment Hindley forced on him. He was losing the one person he had left who seemed to care about him Therefore, when she announced she was going to marry Edgar Linton, he ran and did not return for years (page 84). While he was away, he probably lost sight of reason, of what he previously thought mattered. He was likely angry that she would leave him for someone he did not like; that she wouldn’t be with him. His madness only worsened when she died, as the thought of life without her was too much for him to bear. He caused her death by running off with Isabella. His madness led to Catherine’s lapse from reality. She lost her mind over his actions, and as a result he lost her. His madness was caused by love, as he didn’t know how to grieve. The message of spiritual love and torment that is present throughout the story is shown throught this aspect of Heathcliff’s madness. He loved Catherine desperately, and her death tormented him for the remainder of his…
As described by Ellen, when Catherine arrived after five weeks of living in Thrushcross Grange, she was a completely different person. She was no longer that young, reckless, and mischievous girl that once existed; instead, she was now well-mannered and lady like. As Catherine was greeted by everyone, she looked around, searching for the only person missing, Heathcliff. As a result she asked in a demanding tone if Heathcliff was home. This word choice lets the reader realize and understand the relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine since Catherine was clearly very anxious and desperate too finally see him.…
In the novel Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë, an individual named Heathcliff was wronged many times. He was treated poorly all of his life by his “brother”. Heathcliff fell in love with a woman who loved him back, however she married another man, because he was rich and had a higher social rank. All of the times Heathcliff was wronged during his life inspired him to get revenge on those that treated him incorrectly. Overall, Heathcliff is a maniacal man who is driven by all of the times that people have mistreated him in the past.…
The cruelty in Wuthering Heights plays an influential role in the actions of some of the characters. Heathcliff, who was brought into the home of Catherine and her older brother Hindley, wins the affection of their father and the resentment of Hindley. As a result of this built up resentment, when Hindley inherits the home he mistreats and degrades Heathcliff. The cruelty Heathcliff experiences from Hindley influence Heathcliff to become a well mannered man in society.…
From the beginning of his life to the end of his childhood, Hareton has been the victim of neglect and abused. Often used as a pawn for Heathcliff biddings, Hareton is often belittled and degraded to a slave. Hareton tried to help at multiple occasions but is often never credited or never seen as help. Rather, Hareton is called useless and treated as an outcast. However, Hareton never seems to stop helping others. This is important due to the fact Hareton’s past was riddled with trauma and abuse. Even though Hareton could have mistreated others due to his treatment, Hareton tries to control his temper to help those in need. Hareton’s past provide another reason why he is classified as an anti-hero. Despite his efforts, Hareton often cowers under a powerful presence. Due to his abuse, Hareton often looks out for himself and avoids any altercation with a more powerful presence. However, Hareton balances this out with the desire of self-improvement. By attempting to teach himself to read, Hareton is trying to emerge from a horrendous past. In the end, Hareton is treated like a hero: he gets the girl, home, and a new start to live his life. Hareton went from a servant to the owner of Wuthering…
Charlotte Bronte described Heathcliff’s feelings for Catherine as, “a sentiment fierce and inhuman” . While being a rather colourful description, this quote more accurately defines the nature of Heathcliff and Catherine’s relationship, at least as a destructive, rather than a positive force. The effects of this can be seen throughout the second half of the novel in Heathcliff’s treatment of the younger generation, particularly the younger Cathy, “Keep your eft’s fingers off… I detest you!” The image of an eft – an adolescent newt – is something simultaneously repulsive and pathetic, as, at this point in the novel, Cathy is begging for mercy from Heathcliff. Part of Heathcliff’s aversion to Cathy may, of course, be because she reminds him of her mother. While superficially explained as pure grief, this may also speak of the darker side to his relationship with Catherine, in that the girl’s reminiscence of her sparks animosity instead of love, as it does for Linton.…
2) Nelly, I see now, you think me a selfish wretch; but did it never strike you that if Heathcliff and I married we should be beggars? whereas, if I marry Linton, I can aid Heathcliff to rise, and place him out of my brother's power? (87). Catherine tells Ellen what she believes will happen with her marriage and her relationship to Heathcliff. She really believes that her marriage to Linton will end up helping Heathcliff, which of course it does not.…