Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte was published in the 1840’s, although it was originally done so under a pseudonym of Ellis Bell. The plotline is intensely intricate: the primary ‘story’ follows Catherine and Heathcliff who develop a friendship from an early age. Nearby resides the Linton family who also have children of similar ages called Edgar and Isabella. Catherine makes the decision to marry Edgar who is wealthier and better educated; this intensifies an existing tension between Edgar and Heathcliff, who both vie for Catherine’s attention. Heathcliff runs away for 3 years during which Catherine is married to Edgar. Following from this is a lot of issues and events that occur. A few years into the future Catherine has died leaving Edgar with a baby girl whom he names Cathy, and Heathcliff is married to an unhappy Isabella. Isabella eventually leaves, she gives birth to her son Linton, and upon her early death Linton is sent to Edgar but is taken by his father Heathcliff. Further years down the line, Cathy (Junior) and Linton develop a similar bond that was shared by Catherine and Heathcliff when they were children. This plot develops still but the lives of Catherine and Cathy are predominant. The obvious main themes, and the central core of the book, are love, tragedy and revenge.

However, there are many underlying themes throughout. One of these is racial discrimination – although it’s never brought out into the forefront, Bronte uses subtle indications to suggest that Heathcliff is ‘different’, often by the uses of imagery or description. For example, “dark-skinned gypsy in aspect”, “the cheeks were sallow, and half covered with black whiskers; the brows lowering, the eyes deep-set and singular”. This could be Bronte herself expressing uneasiness perhaps or an uncertainty towards a character such as Heathcliff; however, being reasonably well educated you could also speculate that this is Bronte subtly suggesting how others would judge a character such as Heathcliff rather than any judgement by herself.

Catherine within the novel is perhaps atypical to a young girl/woman that would be expected in the late 1700’s, early 1800’s, described as “mischievous and wayward” - she is portrayed as being quite a wild character. Having said this, Bronte does revert the female characters back into roles/characteristics that would be more approved of by 19^th Century society. Through speculation you could assume that this comes from Bronte still suffering from feeling repressed; so although creating a ‘wayward’ character and showing a feminist retaliation, there is still confines to which Bronte and Catherine/Cathy (Junior) remain under.

From a personal point of view, the book itself can often feel like a labyrinth of events which can sometimes be confused when the books narrative changes tense. Also, the characters are more often than not ignorant and a little insular. Catherine in particular is often portrayed as being spoilt, childish and petulant – Heathcliff also shows similar traits. This is carried on throughout the book as a tit-for-tat style revenge occurs between two rival families. Personally, I found the characters a little frustrating and un-relatable (probably to be expected due to the difference in time periods). All in all the book is fairly readable with a definitely interesting plotline, not being completely ‘into’ this genre, maybe someone who is would really like this book. Unquestionably worth a read regardless.