Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Essay Example

Wuthering Heights was composed by Emily Bronte (1818-1848) and considered one of the most important works of literature in the Nineteenth Century.  A romance novel set in the bleak Yorkshire moors of England.  The themes being based on a middle class England where social class was judged upon wealth rather than land ownership.

Chapters 8-10:   Cathy starts to demonstrate split personality traits. Being wild and free with Heathcliff but acting as a demure sophisticated lady with the Linton’s. She is overheard as saying she could never marry Heathcliff as this would degrade her.  She loves him but views him more as a soul mate or kindred spirit. Cathy feels that she must marry Edgar to achieve social standing in the area. “Three years after his parents’ deaths, Edgar marries Cathy, and Nelly leaves Wuthering Heights and Hareton and moves to Thrushcross Grange.” Heathcliff later marries Isabella to become heir to Thrushcross Grange. “‘I’m very far from jesting, Miss Catherine,’ I replied. ‘You love Mr. Edgar because he is handsome, and young, and cheerful, and rich, and loves you. The last, however, goes for nothing: you would love him without that, probably; and with it you wouldn’t, unless he possessed the four former attractions. (Bronte)

The novel retains suspense whilst dealing with many dark mysteries. Heathcliff’s rise to wealth whilst remaining at Wuthering Heights.  Both Cathy and Heathcliff remain outsiders at the big houses only to find freedom and reality on the moors together.  Cathy portrays the spoilt insecure child and Heathcliff the scorned man disdained by society and the class system that ruled England at this time.  The novel is thick in the concept of both hatred and revenge “There is hatred between Heathcliff and Hindley, and also between Heathcliff and Edgar, and Heathcliff is bent on obtaining revenge.”(Bronte)

Chapters 11-12 : These Chapters deal with revenge. Heathcliff now has his eyes set on revenge with Hindley.  He also looks at Thrushton Grange and encourages Isabella’s infatuation with him. “ Heathcliff had not the habit of bestowing a single unnecessary civility on Miss Linton, I knew. Now, as soon as he beheld her, his first precaution was to take a sweeping survey of the house-front.” (Bronte) Cathy tries to pit Edgar and Heathcliff against one another and both men do not understand her.  She longs for the security of her childhood and demonstrates that it is Heathcliff that she really loves and wants to be with.  Heathcliff curses the Linton’s for making him look unworthy to Cathy, whom he considered betrayed him.

Works Cited

Bronte, Emile. Wuthering Heights. London: Whites Books, 2010.