ThoughtsorreflectionsonreadingWutheringHeights
ThebookwaswrittenbyEmilyBronte,itpublishedin1847.Butatthattime,itseemedtoholdlittlepromise,sellingverypoorlyandreceivingonlyafewmixedreviews.Ifoundthisinourschool
library,Ichosethisbookbecausethetitleattractedme.Thebookisstructuredaroundtwoparallellovestories,thefirsthalfofthenovelcenteringonthelovebetweenCatherineandHeathcliff,whilethelessdramaticsecondhalffeaturesthedevelopinglovebetweenyoungCatherineandHareton.Incontrasttothefirst,thelattertaleendshappily,restoringpeaceandordertoWutheringHeightsandThrushcrossGrange.Inthestory,thetwohouses,WutheringHeightsandThrushcrossGrange,representopposingworldsandvalues.
Ispenttwentydaysreadingthisbook.Afterreadingthisbook,IfeltforHeathcliffatfirst.Heathcliffbeginshislifeasa
homelessorphanonthestreetsofLiverpool,andthenhetyrannizedbyHindleyEarnshaw.ButhebecomesavillainwhenheacquirespowerandreturnstoWutheringHeightswithmoneyandthetrappingsofagentleman.Hismalevolenceprovessogreatandlong—lasting.Ashehimselfpointsout,hisabuseofIsabella—hiswifeispurelysadistic,asheamuseshimselfbyseeinghowmuchabuseshecantakeandstillcomecringingbackformore.
Catherinerepresentswildnature,inbothherhigh,livelyspiritsandheroccasionalcruelty.ShelovesHeathcliffsointenselythatsheclaimstheyarethesameperson.However,heractionsaredriveninpartbyhersocialambitions,whichinitiallyareawakenedduringherfirststayattheLintons,andwhicheventuallycompelhertomarryEdgar.Catherineisfree—spirited,beautiful,spoiled,andoftenarrogant,sheisgiventofitsoftemper,andsheistorn
betweenherbothofthemenwholoveher.Thelocationofhercoffinsymbolizestheconflictthattearsaparthershortlife.SheisburiedinacorneroftheKirkyard.IncontrasttoCatherine,
IsabellaLinton—Catherine’ssister—in—lawrepresentscultureandcivilization,bothinherrefinementandinherweakness.Ultimately,sheruinsherlifebyfallinginlovewithHeathcliff.HeneverreturnsherfeelingsandtreatsherasameretoolinhisquestforrevengeontheLintonfamily.
JustasIsabellaLintonservesasCatherine’sfoil,EdgarLintonservesasHeathcliff’s.Edgargrowsintoatender,constant,butcowardlyman.Heisalmosttheidealgentleman.However,thisfullassortmentofgentlemanlycharacteristics,alongwithhiscivilizedvirtues,provesuselessinEdgar’sclasheswithhisfoil.