Wuthering Heights, the classic novel by Emily Brontë, is a tale of intense and tumultuous relationships set in the wild and rugged landscape of the Yorkshire moors. At its core, the novel explores themes of love, revenge, and the destructive power of jealousy.
One of the central themes in Wuthering Heights is the destructive nature of love. The love between the main characters, Catherine and Heathcliff, is intense and all-consuming, but it is also deeply troubled and often turns violent. Catherine's decision to marry Edgar Linton instead of Heathcliff leads to a deep rift between the two, and Heathcliff's obsession with getting revenge on Edgar and the Linton family consumes him for the rest of his life. The love between Catherine and Heathcliff ultimately destroys both of them and those around them, leading to a cycle of misery and suffering.
Another major theme in the novel is the power of revenge. Heathcliff's desire for revenge on Edgar and the Linton family drives much of the plot, and his actions have tragic consequences for all involved. Heathcliff's need for revenge ultimately consumes him, leading to his own demise and the suffering of those around him.
Jealousy is another major theme in Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff is jealous of Edgar's position and wealth, and his jealousy drives his desire for revenge. Catherine's jealousy of Edgar's sister Isabella also plays a significant role in the novel, as Catherine's jealousy of Isabella's relationship with Heathcliff drives a wedge between the two.
Overall, Wuthering Heights is a novel that explores the destructive power of love, the destructive nature of revenge, and the destructive force of jealousy. These themes are woven throughout the novel and help to drive the plot, ultimately leading to the tragic ending that has made Wuthering Heights a classic piece of literature.
Love and Passion Theme in Wuthering Heights
In the late 1830s, during the release of their anthology, their first publication, the Brontë sisters resolved to use male-given names each, including only their initials. There are two primary examples of this: Heathcliff and Hareton. Such a realism of controversial facts is intended to pass the wisdom that applies to real life and seeks to prevent the reader from repeating mistakes similar to the characters in the book. . Cathy is tomboyish in her youth preferring to climb trees and go exploring rather than follow womanly pursuits. Heathcliff elopes with Isabella, but the relationship fails and they soon return. What right—answer me—for the poor fancy you felt for Linton? In Wuthering Heights, those who have been wronged often seek revenge in order to right the wrong that was done to them.
The story shows the vagaries of social class making it one of the themes in Wuthering Heights. The son of Hindley, Hareton should be the heir to Wuthering Heights. Brontë's exploration of love is best discussed in the context of good versus evil which is another way of saying love versus hate. The personalities of its inhabitants somewhat resemble the nature of the house. It is very puzzling and very interesting. Emily Brontë was supposedly unaware of "the limits on polite expression" expected of Victorian novelists.
Frances dies after giving birth to a son, Hareton. Too much too young: popular music, age and gender. Theme 3 Class Differences In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it has been a popular strain in various Theme 4 Dominance of Patriarchy Before the 20 th century, most of the male heads were abusive toward children and women in the family. Oxford University Press, 2009, p. Retrieved 10 October 2017. Thus the point of view comes from a combination of two speakers who outline the events of the plot within the framework of a story within a story. This has not been accomplished with ease, but with an ill-mannered contempt for the decencies of language, and in a style which might resemble that of a Yorkshire farmer who should have endeavored to eradicate his provincialism by taking lessons of a London footman.
Indeed, its power is so predominant that it is not easy after a hasty reading to analyze one's impressions so as to speak of its merits and demerits with confidence. She dies shortly after giving birth to a daughter, Twelve years later, after Isabella's death, the still-sickly Linton is brought back to live with his uncle Edgar at the Grange, but Heathcliff insists that his son must instead live with him. Heathcliff never obtains real calm through his revenge. Love in Wuthering Heights Among several themes in Wuthering Heights, love can be considered the most prominent one. However, neither of that would have happened if Mr. The moors signify beautiful and sweet memories.
When it comes to love, Cathy is split between her socially appropriate marriage to Edgar and her bond with Heathcliff. We have been taken and carried through a new region, a melancholy waste, with here and there patches of beauty; have been brought in contact with fierce passions, with extremes of love and hate, and with sorrow that none but those who have suffered can understand. He favours his adopted son, Heathcliff, which causes trouble in the family. This desire for revenge leads to much heartache and destruction. Revenge in Wuthering Heights is displayed through Heathcliff's hatred for his "adoptive brother", Hindley.
Edgar's love for Cathy can be seen as naive. However, there is one thing that the story goes back all the time. Joseph is left to take care of the declining Wuthering Heights. . You said I killed you—haunt me, then! We have had many sad bruises and tumbles in our journey, yet it was interesting, and at length we are safely arrived at a happy conclusion. Oxford University Press, 2009, p.
Paul Fletcher, " Wuthering Heights and Lord David Cecil", p. But nothing is black and white in Wuthering Heights. The Oxford Companion to English Literature. She is described as somewhat silly and is obviously from a humble family. Eight months later he arrives at Wuthering Heights while travelling through the area. According to Wuthering Heights, which, though "regarded as the archetypal Yorkshire novel.
Catherine has often referred to Heathcliff as "a low class gypsy" and because of Heathcliff's love for Catherine, he leaves for 3 years and returns well groomed and well mannered. Readers Guide to Wuthering Heights online. The author attempts to guide the reader from the darkness of hatred caused by the lack of love towards the light through love. But where is the use? Enraged by Heathcliff's constant presence at Thrushcross Grange, Edgar cuts off contact. The New York Times. Of the major themes in Wuthering Heights, the nature of love — both romantic and brotherly but, oddly enough, not erotic — applies to the principal characters as well as the minor ones.