Wuthering Heights
Emily Brontë may have just changed my mind on this whole Realism genre. I was scared away a little by Jane Austen’s Emma, but now I’m enjoying this era of literary work.
This is a story about love. A love that is so strong, so intense, that it transcends life and death. It goes beyond what any of us mere mortals can even think to call love. Catherine and Heathcliff’s love is epic in a way that is arguably more epic than that of even Romeo and Juliet. And, I don’t say this lightly.
Brontë created a world so vastly different from her own, mingling Romanticism and Realism for a fight to the death. The first volume describes our two lovers’ heated passion in a way that many could relate to. It is not until the second volume that we see why Heathcliff is the Heathcliff we met earlier in the novel.
Most of the story is told from the eyes of Nelly Dean, a servant for the Earnshaw, Linton, and Heathcliff families (all at various points in her life). A young man named Lockwood has rented Thruscross Grange because he has ran away from his own love. Nelly is his housekeeper, and she tells him the story of Catherine and Heathcliff.
However, Catherine and Heathcliff only share part of the story. Eventually, Catherine, Catherine’s daughter, and Linton, Heathcliff’s son, share their own love story.
Heathcliff is seeking revenge in the second volume. I’ve heard many voice that they didn’t like his character much after this point, but it was some of the best-written work that I’ve read in a while. Heathcliff’s search for vengeance only fuels the idea of love conquering all. If he hadn’t tortured Hareton or Catherine (younger), the reader wouldn’t believe that his love for Catherine went beyond all other loves.
Heathcliff is a compelling Romantic character in a world that isn’t meant for him. He is driven to cruelty from the start, but Catherine sends him over the edge. He becomes obsessive, and his love for her makes him evil to all others. This is not a story about happily-ever-after-love. It’s a story about hearts driven to madness. Unobtainable love. Passion so unsettling that you cringe at every act of vengeance Heathcliff puts to his victims.
It’s all for love. We see this as Heathcliff wills himself to finally settle with Catherine.
I was a bit disappointed with the Realist ending of young Catherine and Hareton, but this is a Realist novel.
It’s one of those novels that you either love or hate. If you like reading stories where everything ends with the big, happy wedding, this isn’t your story. If you want to read about passsion, madness, vengeance, and a love that transcends all things, this is the novel you should read. I still recommend reading it at least once though, no matter what type of story you prefer.
My faith is now restored in Realism. I only wish that Brontë had lived long enough to give us more, and to see Wuthering Heights become a success.
Justin, “Wuthering Heights” has been one of my favorite books for many years. Given the fact that Emily Bronte was a clergyman’s daughter who never ventured from their secluded parish, it’s amazing that she created characters with such intensity. Her sister Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre” is probably my favorite book besides the Bible.
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Yes, that was an amazing feat, to write a story without that kind of life experience. I’ve thought about Reading Jane Eyre because so many others in my class have said that it’s one of their favorite books. I’ll have to add it to my to-read list.
I struggled through the character list in high school, getting lost for not really paying attention and reading consistently. Perhaps I’ll try this one again. I think I’m more prepared now after having (finally!) seen “Gone With the Wind.”
And I second “Jane Eyre.” There’ve been some greats in recent years, but I’m hard pressed to say it’s no longer my all-time favorite. Plus, Charlotte’s writing seems a bit more subtle on the dramatics.
High school reading hardly goes well. In my experience, I’ve seen teachers tell students to read books that are well above the level they should be reading at. It’s like, they make you read all the classics, no matter how difficult they may be. Of course, not everyone nor every book is a problem, but I’ve seen this way too many times.
And, I don’t think Wuthering Heights is an ideal book for a high school reading list. I know some people will disagree because they read it in high school, understood it, and loved it, but I know I wouldn’t have.
By the way, be sure to check out my new website, Books In Bed.
Justin, I read that on my own.
Classes in hs had us on “Macbeth” and “Catcher in the Rye”… The Shakespeare stuck, the Salinger very much did not.
Sorry, I didn’t really think about that. I just assumed it was an assigned reading. I also didn’t want to imply that you didn’t have the brain power to read it back then either.
I guess my reply can still stand though. High school reading assigmnents usually aren’t good.
I read Catcher in the Rye last summer, and I really enjoyed it. I think it’s on the banned books list now though. I’m not sure if all high schoolers are still reading it.
Hey Justin,
You should give Anti-Christ: A Satirical End of Days a try. Funny as hell…as long as you don’t take Christianity too seriously. I think the author has an official site. Can’t remember it off the top of my head though.