Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Introduction
Wuthering Heights is a Gothic novel which was written by Emily Bronte. Its first publication was done 1847. The novel is about a story of zealous but disillusioned love between Catherine Earnshaw and Healthcliff. The novel explains how the unresolved zeal between the two protagonists finally destroyed them as well as all the people around them.
Symbolism
Emily uses the setting of moors which she is familiar with. She uses this setting to place two different moors which include Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights. However the two different settings symbolize different issues. Withering heights symbolizes the dark side of men in the society and primitiveness while the Thrushcross Grange symbolizes modernity, civilization, concession and artificiality. The two setting incorporated in the novel represents two worlds and two different types of residents, the super ego and the id. This gives the novel an ideal of struggle between evil and good in a world full of darkness,” deep within”, while Isabella “remained in the dark” and “groped from step to step”, and a world full of light “a shower of glass drops … and shimmering with light soft tapers”.
The setting also symbolizes two different weather types. Wuthering symbolizes stormy whether, “Rough weather! I remarked. I am afraid”, while Thrushcross Grange symbolizes favorable and calm whether (Bronte, 9). The use of moors in the novels illustrates the mood and tone of the novel. The moor symbolizes danger as Catherine and Nelly are thought to have drowned in the moors. Notably, at the end of the novel we are told that the ghosts of Catherine and Healthcliff wander at night thereby highlighting the risks and dangers associated with the moors. Weather is conspicuously used to show the hardness of the residents. The locket on the Catherine neck is removed by Healthcliff who flings it on the ground and subsequently puts his own hair on the Catherine dead body (Carrol, 241-250). Healthcliff action symbolizes his ultimate desire to take the part of Edgar in Catherine’s life. Later we see Nelly taking the lock of hair from Edgar and interlock it with Healthcliff’s which symbolizes the link between the two opponent’s lives. The characters in Wuthering heights notably obstructed by windows and doors that are usually locked. Healthcliff Locks in Catherine demanding that she should be married by his son. Catherine refers to the home as” prison” and she says” I’m tired, tired of being enclosed here” (Bronte, 135). The windows and doors therefore represent the harmful impacts of revenge
Bronte has also used images to symbolize real love. Catherine describes the love she feels towards Edgar as tender, feeble and mild in “meanbeam”. On the other hand, her love towards Healthcliff represents the nature forces that are usually destructive and splendid. Catherine uses “foliage of woods” and “rocks beneath the ground” to describe her true feelings. Additionally the destructive force of nature leads Catherine to marry Linton not because she loves him but she wanted to take the society path “Nelly, I am Heathcliff”. Notably the use of dogs in the novel symbolizes the unfriendly relationships between some of the characters in the novel with an example of Healthcliff and Edgar “he gnashed at me, and foamed like a mad dog”. The depiction of the Wuthering heights interior especially the hearth symbolizes the degree of existence of family accord or is nonexistence (Bloom, 89). Notably, Catherine’s marriage which makes her feel like a prisoner in her own marriage symbolizes the society’s pressure in our lives.
Realism
The theme of realism in any piece of literature indicates a stern devotion to ordinary life. Realism helps characters to use emotional intensity, imagination as well as dreams in their narratives. Notably, Emily blends both realistic and romantic styles which she uses to illustrate nature and supernatural supremacy through the characters. It is worth noting that the use of realism in “Wuthering Heights” greatly affects the characters impressions and reactions. Realism extensively gives the meaning of the entire book. The use of thrushcross Grange and Wuthering heights realistically reflects the kinds of people living in these places. Wuthering heights show the oppression and darkness as far as the nature of the place is concerned while thrushcross Grange indicating calmness. Realism in the novel has noticeably illustrated the cruelty of human being “and dashed it full against the speaker’s (Edgar’s) face and neck” after Edgar had insulted him” (Bronte 45).
According to the tale, Healthcliff has entirely lived without Catherine and he thinks that he will be able to be with Catherine who had died earlier in heaven when he too dies. According to him, the control of the wickedness will be conquered by power of good. The foundation of the Wuthering heights was very strong to shield the estate from the strong winds. This is quite realistic and it highlights the meaning of the novel. The constant blowing of wind in and out of the Wuthering heights highlights the movements of those people who have lived in the estate. The blowing plays a vital role in enhancing the meaning of the novel.
Emily has also highlighted the relationship between males and females with females being submissive to males. This has actually contributed to the whole development and the meaning of the story. According to Palm, the author of book” Realism”, women can only be understood through men,” women are predominantly understood in terms of their relationship with men as victims of patriarchal codes” (Morris, P). It is therefore evident that the role of women in reality has contributed enormously to the development of the Wuthering heights.
The change of the Setting
It is quite evident that Emily Bronte uses two different settings in her narrative. However the two setting represents two different worlds as illustrated in the story. Notably the difference settings actually help intensively in the development of the story. The settings have a positive impact on the plot of the story (Moya, 172). The two different setting allows for full transformation of Catherine one of the protagonist in the novel. According to the story, Catherine matures when she spends some times in the thrushcross Grange” You look like a woman now”. Catherine has experienced transformation due to physical movements,” Cathy stayed at the Thrushcross Grange five weeks: till Christmas. By that time her ankle was thoroughly cured and manners much improved” (Bronte, 45). This develops the story in the sense that, the physical change of the characters leads to more different actions in their behavior thereby enhancing the continuity of the story. Catherine’s transformation due to the different setting has left Healthcliff a tormented man. This is because this transformation finally leads to Catherine’s marriage to Linton. Healthcliff engages in different actions as a sign of anger” encountering either his wild beast’s fondness or his madman’s rage”, and revenge which subsequently adds value to the plot of the story (Bronte, 65). The change of the settings also gives the novel an epic and a sensational view thereby enhancing the plot of the story (Westermann, 12).
Notably, the character of Nora is also heightened during the remarkable change of the settings. Wuthering Heights has explored ideas on social class and gender which has subsequently been made possible through two different types of setting. Opposition between civilized and savagery has been clearly indicated through the changes in the setting of the novel. The thrushcross Grange is” beautiful” and “civilized” while the Wuthering heights are” large jutting stones”. The harmonization of the two settings is quite significant to the plot of the story .Additionally, the residents of the two houses also differ but their role in the story is paramount. It is therefore evident that the incorporation of the two houses helps in general development of the story (Mandy, 8).
Conclusion
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte has extensively made used of symbolism particularly in its setting. Realism has also played a paramount role in the story thereby encouraging the characters to show their reactions and impressions throughout the story. Evidently the setting of the novel is incredible and it significantly defines the whole story.
Work cited
Bronte, E. Wuthering Heights, London: Bibliolis Books Ltd, 1847, pp. 1-347
Bhattacharyya, J. Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. London: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors Ltd, 2006, pp.170
Carrol, J. The cuckoo’s History: Human nature in Wuthering Heights. Journal of Philosophy and Literature. London: Hopkins University Press, 2008, VOL.32, No 2,pp. 241-257
Bloom, H. Emily’s Bronte Wuthering Heights. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2007.pp. 89
Mandy, S. Wuthering Heights-A speaking activity in the English literary.London: GRIN Verlag, 2008.pp. 8
Morris, P. Realism. Australia: Routledge, pp.81
Moya, A . Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Barcelona: Edicions University.2005, 172
Westermann, I. Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights-Diversity in (contemporary) reviews, London: GRIN Verlag, 2007. No V83751, ISBN, 978-3-638-00421-3, pp.12
