The Theme Analysis of Wuthering Heights

The Theme Analysis of Wuthering Heights

201200032034 12英政 孔学敏

[abstract]Wuthering Heights is the first and only published novel by Emily Brontë,which is now widely regarded as a classic of English literature.It’s a tragic love story of romance,enveloped with the gloomy atmosphere and an air of terror.Through the depiction of the romance and revenge,we spot a distorted marriage and a rebellious soul that clashes with the capitalist society and mainstream values.Love and hatred,sense and sensibility,faithfulness and betrayal,as well as complex relationships are interwoven with each other.For sure the love and passion shown in the novel is tremendous, but what’s more starting is the destructive effect that jealousy and vengefulness have,after the close relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff was shattered.

[key words]Wuthering Heights,theme,Heathcliff and Catherine

1.introduction

Ever since the Wuthering Heights was published, it has been under great dispute for its tragic love and the much-criticized character Heathcliff who bears rather weired personalities.The passionate yet thwarted love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw and this unresolved passion eventually destroys them and many around them,which shocks my heart like a furious storm.

Wuthering Heights deals with the story of Heathcliff,who is a gypsy waif,adopted by Mr Earnshaw(the master of Wuthering Heights）and growing up along with his son and daughter,Hindley and Catherine.But when Mr Earnshaw dies,his son Hindley drives him from their company and puts him down as a servant and compels him to labor like any other hand on the farm，however,Heathcliff and Catherine are still very intimate and in love with each other.but subsequently,pushed by the external influence and bias, Catherine diverts her mind and falls in love with Edgar Linton,who resides at Thrushcross Grange and has decent manners and style.Heathcliff can’t afford the betrayal of Catherine and thereby sets out to America.three years later,he makes a big fortune and comes back,and yet Catherine has been married with Edgar.,hence he starts his crazy and vicious revenge.through gambling with Hindley,he seizes Hindley’s family property altogether and makes his son,Hareton Earnshaw,his servant.and Hindley died because of intemperate drinking.He also marriesIsabella Linton,the sister of Edgar,who views Heathcliff as a romantic hero,despite Catherine warning her against such a view.Heathcliff treats Isabella Linton abusively.Catherine died tormentedly when giving birth to a baby.Ten years later,Heathcliff designs to marry little Catherine to his dying son,little Linton.after his son and Edgar died,he takes over the whole property of Thrushcross Grange .Thus he at length finishes his revenge,but he still can’t free him from the deep love for Catherine,so he starves himself and dies miserably.At last Hareton and little Catherine get married and inherit the left property,which seems a little comforting.

2.theme analysis

Early reviews of Wuthering Heights were mixed in their assessment. meanwhile most critics at the time recognised the power and imagination of the novel, they were also puzzled by the storyline and found the characters extremely forward and uninhibited for Victorian times.Some critics called it a"strange, inartistic story" ,and commented that every chapter seems to contain a "sort of rugged power." But for my own part,the theme won’t be so stark without such intense conflicts and the Gothic style,and the narration of the novel in fact corresponds to the particular historical background.To understand it profoundly,we’d better analyze the themes from different angles and reveal the thought the author wanted to convey to us.

Firstly,the author criticized the stark social classes,which we can find through the separation of Heathcliff and Catherine.Catherine is a young lady who comes from a wealthy family while Heathcliff is only a Gypsy orphan,and he has suffered discrimination and persecution since he is very young.Heathcliff also embodies the Gypsies inflicted with unjust treatments and hardships of that time.. In the novel, Heathcliff and Catherine were innocent playmates; they developed their love since they were young. But as they grew up, Catherine gradually realized the immense disparities of their social status and their love was unacceptable to the society of that time. Strict hierarchy accounted for their separation. So the author here criticized not only racial discrimination bur also hierarchy. Although Catherine still can’t drop the love to Heathcliff,she bends to the society however.

Second,the author criticized the patriarchy and the suppression that women suffered during that era.“Wuthering Heights” was composed in the Victorian age. In that time, there were some standards of evaluation for women: women were considered as family angels and they lived as daughters, wives, and mothers. So we can see that women at that time are not allowed to live independently, they have to depend on their fathers, husbands, and sons. In this novel, as a little daughter who was deprived of all rights, Catherine had a kind of sub-consciousness to rebel the patriarchal society represented by her brother Hindley. We can see that from the gift she hoped from her father when he left for Liverpool; she wanted a horsewhip which symbolized power. After Hindley inherited the Wuthering Heights, he forced Catherine to leave Heathcliff, which made him hostile to both of them. Catherine tried to rebelled against him, but she failed.she seems unsure whether she is or wants to become ,more like Heathcliff or more like Edger.maybe she wants both,even perhaps cannot be fully herself without both.but the society and human nature makes it impossible.In the patriarchal society, women’s independent awareness was excluded from their status and body. These represented author’s criticism to patriarchy.

Third,the author criticized the money worship of the society.During her staying in Thrushcross Grange, Cathy knew Linton, a handsome, young man, who was thesuccessor of the Thrushcross Grange. During that period, her mind began to change.

She discarded her past mind which was replaced by some material thoughts. After she came back from the Thrushcross Grange, she determined to marry Linton. It was a hard decision, and the reason why she made such a decision was complicated. Anyway, if she married Heathcliff, their marriage was unacceptable to the society, and they might become beggars as she said. But if she married Linton, she could rely on his wealth and fame to help Heathcliff to get promotion and live a good life. Besides, she also could get rid of Hindley’s interference in her life.she seems unsure whether she is or wants to become ,more like Heathcliff or more like Edger.maybe she wants both,even perhaps cannot be fully herself without both.but the society and human nature makes it impossible.

3.conclusion

This novel tells a miserable story of sorrow and torments.when Heathcliff and Catherine are both children,everything is lovable and joyous,however,as they grow up,Catherine affected by the society while Heathcliff sticking to his true self,they are compelled to separate and end up with a tragic disastrous result.So in essence ,it’s the very unjust society that makes people’s heart distorted and the romantic love a sheer tragedy.

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