I’m a little early for the Brontë challenge, but I just couldn’t stop myself from reading Wuthering Heights now that I’m officially on holiday from school. This is one of those books that most everyone I know read in high school, but for one reason or other, we never read it for any of my classes. I do remember one of my classmates describing it as “incestuous cousins who fall in love and one of them dies,” but it is obviously so much more than that. I would describe it as a set of dastardly, petty, and vengeful characters who slowly torture and destroy one another, their toxic legacy nearly destroying their heirs in the process.
Though I have often heard the relationship between Heathcliff and Cathy described as one of the great romances, I found it destructive and terribly dark. Like Mr. Lockwood, I was fascinated by Nelly Dean’s account of the lives of the inmates of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. In many ways Wuthering Heights reminds me of Frankenstein, there is a terrible sense that the story is going to take a very bad turn. I found it very Gothic, though I had a difficult time deciding who resembled Dr. Frankenstein more: Cathy, whose passion for Heathcliff and belief in their oneness leads to her denying him any choice in the matter of their future, or Heathcliff, who plots to turn those around him as low as himself. They both show a disregard for what is good and right and create monsters of their will.
I found that the story of Linton, young Cathy, and Earnshaw was a cautionary tale on how not to raise children. Coddled, indulged, and wild, these receive their share of suffering as a result of the legacy left by Heathcliff, Cathy,Earnshaw, and Linton, but they are responsible for the cruelty they heap upon one another. Nevertheless, I liked young Cathy and pitied young Earnshaw for his ignorance; though I cannot say I felt much sympathy for the sniveling, selfish Linton.
All in all, I’m pleased that I started the Challenge with this selection and glad that I finally got around to reading it–that copy has been in my TBR pile for a number of years.
Tags: 2010 challenge, book review, emily bronte, the brontes, wuthering heights
I never had to read this for school either, but a couple years ago I read it for my classics book club and wasn’t impressed. It was the first Bronte novel I’d read, and I was a little worried when I later tried Charlotte and Anne (though I loved both of them). I think Emily and I just wouldn’t get along.
I think Wuthering Heights is one of the most complex and most courageous novels written by a woman. I’ve always admired Emily greatly, much more than her more conformist sisters. Her characters are absolutely original in the history of literature or, at least, they were when she published the novel. I love Charlotte’s Jane Eyre, of course, and like Anne’s Tenant of Wildfell Hall very much. I’m only sorry Emily died and left us with only one – exceptionally beautiful- story of hers.
Interesting review, anyway.Do you really find that Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights resemble each other? They share gothic features, you’re right, gloomy and frightening settings and also “beyond nature” events… but what else? I’ll try to think about your suggestion … Thanks for sharing.
Aside from the Gothic element, I found that the narrative form–the story being told to a person uninvolved in the events that transpired–was similar to that of Frankenstein. The vengeful passion between Heathcliff and Cathy also put me in mind of the relationship between Victor and his creation–though I can’t say who created whom in this relationship.
I remember the first time I read WH I hated it. It wasn’t very romantic. I came to appreciate it later.
I don’t think I would have appreciated it a few years ago, I think being steeped in Victorian lit for so long probably added to my appreciate of it.
I read this one a few years ago and I definitely didn’t find it a romantic classic…all the characters were deplorable, but that’s how Emily Bronte wanted it…she wasn’t trying to make them sympathetic and a true kind of love…which I didn’t know when I read it. So I’ll be rereading for the challenge and will be looking at it in a new light! Thanks for the great review!
I wonder how the idea that it is a true love story originated? I always hear it recommended as a great love story, which I did not see at all.
Good review! I agree . . . I read WH again last January for my book club. We all thought . . . why is this considered a “romantic” classic and why is Heathcliff considered a “romantic” hero? It is a great story of vengeance, but if you are looking for the romance it is reputed to be, you’ll be disappointed!
Hmm… your comment makes me wonder if perhaps the idea of Romantic and romantic has led to this confusion? As a Gothic/Romantic hero, the term is applicable to Heathchliff… otherwise, I think we have been led astray by misguided romantics.