Wuthering Heights: Review

Add as a preferred source on Google

Wuthering Heights. If I have to describe the novel in one word, there is no other word other than 'passionate...'

Written in 1847, under the pseudonym of Ellis Bell, Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's only novel. Even though almost two centuries have passed after this breathtaking novel's publication, its still content still fascinates the readers. The plot and characters are wonderfully powerful, as it comes from the pen of a woman writer, whose society oppressed women even from publishing their own names.

Plot
The fascinating author of the novel take the reader to the wonderful land surrounding the Wuthering Heights through non-linear narration. Characters disappears, new faces shows up, circumstances tides up an down, lives toss around but, the basic emotion remain static: the violent passion as represented by the never changing stormy climate at Wuthering Heights.

The life at Wuthering Heights opens up before the reader through third person narratives. The novel begins at the end of 1803, when the tenant Mr Lockwood of Thrushcross Grange, visits his landlord Heathcliff at Wuthering Heights. Lockwood has to stay back with the unwelcoming family of landlord due to the storm outside. At night he experiences a terrifying dream: the ghost of Catherine Linton, pleading to be admitted to the house from outside. Intrigued, Lockwood asks the housekeeper Nelly Dean to tell the story of Heathcliff and Wuthering Heights.

Nelly takes the narrative to early 1777, when Heathcliff, the foundling living on the streets is brought to the house by then master Mr. Earnshaw. Heathcliff receives equal importance as Mr. Earnshaw's children Hindley and Catherine Earnshaws till Mr. Earnshaw's death. However he gets derogated to the level of a mean servant by Hindley after the death of Mr. Earnshaw. On the other hand his inseparable friendship with Catherine finds new realms as the children reach their adolescence.

Hindley tries his best to separate Catherine and Heathcliff while encouraging Cathy's company with the Lintons. Edgar Linton develops his fascination towards Catherine at the same time. Catherine heeds to Edgar's proposal with a wish in her mind that she can support Heathcliff as soon as she has a house of her own. However, Heathcliff overhears only a part of her conversation with Nelly that it would be "degrading" for her to marry him. Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights, not hearing Catherine's continuing declarations that Heathcliff is as much a part of her as the rocks are to the earth beneath.

Catherine marries Edgar and her marital life becomes happy. However there was nothing to stop the violent passion and Heathcliff returns as a wealthy man with a plan to take revenge on those who stood against his love. He dupes Hindley into making him the heir to Wuthering Heights. He elopes with Edgar's sister Isabella, which places him in a position to inherit Thrushcross Grange upon Edgar's death.

The inheritance of the two affluent family does not come to Heathcliff's aid in fulfilling his passionate love. Catherine passes away a few hours after giving birth to a daughter also named Catherine, or Cathy. Isabella flees her abusive marriage a month later, and subsequently gives birth to a boy, Linton. Heathcliff takes ownership of Wuthering Heights after Hindley's death, and vows to raise Hindley's son Hareton with as much neglect as he had suffered at Hindley's hands.

The novel then takes us to twelve years further to 1797, when Heathcliff take charge of his son Linton after the death of Isabella. He makes plan to get the young Cathy married to Linton. Cathy refuses, so Heathcliff kidnaps her and forces the two to marry. This breaks the loving father Edgar's heart and he dies, shortly followed by Linton. It is at this point in the narrative that Lockwood arrives and shocked by the story, he leaves for London.

The reader again gets the glimpse of Wuthering Heights in 1803. Lockwood returns to Wuthering Heights and finds that situations have changed there. During his absence from the area, events reach a climax; Cathy gradually softens toward her rough, uneducated cousin Hareton, just as her mother grew tender towards Heathcliff. When Heathcliff realizes that Cathy and Hareton are in love, he abandons his life-long vengeance. He dies seeing a passionate love reaching its success. Heathcliff is buried next to Catherine (the elder), and the story concludes with Lockwood visiting the grave, unsure of what to feel.

The novel leaves the reader awestruck for its wonderful imagination and powerful statements. Emily Brontë has skillfully blended the emotions of the characters with the gothic settings. This novel is a must read for anyone who has experienced the magic of love and passion in life