Summary:
Examines a key passage from the novel Wuthering Hieghts, by Emily Bronte. Describes how it illuminates the rest of the novel. Summarizes the story's plot.
"Wuthering Heights", written by Emily Bronte, is full of vivid descriptions and melancholy characters. The story about a mysterious orphan boy named Heathcliff who he falls passionately in love with Catherine Earnshaw, his foster sister. The fates move Catherine and Heathcliff apart, and although Catherine loves Heathcliff as well as he does her, she is blinded by her arrogance desire to be accepted in society. Heathcliff, through his morose aura, grimy appearance, and repellent countenance, drives her to marry Edgar Linton. At this Heathcliff runs away from Wuthering Heights and doesn't return for another three years. Upon his return Heathcliff is an incredibly reformed man. His posture, dress, and impression are that of a gentleman. After many friendly visits to Catherine, whom Heathcliff still loves, Edgar becomes irritated and wishes that Catherine would not see him anymore. Catherine, who is on her deathbed, is furious at this demand. Edgar is oblivious to her severe condition and leaves her to rest. In this scene Catherine is in her final moments of life. Heathcliff visits her and they finally profess their love for each other though words and tears. Because this passage exposes Heathcliff's emotional side, expresses the intense devotion between Catherine and Heathcliff, and displays the grief and pain that both are suffering, it is essential to fully comprehend sentiment of the characters and the plot.
Throughout the whole story Heathcliff is an impassive, furious character that cares for no one but himself. For example he only shows slight gratitude to Mr. Earnshaw for taking him in. Also, he shows no sympathy for Isabella after she falls in love with him and mistakenly marries him. His envy and desire to be with Catherine drove him off. It also motivated him to obtain a surface which people could smile upon and view him as a gentleman. Most of the passages express the animosity he feels for all those around him and he shows them little regard. During this passage Heathcliff is breaks down in tears as he holds the one he loves in his arms. When Nelly tries to aid Catherine he "gnashes at her (me) and foamed like a mad dog, and gathered her to him with greedy jealously." It then becomes apparent that Catherine is all he has to love. It reveals his profound love for her as, for the first time in the novel, he collapses in deep emotion.
Also, through the whole novel we aware of that there is love shared between Heathcliff and Catherine. Although this is obvious, it isn't really clarified in anyway. The characters don't get to spend much time together as they get older, and there is a feeling of jealousy and regret when looking back in the past. Catherine was willing to jeopardize their relationship and marry Edgar and to seek revenge Heathcliff married Edgar's sister Isabella. In this passage we can see that the adoration they have for each other, like no other. Their claims of loving each other after death and how Heathcliff was willing to stay with her even if Mr. Linton was to shoot at him showed that when it came down to the last straw, they loved each other beyond imagination.
Finally, another thing about this passage that helps us feel the intensity of novel's theme of love, is the pain the both characters are feeling. Catherine is in anguish, as she knows she is dying and doesn't wish to part from Heathcliff. Heathcliff is suffering from the prospect of losing the only one he ever loved. At that, they are both in enormous quantities of pain as they cling to each other, lost in their grief. Heathcliff regrets that Catherine ever "betrayed her heart" to marry Linton and Catherine mourns as well. During her final moments we can see that only he can sooth her, only Heathcliff can be the one in her life that brings joy. Their love for each other means more to them then their own lives.
In conclusion, that is why I feel that this passage in "Wuthering Heights" really helps illuminate the entire novel. Though out the book the author, Emily Bronte, sets up a mood that sort of keeps us guessing. This uncertainty makes us ask questions and keep us reading all together as a apart of the slow suspense. The major themes in the novel are highlighted with this one passage as it answers some of the smaller questions we had. Does Heathcliff truly love Catherine? How deep is their love? And how far would they truly go for each other? It was their bad choices that made them both die in such an unfavorable manner. Without each other, they were incomplete and so were their lives and souls. This passage help make this fact more apparent.
This is the complete article, containing 797 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page).
