Wuthering Heights - Critic's Reviews

A detailed Summary of Wuthering Heights - Critic's Reviews

The "problem" of Wuthering Heights is the "problem" of Catherine Earnshaw and

Heathcliff. How has the relationship between these two characters been read over the last 150 years? To what extent has cultural context varied these reading and how, in particular, has it influenced your own reading?

Wuthering Heights has been the subject of much criticism throughout its history as critics and historians alike try to discover Bronte's meaning and intentions behind the work. The controversial relationship of Catherine and Heathcliff has puzzled and fascinated critics since its publication in 1847. Many agree that the focus of the novel lies in the dominance of Catherine and Heathcliff's relationship on the entire generations of Linton's and Earnshaw's but disagree on how that relationship should be viewed. Contemporary reviews reflected the immorality they saw in the play, due to the Victorian conventions of novels at the time. As times have progressed and society became more evolved we saw the

novel in a different light to those that were first established. The modern era romanticised the novel through focussing on imagery; animal, natural and barrier. In post-modern terms the novel is seen to reveal a number of themes relating to

This perhaps came about as a result of the need to "gloss things over" - to make everything seem more wonderful and pleasant than it really was. During this time period the world was in the throes of war, and in political and social tumult. The disappointment of the war and the hardships and changes it brought about, left most people in a very pessimistic humour.

Dorothy Van Ghent, an influential modern critic on the subject of the Brontes, speaks of the savage cruelty and violence in the novel because "Even in the weakest of the souls there is an intimation of the dark Otherness, by which the soul is related psychologically to the inhuman world of pure energy, for it carries within itself an "otherness" of it's own, that inhabits below consciousness".

Heathcliff's ambiguous race and social background are considered as is the decision of Catherine to marry Edgar because of conventions at the time and her uncertain future if she did not. Post-modern critics are sympathetic to Catherine; they empathise with her rebellious nature in such a conformist culture, her determination and willful character make her easy to relate to.

Middle-class Victorians saw the book as "un-Christian" because it rejected the idea of Heaven and instead created a new place where Cathy and Heathcliff could be together, even in death. This place, along the moors, symbolised freedom from society's boundaries in life, and in death, represented a place stronger and more natural than the Christian "Heaven". It has been argued recently that Bronte rejected patriarchal Christianity in the novel simply because, at her time, it was unsympathetic to women like her. There has been no suggestion, however, that Bronte was anything but a devout Christian.

The novel, along with its great historical significance, still provokes thoughts on themes such as love, freedom and recently, feminism. The novel presents the characters as they are, not judging nor condemning but one feels that in the end, Catherine and Heathcliff are if not admired then certainly liked, not because of their actions, but because of the passion and intensity of their love. Other characters are liked also, but it is these two fiery and ultimately, ethereal lovers that are most remembered and appreciated.

Post-modern critics take into account the evolution of our society in areas such as gender, race, class and psychology when analysing the relationship and in particular, certain literary theories are contemplated which deal with Marxism, Freudianism, and racism.

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Approximate Word count = 2105
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels