Love or Lust? (Wurthering Heig
In real life, it is very difficult to distinguish between love and lust. This is definitely the case in the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Wuthering Heights is a tragic love story. Emily Bronte tells the story of a love gone sour due to subordinate emotions that over rule love and hate. Bronte shows this through Catherine's empty love, Heathcliff's lust for Catherine, Heathcliff's obsessive behaviour and the jealousy displayed within both Heathcliif and Catherine. These emotions destroy every relationship in the novel. The feelings displayed between Catherine and Heathcliff are neither of love nor hate, but rather emotions of lust, obsession and jealousy.First of all, Catherine's empty love is a huge example of her selfishness. "Wuthering Heights is the name of Heathcliff's dwelling. 'Wuthering' being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather."(Bronte 4). Wuthering Heights beholds more than tempestuous conditions. Wuthering heights is the epitome of ill-natured love. Catherine states that she loves Heathcliff, however her materialistic desires surpass her so called love. " 'And we shall be rich, and I shall be the g
reatest woman of the neighbourhood, and I shall be proud of having such a husband.'" (Bronte 81) If Catherine's love for Heathcliff was genuine she would never have been able to marry into an empty marriage. The man she chose to marry Edgar Linton, fulfilled her every desire for riches, but left her heart vacant and her life tumultuous. Lastly, the jealousy between the two completely destroys their relationship. Jealousy pervades the world of Wurthering Heights. Heathcliff's first visit to the Linton's threshold threatens Edgar, who is quick to act. He sends Heathcliff off by saying "Catherine, unless we are to have a cold tea, please do come to the table. Mr. Heathcliff will have a long walk wherever he may lodge to-night; and I'm thirsty" (Bronte 96). Edgar feels fulminated by Heathcliff. Edgar begins to doubts his wife's love for him, he says to her that, "It is impossible for you to be my friend, and his at the same time; and I absolutely require to know which you choose."(Bronte 116). Both Heathcliff and Edgar are jealous of each other. Each has a piece of Catherine but neither possesses her entirety. Catherine knows that nothing would transgress her bond with Edgar. However she feels that Isabelle is infringing upon her bond with Heathcliff. Isabelle is bothered by Catherine's control. She tells Catherine, "You are a dog in the manger, Cathy, and desire to one to be loved but yourself?"(Bronte 101). Isabelle's attraction to Heathcliff would swindle him from Catherine's possession. Catherine had t
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1027
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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