Heroine in Wuthering Heights
The story of Emile Bronte's Wuthering Heights takes place during a time in history when women existed and were important to family and society, but had no legal or social rights, as their well-being, health and happiness depended upon the men in their lives. From the start of the novel, as told by Mr. Lockwood we see that Cathy did not seem to belong in the "Heathcliff household", but by the end of the story, it was Cathy who owned the entire Wuthering Heights estate. Her accomplishments were impressive, as she over came whatever obstacles the men in her life put in her way! Bronte emphasized Cathy's passion, and determination, making her the only character who was able to rise above the hatred, discrimination and cruelty. Cathy inherited her mother's pride and beauty, and her father's mildness and devotion but she also had a spirit all her own, a fighting spirit of a hidden warrior. It was important for Cathy to have these characteristics (especially her will to survive) because it was these inner strengths that enabled her to be my heroine. One of Cathy's strongest forces was her intense loyalty and love for her father "I care for nothing in comparison to papa, I'll never to an
"Catherine told Hareton who she was and where she was going and asked him to show her the way" (197). It was fate that she met Hareton through her relationship with Linton, but my heroine had to be patient before she experienced her own happiness. It was Cathy's strength which enabled her to survive the torture and suffering during her days as Linton's wife and Heathcliff's prisoner. This awful experience only made her a better person. It prepared her for her destiny as Hareton's wife and as landlord of Wuthering Heights. Bronte wanted the reader to have confidence in Cathy's future success by displaying her heroic attributes; having the stamina to endure those long, lonely days separated from her dying father. At one point, Heathcliff owned all of Wuthering Heights and the Grange, but Cathy still showed spirit and optimism by planting a delicate flower bed in the middle of the dark and depressed black currant trees. This rebellious act showed Cathy's passion for life, as she looked at her beautiful flowers as a new healthy and fresh beginning (Lybyer, online). Perhaps Cathy's garden represented her future achievements as a blossoming flower amongst the weeds. As she was determined to overcome injustice, she stated "You shouldn't grudge a few yards of earth for me to ornament, when you have taken all my land and my money, and Hareton's land and his money" (319). Cathy was a heroine who showed that it is possible to rise above adversity not with revenge, but with forgiveness, and dignity. As Ellen observed, "Miss Cathy, conversant with no bad deeds, except her and an easy target for Heathcliff that Cathy had feelings for him. They were not feelings of true love, but a desire, or duty to protect
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1163
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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