Wuthering Heights: The Earnshaw's Influence on Heathcliff
In Wuthering Heights, all of the Earnshaw family affects Heathcliff in a negative manner. The Earnshaw's nurturing of Heathcliff gives him the malevolent, evil characteristics that he carries with him his whole life. Through this example, Emily Bronte supports the tabula rosa theory, in which a person's attribute develop not due to their nature, but from their experiences. Mr. Earnshaw, Hindley Earnshaw, and Catherine Earnshaw perform as the cornerstones to Heathcliff's background. First of all, Mr. Earnshaw makes Heathcliff the favorite son, implanting a sense that the boy belongs in the family. Secondly, Hindley Earnshaw shapes Heathcliff through his hatred of him. Finally, Catherine influences Heathcliff through her selfish neglect of his needs. This trio demonstrates the great twisting of emotions throughout Wuthering Heights. Also, Wade Thompson illustrates how callous feelings are the main characteristics associated with Wuthering Heights by saying, "Normal emotions are almost completely inverted: hate replaces love, cruelty replaces kindness, and survival depends on one's ability to be tough, brutal and rebellious." (Thompson 101). To survive this harsh setting, Heathcliff must embrace these emotions.
Hindley first influences Heathcliff during his father's lifetime. His treatment and care for the boy serves as the exact antithesis of Mr. Earnshaw's affection. Hindley commences to abhor Heathcliff the moment he sees his smashed fiddle that his father broke in helping Heathcliff on the way home from Liverpool. This glimpse foreshadows Mr. Earnshaw's growing neglect for his own son, and his love for the once homeless savage acts as the main reason for Hindley's deep hatred of Heathcliff. Throughout the rest of Mr. Earnshaw's life, his esteem for Hindley grows lower and lower until he has to send Hindley away to school. In contrast, Mr. Earnshaw's love for Heathcliff grows ever stronger even though Heathcliff still shows no sign of affection to him. After the death of his father, Hindley subjugates Heathcliff a good deal more. This tyrant makes Heathcliff not part of the family, but a slave. For instance, Hindley separates Heathcliff and Catherine, no longer allowing the two to play together. Secondly, Hindley demands that Heathcliff work out in the fields all day just like any other servant. To finish, After Catherine returns from her sojourn with the Linton's at Thrushcross Grange, Hindley instructs Heathcliff that he "may come and wish Miss Catherine welcome, like the other servants." (Bronte 56). Hindley, also, makes a distinction between the Earnshaws and Heathcliff by depriving the boy of any sort of education. A great sense of revenge builds up in Heathcliff as a result of this decision by Hindley not to have the boy schooled. This act repays itself in the second generation as Heathcliff, the wealthy man, deprives Hindley's son, Hareton, of any edification. From this catastrophic point in Heathcliff's adolescence, the gypsy learns of vengeance, an idea
Some common words found in the essay are:
Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff Realizing, Earnshaws Heathcliff, Emily Bronte, Liverpool Earnshaw, Heathcliff Throughout, Carol Oates, Heathcliff Edgar, Catherine Oates, Heights Earnshaw, wuthering heights, love heathcliff, thrushcross grange, emily bronte, makes heathcliff, earnshaw's love heathcliff, main reason, earnshaw's love, catherine neglects, heathcliff catherine, influence heathcliff,
Approximate Word count = 1193
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
