Lovers in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights Wuthering Heights Essays

Wuthering Heights: Lovers

Set in England on the Yorkshire Moors in the 19th century, Emily Bronts novel Wuthering Heights is the story of lovers who try to withstand the separation of social classes and keep their love alive. The main characters, Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff grew up in a middle class English countryside cottage called Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff was the servant and Catherine the daughter of the owner of Wuthering Heights. As children, Heathcliff and Catherine were the best of friends. They shared a friendship which turned to love with their coming of age. However, Catherine married a man of the upper class society and was forced to end her love affair with Heathcliff.

Catherine was happy in her marriage at first but later became overwhelmed by her desire to be with Heathcliff. She was forced to distinguish the difference between her love for Heathcliff and her love for her new life with money. In the end, Catherine Earnshaws husband, Edgar Linton, died, and Catherine finally realized that money and social class were not as fulfilling as her desire to have passion in her life. She knew that this desire could only be met by Heathcliff.

Throughout the book, Catherine tried to discover who she was and what exactly she wanted. In chapters six and seven, Catherine thought that she had finally discovered who she was and what she wanted. These chapters are the pinnacle of the story. It was the point in the book where the social classes were determined and Catherines love for Heathcliff was forced to be supressed.

One day, Heathcliff and Catherine were still young and playing together innocently. This was before Catherine became a member of the upperclass society and realized that she could not love Heathcliff because of his social class. Heathcliff and Catherine wandered beyond the secure gates of Wuthering Heights to a large estate owned by Edgar Linton called Thrushcross Grange. They spied through one of the windows and were caught by Linton. Heathcliff managed to escape in time but Catherine injured herself and was taken in by Lintons servants. Catherine stayed at Thrushcross Grange while Heathcliff returned to Wuthering Heights. She stayed at the estate for several weeks, being nursed by Linton and his servants. The time she spent with Linton led her to fall in love with him, causing her to permanently be separated from Heathcliff and the lower class life once knew. Catherine became so absorbed in her new life that she forgot about Heathcliff and the pain he was feeling, until she realizes that there was something missing in her life. She finally realized that in order for her to become a whole person, she needed to be with her other half, Heathcliff.

Although there are many different important messages in this novel, the main moral is found within the changes which occur in and between the characters. It is a love story which deals with the social classes and the supression of true feelings. Wuthering Heights is a tragedy because of what happens when the characters finally discover what was truly meant to be.***WHAT HAPPENS ? CAN YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC BY SUMMING IT UP?*** Wuthering Heights bestows a moral value onto the reader that deals with discrimination and true heart-break.

NOTES

***REMEMBER TO ITALISIZE THE TITLE OF THE NOVEL!!!***