Importance of Setting in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights: The Importance of Setting

Love is a strong attachment between two lovers and revenge is a strong conflict between two rivals. In the novel Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte uses setting to establish contrast, to intensify conflict, and to develop character. The people and events of Wuthering Heights share a dramatic conflict. Thus, Bronte focuses on the evil eye of Heathcliff's obsessive and perpetual love with Catherine, and his enduring revenge to those who forced him and Catherine apart. The author expresses the conflict of Wuthering Heights with great intensity. Hence, she portrays a combination of crucial issues of romance and money, hate and power, and lastly passion and prudence.

Love is a strong matter in a relationship, and money is a factor of conflict that destroys the connection of lovers. In the story, while Catherine and Heathcliff grew up, they both associates with the moors to seek freedom from Hindley's wrath and Joseph's sermons; "but my companion is impatient, and proposes that we should appropriate the diary woman's cloak, and have a scamper on the moors, under its shelter. A pleasant suggestion- and then, if the surly old man come in, he may believe his prophecy verified-we cannot be damper, or colder, in the rain than we are here"(P.22). Throughout the story, the moors elaborated Catherine and Heathcliff's strong love and connection to each other. This is evident when Catherine said; " My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath-a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind-not as a pleasu...

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...gh a bitter life throughout his childhood. Thus, it made him in rage and do such bitter action to revenge his tormentors.

Love is a powerful connection between two lovers and revenge is a major conflict between two enemies. Bronte gave setting to build contrast, to heighten strife, and to develop attribute. The dramatic events and character of Wuthering Heights is evident mainly on Heathcliff. It shows that Heathcliff's revenge gave him no pleasure from his triumph because Catherine is the only pleasure in his life. Furthermore, without Catherine, life has no meaning for Heathcliff. The author then reveals the problem to the reader with great intensity. Thus, Bronte represents a conjunction of important events of love and pelf, revulsion and strength, and finally anger and shrewdness.