Wuthering Heights Archetypes

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Recommended: Characterisation In The Wuthering Heights

Over the course of history, many cultural works, whether it be a written book or a captured film, portray the timeless archetype of the constant struggle between good versus evil. In the novel Wuthering Heights, the inhabitants of the different estates are altered by the auras and atmospheres. Archetypes are like blueprints that many stories follow and cause them to be considered classics. In the novel written by Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights exemplifies the theme of good versus evil using the different houses. Wuthering Heights, which is the embodiment of evil, and Thrushcross Grange, which symbolizes virtue, have a transformative effect on the characters by altering their personalities when the characters cross the thresholds of the different …show more content…

Cathy II and Linton tease Hareton: ‘“[Hareton] does not know his letters,’ [Linton] said to [Cathy]. ‘Could you believe in the existence of such a colossal dunce?’ ‘Is he all as he should be?’ asked Miss Cathy seriously” (Bronte 170). “Not know[ing] his letters” reflects the horrible and inhumane treatment of Hareton. Most servants know their basic letters, but Hareton is not granted this right by the master of Wuthering Heights. “Miss Cathy,” in her prim and proper upbringing is unable to comprehend the fact that there is an uneducated person present and mocks Hareton. The “colossal dunce” has had the misfortune of being uneducated, and is relegated to a position even lower than a servant. Cathy is visiting Wuthering Heights and quickly becomes wicked, joining in on …show more content…

Hindley’s wife, Frances, lives at Wuthering Heights for a short period of time: “[Frances’] affection tired very soon, however, and when she grew peevish, Hindley grew tyrannical” (Bronte 37). Frances was kind at the beginning of her stay at Wuthering Heights, but “tired very soon” since the estate was transforming her. When Frances grows peevish, it represents changes imposed upon her. Anyone would become irritated if they were slowly changing. Hindley, noticing this change, “grew tyrannical” in an effort to stop the change; however, Hindley’s transformation aided the transformations caused by Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff has been living at Wuthering Heights for several years now and he has been transformed into a nearly unrecognizable creature of darkness: “[Heathcliff] seized [Cathy] with the liberated hand, and, pulling her on his knee, administered with the other a shower of slaps on both sides of the head” (Bronte 207). The “liberated hand” shows the freedom that is taken from Cathy by Heathcliff. Heathcliff showers “slaps on both sides” of Cathy’s head, showing Cathy’s helplessness in the face of evil. The physical abuse of women calmly and swiftly doled out by Heathcliff is shocking to the readers since that is one boundary that should not be crossed. There have been hints of other instances of abuse by Heathcliff, but

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