wuthering heights

The most interesting books are the ones that engage you in an ongoing conflict. In Wuthering Heights, a novel by Emily Bronte, you are always caught wondering what will happen next. On one side there are the well-mannered and lavish people of Thrushcross Grange and on the other the instinctive and violent inhabitants of Wuthering Heights. No matter what is happening in the novel it is clearly evident that there is a nature vs. society conflict in Bronte’s literary masterpiece, Wuthering Heights.

When you compare the two estates in Wuthering Heights, you can see the essence of Nature vs. Society. At Wuthering Heights the house is dull and boring. Heathcliff owns dogs that attack strangers, however, at Thrushcross Grange the house is vibrant and homey. The Linton’s have a warm and comforting home signifying the upper Victorian class. Perhaps the most interesting conflict between nature and society is seen between Catherine and Heathcliff.

Bronte starts her novel giving us the hint of a connection between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw. This connection grows stronger throughout the novel until Catherine and Heathcliff find their way towards Thrushcross Grange. At this part of the novel we start to see the never-ending conflict of nature vs. society. Heathcliff symbolizes Nature, mainly because of his upbringing. However, Catherine symbolizes society due to her drastic change in lifestyle after staying with the Linton’s. Right away as readers we could tell that Heathcliff was someone who did not fit into society because of his appearance and his background. “He is a dark-skinned gypsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman” (Bronte 3). Bronte makes it clear that Heathcliff would definitely not fit into society accepted du...

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... was born, Heathcliff could not deal with someone who reminded him of his one true love. Heathcliff forces the marriage between young Cathy and his son, so he can obtain Thrushcross Grange once his invalid son, Linton Heathcliff, passes. Heathcliff confesses to Nelly that Catherine’s soul has been haunting him every day since her death. Heathcliff, in his wild anger, tried to strike young Cathy but was unable to because of a peculiar resemblance between her and her mother. This idea of nature versus society in Bronte’s book leaves us readers thinking that the conflict was that Heathcliff and Catherine did not marry, however, this also leaves the reader with a very interesting question, if Heathcliff and Catherine had been able to love one another would that have solved the conflict? Could love have solved the conflict between the battle of nature and society?