Social Class In Wuthering Heights

The Presence of Heathcliff The calamities between the Lintons and the Earnshaws provide the readers with the bleak and austere aura of the Gothic era and, thus, explain the various themes expressed in the novel Wuthering Heights written by Emily Brontë. The two families are similar by their aristocracy, but the conflicts between the characters provide insight into many underlying meanings throughout the novel. Heathcliff’s arrival at Wuthering Heights carries on the plot of the story, allowing the readers to interpret the themes about social class, love, and suffering. Social classes in the Gothic and modern eras are complications both time periods face. The division of society by economic status allows the wealthy to supersede the poor.

The love and affection between the characters are what drives the characters into the actions they conduct. Heathcliff’s arrival at Wuthering Heights affected Catherine’s behaviors and actions. Nelly explains, “She was much too fond of Heathcliff. The greatest punishment we could invent for her was to keep separate from him” (42). Eventually, it brings the two great pleasure when they run away to the moors and remain there all day. While Catherine is communicating with Nelly about the marriage proposal, Heathcliff hears her comment about his social class. Heathcliff assumes that Catherine will marry Edgar Linton, so the absence of Catherine’s love results in Heathcliff’s runaway. He does not hear Catherine’s passionate remarks about him. She explains to Nelly, “…so he shall never know how I love him; and that, not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same” (81). A few years later, he returns as a tall, athletic, and a well-formed man, and he is slightly richer than his former self. His refined presence brings such a jubilation to her which displays how their love never

In Volume II, the readers observe how mature and greedy Heathcliff becomes. His son Linton is mistreated by his own father, and he uses him to attain the property of Thrushcross Grange. Heathcliff explains to Young Catherine how Linton is severely ill because of her absence. Linton proclaims to her, “You’ve hurt me so, that I shall lie awake all night, choking with this cough! If you had it you’d know what it was—but you’ll be comfortably asleep, while I’m in agony” (240). She ends up spending so much time with the ill Linton, she enjoys being in his presence. This deception leads to a forced marriage between Young Catherine and Linton. Heathcliff would not let these two characters leave the house until they are married by the morning. With the death of Edgar and Linton, Heathcliff becomes the next heir to the Grange, and he succeeds in his devious plan. After Linton’s death, young Catherine occupies her time with Hareton Earnshaw. He is exposed to many books at Wuthering Heights, and it boggles Young Catherine’s mind that he is illiterate. She explains, “Those books, both prose and verse, were consecrated to me by other associations, and I hate to have them debased and profaned in his mouth!” (302). The books symbolize Heathcliff’s cruel treatment towards Hareton. It also symbolizes Young