Friday 5 September 2014

Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

Wuthering Heights is a novel which explores not only love and relationships, but the nature of humans, whether they be selfish, cruel, loyal or loving. With an adventurous narrative structure, the story of Catherine and Heathcliff is revealed through the ears and thoughts of Mr Lockwood, as he is told by Nelly, a maid who had experienced almost the entire of Heathcliff and Catherine's relationship. From hearing about the two as they are young and meet, through to the difficulties and separations they experience later in life, their intensely passionate and almost cruel love story is told, continuing meanwhile with a reflection of Heathcliff's attitude throughout along with following his loss of Catherine.

The most fascinating aspect of this story happens to be the enrapturing cruelness of Heathcliff's nature. While at the beginning of the novel their are almost hints of a ruffian, attractive underdog within his character, perhaps because this is what Catherine sees, throughout the story the genuine brutishness of his character is revealed to the point where, despite the tragedies he faces, the reader is still unable to sympathise for him. However, this still acts as a perfect example of where love can be unhealthy, and almost the exact opposite of love - hatred and cruelness wrapped in a gauze of obsession and retribution.  

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