Wuthering Heights

Definition

Wuthering Heights is a novel written by Emily Brontë, first published in 1847, that tells the tumultuous story of love and revenge between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw. This work stands out in the Victorian novel landscape for its dark themes, complex characters, and nonlinear narrative structure, which challenge conventional storytelling methods of its time. The novel has been both celebrated and critiqued for its intense emotions and moral ambiguity, making it a significant contribution to the body of literature produced by the Brontë sisters.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Wuthering Heights was initially published under the pseudonym 'Ellis Bell,' as women writers often faced prejudice during the Victorian era.
2. The novel is known for its unique narrative style, primarily told through the perspectives of Mr. Lockwood and Nelly Dean, providing layered storytelling.
3. Heathcliff, the protagonist, is often seen as an anti-hero due to his morally ambiguous actions and obsessive love for Catherine.
4. Brontë's work explores themes of social class, isolation, and the destructive nature of love, which were reflective of her own experiences and societal norms of the time.
5. The setting of Wuthering Heights plays a crucial role in the story, as the wild Yorkshire moors symbolize the characters' tumultuous emotions and inner turmoil.

Review Questions

• How does Emily Brontë's use of narrative structure in Wuthering Heights enhance the reader's understanding of the characters' complexities?
  • Brontë's choice of a layered narrative structure allows readers to see events from different perspectives, especially through the characters of Mr. Lockwood and Nelly Dean. This multiplicity of viewpoints creates a richer understanding of Heathcliff's motivations and Catherine's struggles, revealing their complexities beyond simple hero-villain archetypes. It also reflects the novel’s themes of memory and interpretation, making readers question the reliability of narrators.
• Analyze how Wuthering Heights fits into the Gothic novel genre and what elements Brontë employs to evoke fear and suspense.
  • Wuthering Heights exemplifies key features of Gothic novels, including its dark and brooding atmosphere, remote setting on the Yorkshire moors, and themes of supernatural occurrences. Brontë employs these elements effectively to create an unsettling ambiance that mirrors the emotional turbulence within her characters. The eerie events and the intense relationships drive suspense throughout the narrative while exploring deeper psychological fears associated with love and revenge.
• Evaluate how Wuthering Heights reflects the social attitudes towards gender and class during the Victorian era, particularly through its characters.
  • Wuthering Heights critiques Victorian social norms by portraying complex characters who defy traditional gender roles and class expectations. Catherine Earnshaw’s struggle for independence highlights women's limited agency in society while her relationship with Heathcliff challenges class boundaries as he rises from an orphaned status to power. Through their turbulent love story, Brontë exposes societal constraints on individual desires, illustrating how these issues are intricately tied to identity during the era.

Related terms

Gothic Novel: A genre characterized by elements of horror, supernatural events, and dark romanticism, often set in isolated locations.

Catherine Earnshaw: The central female character in Wuthering Heights whose passionate relationship with Heathcliff drives much of the novel's conflict.

Narrative Structure: The way in which a story is organized and told, which in Wuthering Heights includes multiple narrators and a non-linear timeline.