Wuthering Heights is a novel by Emily Brontë. The novel centers around the love story of Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and their families. Wuthering Heights is considered to be a classic example of a Romantic novel.
Wuthering Heights, a Romance novel written by Emily Bronte, is representative of many aspects of Romanticism. The Industrial Revolution resulted in changes in society that were examined and responded to with Romanticism, an attempt to organize the chaos of the collision between agrarian and industrial ways of life. At this time, all of society’s rules, limitations, and constraints on how people should behave were being questioned, tried, and twisted.
In Wuthering Heights, Bronte gives voice to these challenges to societal norms through her characters. One of the most important Romantic ideas is that of the passionate, emotional individual. The Romantics believed that the inner feelings of a person were more important than any external constraints or expectations.
This is embodied in Wuthering Heights by Heathcliff, who bucks society’s expectations throughout the novel and instead follows his own heart. He is intensely emotional and passionate, traits which ultimately lead to his downfall but which also make him one of the most memorable characters in literature.
Another key Romantic idea is that of nature as a source of spiritual guidance and renewal. Bronte portrays this idea beautifully in Wuthering Heights, with the wild and stormy moors playing a pivotal role in the lives of her characters. The moors are both a refuge from society and a place where Heathcliff can feel closest to his beloved Catherine. They are also a place of great danger, as many of the novel’s most intense scenes take place on the moors.
Wuthering Heights is ultimately a novel about two people who are intensely connected to each other, but who are unable to find happiness in conventional society. This speaks to the Romantic idea that individuals must follow their own hearts and minds, even if it means going against societal norms. Wuthering Heights is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers because of its exploration of these important ideas.
Wuthering Heights is a Romantic novel that uses a story of lost love to illustrate the clash of two cultures: Neo-Classicism vs. Romantism. One of the most important aspects of romanticism is an affinity for the past. When Nelly states how happy she was that Heathcliff had never been introduced to the family, because his presence at Wuthering Heights upsets the established order, she adds “he bred father hatred” (42). When Heathcliff finds out that Catherine has fallen in love with Edgar, he comments on how much he loves her (88).
Heathcliff remarks: “She’s my living death! … I shall love her always” (205). Heathcliff’s love for Catherine can be seen as a Romantic ideal, in which the lover is willing to do anything for the person they love. This is also demonstrated by Heathcliff when he agrees to leave Wuthering Heights and never see Catherine again if she agrees to marry Edgar. The love of the past is also demonstrated by the numerous references to Gothic literature which Bronte includes in Wuthering Heights. These references add an air of mystery and intrigue to the novel.
For example, when Lockwood arrives at Wuthering Heights he remarks on the gloomy atmosphere: “The grey morning dawned, and revealed atrociously dreary prospects” (1). The use of the word “atrociously” is significant as it suggests that Wuthering Heights is a place where terrible things happen. This is typical of Gothic literature which often features dark and mysterious settings.
Wuthering Heights also contains many elements of the supernatural, another staple of Gothic literature. For instance, when Heathcliff dies, Catherine appears to him in a dream: “I am come to stay with you…I shall never leave you again!” ( Bronte 307). This shows how even after death, Heathcliff and Catherine are still connected to each other. Wuthering Heights is thus a novel which utilises both the Neo-Classical and Romantic genres to create a unique and intriguing story.
When Mr. Earnshaw takes home Heathcliff, he tries to accomplish it. Mr. Earnshaw sees a disadvantaged youngster in need of assistance. He is unconcerned with societal constraints, which was another Romantic tenet, but rather with the child’s well-being. Bront assigns high moral worth to Mr One Thousand and One Nights (Mr. Earnshaw).
Heathcliff, in turn, idolizes Mr. Earnshaw and feels great loyalty and gratitude towards him. After Mr. Earnshaws death, Heathcliff tries to emulate his father-figure by taking in waifs and strays, such as Hindley’s son Linton and Cathy’s daughter Hareton.
While Wuthering Heights is full of Gothic elements, it also contains many Romantic elements. Emily Bront was influenced by both literary movements and used them both in her novel. Wuthering Heights is a classic example of a Romantic novel.
In Earnshaw’s act of kindness for Heathcliff, he completely disregards his own reservations to help the humility he adores and the youngster that contains it. Romanticism is based on accurate observation of nature, which can be found in Wuthering Heights. Bront depicts nature as vivid and vibrant.
She depicts the “excessive slope of a few stunted firs” (10). She perceives “the reach of gaunt thorns” that extend for nourishment from the sun (10). Emily Bronte sees “the strength of the north wind” at Wuthering Heights (10). In conclusion, grass “is as bright as showers and sunshine may make it” (309).
Despite the fact that Wuthering Heights was written during the Victorian period, its descriptions of nature help to confirm that it is a romantic work. Nature is not only described in great detail, but it is also infused with mysticism, symbolism, and religious significance. The heath is a key symbol in Wuthering Heights, as it has these qualities. When Heathcliff and Catherine are youngsters, they frequently go out onto the heath at night to enjoy the sense of freedom and beauty in nature.
They feel that nature is part of their essences and that they are a part of it. They also believe that the spiritual world is accessible through nature. As they grow older, their love becomes more complicated and Heathcliff’s anger and possessiveness lead to tragedy. However, even in the midst of this, Bronte shows the power of nature to heal.
When Catherine dies, Heathcliff goes completely mad. He spends years wandering around the moors until he finally dies. But even in death, he is still connected to the natural world. In Wuthering Heights, Bronte portrays nature as being where people can find freedom, healing, and spiritual connection.