Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights, first published in 1847 under the pen name Ellis Bell, is the only novel by the English writer Emily Brontë. It is a dark and passionate novel that tells the story of two families, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, who are involved in a long-running feud. The novel is set in the wild and desolate Yorkshire moors, and it is known for its complex characters, its vivid descriptions of the natural world, and its use of Gothic elements.

Plot Summary

The novel opens in 1801, when Mr. Lockwood, a young man, rents Thrushcross Grange, an estate near the village of Gimmerton. He soon learns that the neighboring estate, Wuthering Heights, is owned by a reclusive and mysterious man named Heathcliff. Lockwood meets Heathcliff's son, Hareton Earnshaw, and his housekeeper, Nelly Dean, who tells him the story of the Earnshaw and Linton families.

Nelly's story begins in the late 18th century, when Mr. Earnshaw, the owner of Wuthering Heights, brings home an orphan boy named Heathcliff. Heathcliff grows up with Mr. Earnshaw's children, Catherine and Hindley. Catherine falls in love with Heathcliff, but her brother, Hindley, despises him. When Mr. Earnshaw dies, Hindley becomes the master of Wuthering Heights and banishes Heathcliff.

Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights, but he returns years later, a wealthy and successful man. He takes revenge on Hindley, who dies a drunkard. Heathcliff also manipulates Catherine into marrying Edgar Linton, a wealthy landowner. Catherine dies shortly after giving birth to their daughter, Cathy.

Heathcliff raises Cathy as his own, and he instills in her a hatred for the Lintons. When Cathy grows up, she falls in love with Edgar's son, Linton. Heathcliff manipulates Cathy into marrying Linton, even though she does not love him. Linton dies shortly after their wedding, and Cathy soon follows.

Heathcliff is devastated by Cathy's death, and he spends the rest of his life trying to reunite her spirit with his own. He dies shortly after arranging for Hareton Earnshaw to marry Cathy Linton, the daughter of Edgar Linton and Isabella Linton.

Themes

Wuthering Heights explores a wide range of themes, including:

• Love and obsession: The novel is a story of passionate and destructive love. Heathcliff's obsession with Catherine consumes him, and it leads to a lifetime of misery for both of them.
• Revenge: Heathcliff is driven by a desire for revenge against those who have wronged him. He spends his life plotting and scheming, and he eventually gets his revenge.
• Social class: The novel is set in a time when social class was very important. The Earnshaws and the Lintons are both wealthy families, but the Earnshaws are considered to be lower in social status than the Lintons. This difference in social class leads to conflict between the two families.
• The natural world: The novel is set in the wild and desolate Yorkshire moors. The harshness of the natural world is reflected in the characters and the events of the story.

Characters

Wuthering Heights is full of complex and memorable characters, including:

• Heathcliff: The protagonist of the novel, Heathcliff is a dark and mysterious man who is consumed by his obsession with Catherine.
• Catherine Earnshaw: The object of Heathcliff's obsession, Catherine is a passionate and willful woman who is torn between her love for Heathcliff and her duty to her family.
• Hindley Earnshaw: Catherine's brother, Hindley is a cruel and bitter man who despises Heathcliff.
• Edgar Linton: Catherine's husband, Edgar is a kind and gentle man who is devoted to his wife.
• Nelly Dean: The housekeeper of Wuthering Heights, Nelly is the narrator of the story.
• Hareton Earnshaw: Hindley's son, Hareton is a kind and gentle man who is raised by Heathcliff.
• Cathy Linton: Edgar and Isabella's daughter, Cathy is a wild and passionate young woman who is manipulated by Heathcliff.

Impact

Wuthering Heights is considered one of the greatest novels ever written. It is a complex and challenging novel, but it is also a rewarding one. The novel's dark and passionate story, its complex characters, and its vivid descriptions of the natural world have made it a classic of English literature.

Here are some of the novel's most famous quotes:

• "A woman cannot be herself in the eyes of another person unless she is at home to herself."

• "He’s more myself than I am. Whatever my soul is, that’s what I am...Whatever my