Wuthering Heights Themes Essay, Research Paper

In the novel "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bront?, many relevant

themes were portrayed. In this essay, I will be discussing the five most

poignant themes, which in my opinion are "Good versus

Evil","Revenge", "Status & Education","Love"

and "Selfishness". I feel that all these themes are equally important,

and in the following paragraphs, I will attempt to discuss their impact on the

reader and to the novel as a whole. Emily Bront? developed the main characters

very vividly. From the beginning of the novel, I was aware of a sense of spirit,

feelings and emotions. As the novel unraveled, I began to emphasize with the

innocent victims (Hareton, Linton, Cathy, etc.), and I had a clear vision of

what was happening in the homes and between the two families. It was very clear

to me why Heathcliff and Edgar became so hateful and vengeful; however, I felt

very angry at the cycle of abuse and misery that continued through the

generations. It seemed like nobody in either family was ever able to find peace

and harmony, and everybody who ever had any ties to the families were affected

and displayed certain attitudes and emotional afflictions. I think the overall

theme is that good eventually overcomes evil (or love is stronger than hate). In

addition, with the emphasis on spirituality and death, the reader’s focus turns

to the role of God in determining the happiness or misery of our eternal soul.

It was very frustrating to read about the pain and abuse the characters were

inflicting on each other, It was evident that the Pg. 2 prejudices and attitudes

of the first generation were being passed down to the next. Young Cathy, Linton

and Hareton were all subjected to and expected to conform to the anger,

prejudices and attitudes of their families. The animosity between the two

families was being forced upon the children, and therefore could have continued

forever. However, it was very enlightening when Cathy and Hareton were finally

able to become friends and then marry. The love that had been repressed for so

long, beginning with Catherine and Hareton, was finally given a chance to

blossom. This turn of events gave me hope that good can overcome evil, and love

can be attained even in the most evil environments. Revenge is the most dominant

theme of the second half of the novel. Heathcliff first believes that if he can

avenge the death of Catherine, he will somehow grow closer to her. However, the

exact opposite occurs. When Heathcliff gives up on his plan for revenge, he is

soon reunited with Catherine in eternal bliss. Ignorance and Education were very

prominent in the beginning of the book. Especially when Heathcliff was first

introduced to the family. He was a poor orphan, with little or no education. The

rest of the family at Wuthering Heights treated him like a second-class citizen.

Heathcliff was resented, mocked and abused if he attempted to improve himself in

any way. When Heathcliff returned to Wuthering Heights, the abuse Heathcliff

suffered obviously scarred him, so the cycle of abuse continued when he

inflicted worse treatment on Hareton Earnshaw. He forced him to work in the home

as a common servant, belittled him, and psychologically abused him by constantly

badgering him. When the Linton’s are introduced to the reader, it is readily

apparent that the family has a higher social status and is more educated than

the residents at Wuthering Heights are. Pg. 3 Even though I wouldn’t consider

"Wuthering Heights" to be a romantic novel, love was a very important

theme. Bront? addresses the bond between Catherine and Heathcliff in a

spiritual and supernatural manner. Their love is spiritual rather than physical,

and although they seemed to be soul mates their love was never appeased. As

children, Catherine and Heathcliff had a bond that grew out of similar needs.

They grew up protecting and trying to shelter each other from the abuse from

Hindley, and consequently they developed an eternal friendship, love and

affinity. They were soul mates even as children. Bront? expands the notion of

eternal love, by creating a supernatural aspect in the story, and this is

masterfully illustrated when Heathcliff contacts Catherine’s spirit after she

dies. Their souls are eternally joined, and Heathcliff cannot live in this realm

without her, only their souls joined together make one. Heathcliff eventually

dies because he has to reunite his soul to Catherine’s. Selfishness was first

introduced when Mr. Earnshaw brought Heathcliff, home to Wuthering Heights. In

the beginning, Heathcliff was treated equally as a member of the family, but

after Mr. Earnshaw’s death, everybody abused him (except Catherine) in any

manner or regard they wanted. As a result of this treatment, Heathcliff grew up

to be the most selfish person in the family. He was hateful, spiteful and very

vengeful. In addition, he lost respect and compassion for people, and completely

disregarded others’ emotions and needs. He devastated Catherine when he

disappeared, and shattered Isabella when he married her to spite Edgar. When his

only son Linton returned to Wuthering Heights, he withheld affection, medical

attention and had no sympathy for Linton’s loss of his mother. Heathcliff then

coerced young Cathy to marry Linton, therefore fulfilling his own greedy and

vengeful agenda of acquiring Thrushcross Grange. At this end, he basically

caused Linton’s death through neglect and malfeasance. Pg. 4 Catherine’s selfish

character was depicted when she wanted both Edgar and Heathcliff at the same

time. Catherine wanted Edgar for his status and Heathcliff for his love. Her

selfishness caused years of grief for both Edgar and Heathcliff, and

consequently she died forlorn and remiss of the true love that was destined to

be hers. Overall, I felt that "Wuthering Heights" was an excellent

novel, and was very well written. The themes Emily Bront? introduced were well

depicted, organized, established and resolved and/or analyzed. Emily Bront? was

a magnificent author, and her style, use of words and ideas make "Wuthering

Heights" a true classic. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and would

recommend it to anyone.