Notes on Wuthering Heights Lecture

Introduction

• Personal experience with Wuthering Heights
  • One of the few books reread multiple times
  • Other favorite: Frankenstein
  • Common misconception: Wuthering Heights is a romance novel.

Misconceptions about the Genre

• Gothic Novel vs. Romance Novel
  • Wuthering Heights is a gothic novel, not a romance.
  • Themes: grudges, hatred, pain, abuse, isolation, misery, aggression, despair.
  • People often enter the book with wrong expectations.

Initial Reactions to the Book

• First read at age 22-23, encouraged by a friend (Jess).
• Initial thoughts:
  • Characters are horrible; difficult to root for anyone.
  • Shift in perspective suggested: embrace the misery and enjoy the characters' flaws.

Plot Overview

• Author: Emily Bronte (only published novel)
• Setting: Yorkshire moors, two houses: Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange.
• Main Characters:
  • Mr. Lockwood: The newcomer who experiences haunting.
  • Heathcliff: Wealthy, abusive owner of Wuthering Heights.
  • Catherine (Cathy): Heathcliff's childhood friend and romantic interest.

Key Plot Points

• Mr. Earnshaw adopts Heathcliff, an orphan from Liverpool.
• Cathy takes a liking to Heathcliff; they form a complicated bond.
• Hindley Earnshaw abuses Heathcliff, deepening the cycle of abuse.
• Cathy becomes ill, marries Edgar Linton, which angers Heathcliff.

Themes and Relationships

• Cycle of Abuse:
  • Cathy and Heathcliff's relationship: not romantic, but abusive.
  • Their connection is intertwined with pain and torment.
• Language and Style:
  • Emily Bronte's prose is dramatic and hyperbolic.
  • Characters express intense emotions, often not seen in other literature.

The Role of Ghosts

• Cathy haunts Heathcliff after her death.
• Their connection persists beyond death, but is still rooted in abuse.
• Ending: Heathcliff is seen with Cathy's ghost, reinforcing the gothic theme of hauntings.

Second Generation and Continued Themes

• After Cathy’s death: focus shifts to the next generation.
• New Characters:
  • Heathcliff's child, Cathy's child, and Hindley's child.
  • Similar patterns of abuse and dysfunction continue.
• Heathcliff becomes a gothic monster, seeking revenge through the next generation.

Gothic Elements

• Heathcliff's character as a reflection of his abusive environment.
• Themes of isolation, cruelty, and the destructive cycle of relationships.
• Pathetic Fallacy: The moors reflect the characters' internal struggles.

Conclusion

• Wuthering Heights is a deeply flawed, gothic tale that embraces chaos and dysfunction.
  • The beauty lies in its language, character depth, and tragic themes.
  • Not for everyone, but a powerful exploration of human relationships and suffering.
• Overall Impression: The elements people dislike contribute to its greatness as a gothic novel.