Wuthering Heights By Emily Bronte : Book Review

Wuthering Heights By Emily Bronte : Book Review
on Sep 21, 2021

When it comes to classics, Wuthering Heights has to be one of the greatest classics ever. Anyone with a deep interest in literature would tell you the importance of this book. All around the globe, Wuthering Heights stays to be a part of the curriculum in literature. It’s because of the book’s richness and flavor that so many literature lovers still love it. Wuthering Heights, which has become a celebrated classic, is set in 19^th century Victorian England. But interestingly concerns only heaths and two isolated nearby neighboring manors namely, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. The novel has a rich exterior as well as interior, aesthetically speaking. The picturesque unruly moors and the haunting old-world charm add a special flavor to the reading. One can actually feel the pulse of the novel, however, careless a reader. The book engulfs the reader in a web of mysteries with its bleak, macabre, uncanny, and oppressive settings. The protagonist Heathcliff appears at the center of this puzzle. The beauty of the characters, Hareton and the younger Catherine is able to keep the ghastliness of Heathcliff at bay. The other most adorable character in the novel is the old faithful Nelly Dean. As a matter of fact, she is one of the prime characters, who is also the sole observer to witness two generations come and go by. Lockwood caters to the predisposition of a naïve, presuming, and sober observer; an outsider. He characteristically reflects the general reader’s fears and suspicions. The book has a rich cinematic appeal, with its Gothic features, recurring flashbacks and emotional extravaganza. The only drawback that the novel suffers from is probably the slow narration and the strange gibberish uttered by the servant Joseph, which is quite a turn-off for reading. The story begins with one Mr. Lockwood having come to live in Thrushcross Grange. Its landlord is the mysterious Heathcliff. On the first night of his tenancy, he encounters the spirit of old Catherine and is terrified. The old nurse Nelly Dean recounts to him the previous happenings and he is stupefied. Old Earnshaw, the previous owner of Wuthering Heights, goes to town and brings home, a dark-skinned, desolate-looking boy, who is also destitute. The Earnshaw children, Hindley and Catherine, at first detest the boy. But later, Catherine grows fond of him and they both often play and spend time together in the moors. Old Earnshaw loves Heathcliff as his own child and favors him more than Hindley. Hindley comes to despise this. When Earnshaw dies, Hindley who has been living abroad returns home now with a wife (Frances). He takes control of the household and tortures Heathcliff in every form. Heathcliff is made to work in the fields and is treated as a servant. Heathcliff suffers all his blows without once flinching. Once Catherine and Heathcliff whisk into the neighboring manor, Thrushcross Grange, hoping to mock the fashionable Linton children, Edward and Isabella. Upon chase, Cathy is bitten by the housedog and is forced to stay there for weeks until recovery. During this time, Cathy takes a liking for Edward Linton. In an opportune moment of conjugal alliance and social up-gradation, Cathy chooses Linton over Heathcliff. Heathcliff is heartbroken. He leaves Wuthering Heights and returns back favorably rich after a few years. He now lends money to Hindley, who has taken to gambling after the death of his wife, well knowing that it will only propel his ruin and push him further into debt. He also marries Isabella Linton and begins tormenting her. Hindley dies, leaving behind a son named Hareton, whom Heathcliff turns into an illiterate buff by stopping his education and making him work in the fields. Old Catherine is also near death after giving birth to a daughter, young Cathy, but vows to remain with Heathcliff forever. Young Cathy grows close to the sickly Linton, the only child of Heathcliff and the deceased Isabella. Knowing this, Heathcliff tricks young Cathy into marrying Linton. Linton dies soon after and so does Edgar, Cathy’s father. Cathy is forced to stay in Wuthering Heights and is ill-treated by Heathcliff. Heathcliff now inherits both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, and rents out Thrushcross Grange to Lockwood. Over here Nelly’s story comes to an end. Apparently overwhelmed and taken aback, Lockwood leaves Thrushcross Grange and returns to London. However, he returns again after some months to learn of further developments. Nelly accounts for the lost time and says that young Cathy and Hareton, who were once poles apart in terms of education, civility and manners have now grown to love each other. Heathcliff sunk more into moroseness and insanity, and after a walk in the moors at night has died. Hareton and young Cathy now own Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, and plan to get married on the next new year’s day. As peace finally descends, Lockwood pays a visit to the graves of Heathcliff, Edgar and Catherine. Altogether, Wuthering Heights is a cherishable read and justifies the title of a classic. TO BUY THIS BOOK CLICK HERE