Heathcliff is the kind of boyfriend who blames you for his unhappiness and reminds you over and over that he would die if you left him. He was a selfish ass, albeit one whose unpleasantness may be the result of a hard-knock life. Sure, maybe Edgar Linton isn't the kind of guy to get a girl all hot and bothered, but his love is as intense and enduring as Heathcliff's. And way less creepy.
A contextual disclaimer: I say this as someone who almost always falls for the dark, troubled, morally ambiguous characters. (Now, cast Johnny Depp in the role and I might have to reconsider.)
Heathcliff does serve as an excellent reminder of the pitfalls of pride. So much of the tragedy in Wuthering Heights comes from pride. We see the deadliness of this particular sin, as people choose misery and inaction over the potential of humiliation. It is this part of the characters I most related to, in spite of the fact that it often made them so very unlikable. As Ellen Dean tells a young Heathcliff, "proud people breed sad sorrows for themselves."
It was Ellen Dean whom I came closest to liking. In many ways, this is her story far more than Heathcliff's or Catherine's or Lockwood's. Sometimes, I was frustrated by Dean's inability to see that she was making the same mistakes over and over, and her lack of imagination when it came to potential consequences. But as our guide to the world of the Grange and the Heights and the moors, she was engaging, even as her dangerously Pollyanna-ish tendencies were frustrating. Even she saw her mistakes, her role in the story's tragedy:
I seated myself on a chair, and rocked to and fro, passing harsh judgment on my many derelictions of duty; from which, it struck me then, all the misfortunes of my employers sprang. It was not the case in reality, I am aware; but it was, in my imagination, that dismal night; and I thought Heathcliff himself less guilty than I.
Over and over, Dean justified the bad behaviour of others, or imagined that this time everything would be decorous and proper.
Perhaps, it is decorum and propriety that are to blame for Dean's powerlessness. The constraints of class and station are very foreign to me as a modern, middle class, Western reader. When I read books where the star-crossedness comes from class distinction, I often wonder what today's equivalent would be. Is there one? In this culture so obsessed with independence and free will, it seems almost certain that Catherine and Heathcliff would indulge their passion, that Catherine would not choose Edgar simply because Heathcliff is below her. Even then, though, I imagine the relationship as something doomed. To me, the tragedy here lies in the flaws of the characters rather than in society's oppressions and circumstance's cruelties.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Jon Sobel
Thanks for this, I love seeing new reviews of classics. Unlike some other classics, I've only read Wuthering Heights once, many years ago, and now you've inspired me to re-read it.
2 - Cass
Catherine chose the safe option, Edgar. She was afraid of her OWN passions, so she decided not to pursue them. I HATED this book when I was forced to read it in high school, and I still hate it now. Usually, I am a sucker for tragic romances, but not this one. Cathy was stupid, just plain stupid, to not follow her heart. And Heathcliff became a psycho stalker, just because he wanted to hurt Cathy the way she had hurt him when she rejected him.
3 - Kimemia
Havinng read the book I feel that it represents, especially in the second volume the struggle that heathcliff faces reconciling his love for the dead Catherine and his anger at people, such as Edgar Linton who have benefitted from Catherine's 'betrayal' of him and cathy who is a direct result of Catherine's relationship with Edgar.
4 - Paul Daniggelis
Bonnie - I am a member of the Bronte Society, and I think your review of W.H. was on target. Which leads me ask, how old are you, how many times have you read W.H., when was the first time. and do you have any connections with the Bronte Society? Thanks for listening!
5 - Bonnie
Paul, this was my first reading of Wuthering Heights, and I'm reading it as an adult. It's actually the first Bronte novel for me, period.
6 - Aashna Bisht
After completely reading the book I thought for a second that if someone asks me who is my favourite character then what will I say! My mind was completely blank I sat for atleast 20 mins and found that I really appriciated Mrs. Dean as she was so loyal and sensible and stood with her destiny she saw only sadness and didnt loose hope gut finally got happiness. Although the book sometimes became bugging but still I appriciated Bronte's imagination and wished that she was alive today. Maybe she would have written marvellous stories for us all!
7 - guojq
After reading this, to some degree, sad story, I cannot help finding some reviews to read on the internet because I cannot understand why such a novel is a classic one.
8 - kamini singh
After completely reading the book I thought for a second that if someone asks me who is my favourite character then what will I say! My mind was completely blank I sat for atleast 20 mins and found that I really appriciated Mrs. Dean as she was so loyal and sensible and stood with her destiny she saw only sadness and didnt loose hope gut finally got happiness. Although the book sometimes became bugging but still I appriciated Bronte's imagination and wished that she was alive today. Maybe she would have written marvellous stories for us all!
9 - aahna deol
this book is really cool i enjoyed reading this book soo much!! i relly appreciate mrs dean u read this book ull really enjoy it!!
10 - ahana deol
yuck yuk such a sucky book......
11 - Laura
I'm currently reading W.H for a school novel summary and have found it so hard to stay interested in(I've read about 4 books in between) my summary is due tomorrow and I'm yet to read the end of the book. I was just so angered with Catherine Earnshaw/Linton's personality that I stopped reading for a while. I was quite happy she died. Overall Wuthering Heights is a good book, but as said some characters are just to naive and self obsessed to be taken seriously. Good Review.(personally I like Hareton, I think if Heathcliff had his personality it would've been just the soppy rom/drama i was expecting from W.H)
12 - Katie McNeill
I loved this book, I agree with you about the anti-romance.
13 - Joanne
Wuthering Heights is one of my favourite novels. It is one of the few novels that I have read that captured my attention and imagination. Bronte did a brilliant job in creating the atmosphere of Wuthering Heights.
I have read other people's review and most of them often complained that the book is too melodramatic and have unlikable characters. When Wuthering Heights was first released, I believe most of the critics also felt the same way.
However, you must admit that the novel was revolutionary in its style and ability to tell the tragedy of the characters especially during the early nineteenth century where England was a conservative/traditionalist nation. It is rare to find a novel that is dark, gothical, mystical and passionate. The book left me feeling a bit disturbed and as a result it has
The characters are very complex. We are only presented with Nelly’s point of view and as a result we are given a bias point of view about the incidents that occurs at Wuthering Heights. In a way Wuthering Heights is a psychological thriller- we begin to wonder the reasons behind Heathcliffs action- why can’t he let go of Cathy’s rejection and move on with his life? We never know the rational behind Heathcliffs thoughts as we only view him through Nelly’s eyes. Heathcliff is a 'bastard' but at the same time he has had a sad life which enhances the complexity of the novel. He is the epitome of the anti-hero.
14 - bookza
i really thougth this book was a bit twisted at the begining but when ibegain reading on i actually liked the plot it was very captivating i was very happy to finish it because it made me feel good aout my self to see that i wasnt or willl never be taht foolish or stupid in my life hopfully...... ever but it still left a feeling of what if.
15 - rikki
The ways of life was related to the environment and the charater...so ,there is no wrong in everyone...we can calmly appriciate them .
16 - Liz
There is a mistake in the book in chapter 34, the second paragraph, the first sentence. "One night, after the family were in bed, I heard him go downstairs, and out at the front door." The word were is suppose to be was not were. That is wrong grammer if you say it that way.
I really loved the book a whole lot. It was written very well except for that mistake.
17 - hahah
This book is way to long
18 - vivian
i find many comment about this novel .i am so happy. i am an Chinese ,i have to write a paper for my gradulation. Thanks a lot !
19 - aditi bahadur
its a very good book according to me .it is twisty .very confusing
20 - Funny
This is a romantic social novel written by Emily Bronote.
21 - Michelle
I simply think that Wuthering Heights is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. The love between Heathcliff and Catherine is so beautiful, passionate, intense, and compelling. And of course, is only made more complex by the fact that they cannot be together. I have spent my entire life trying to find a love as strong as the one they share in the novel, and I have come to a realization...It doesn't exist. I know...it's a let-down.
22 - Sarah
Could anyone give me some tips about how the relationship of Cathy and Heathcliff is represented, and its significance?
Its for a school essay!
Help would be appreciated!
23 - keef
I have finished reading the book and personally, I think Emily Bronte has created one of the most beautiful classics that I have ever read. Contrary to the many perspectives of Wuthering Heights, I thought the passion between Heathcliff and Catherine was beyond life, literally. IMO, Heathcliff's "madness" or "tragic flaw" is not spurred on Catherine leaving him but simply, a natural reaction. He was mistreated by Hindley when he was young and then separated from Catherine because of the Lintons. This resultantly caused him to treat others with brutal violence. It is because of his passionate love for Catherine that initially causes this secondary passion for revenge. And ultimately, it is through the love between Catherine and Heathcliff that overwhelms the passion that Heathcliff has for revenge. Bronte illustrates that Wuthering Heights is not much of a tragedy. In fact, she makes it clear in the end that Heathcliff ultimately reunites with Catherine and a new love relationship between Hareton and Catherine is born. IMO, I see no tragedy in that. Furthermore, seeing as how Bronte could have been influenced by the Romantic Period and the Gothic Period, I don't find it surprising that Heathcliff is a desired character, often compared to a byronic hero. Bronte makes it clear that in Wuthering Heights, the most imminent characteristic is passion. This is especially shown in chaper 9, 15, and 16. Those were amongst my favourite chapters and really distinguished the element of fiery passion.
24 - Katrina
I read this book for the first time when I was thirteen, and I could not put it down. I absolutely loved it, and I still do. It played on the darkness of the human soul, it made readers face their deepest, darkest fears. It was cool!!
Anyway. I have to say my favorite character was Hareton.
Nice review!
25 - shivani
wuthering heights is a very strange , savage , cold and breathtaking novel . Heathcliffs love for catherine and his transition from a sullen patient child to a inhuman and almost demonic man who is burning for vengeance forms the core of the book . I have never read such a novel and indeed its very captivating but the characters I agree are very complex and so inhuman .