Wuthering Heights Essay -- Literary Analysis, Emily Bronte

Born in 1818, Emily Bronte, known as the Laureate of the Moors, feared that people would not read her novel because of her gender. When Bronte turned twenty-seven, she published Wuthering Heights. At approximately the same time, her two sisters, Charlotte and Anne, published their literary works. Looking at Emily Bronte’s Victorian novel, Wuthering Heights, this literary work seems to be yet another book about a grumpy man who tries to take revenge on everyone who hurts him throughout his life. Looking deeper into this novel, readers see that the story revolves around several complex characters who must endure indescribable pain and suffering in their quest for love. The Earnshaw family decides to make Heathcliff who is the primary character in Wuthering Heights, a family member, Mr. Eanshaw’s son, Hindley, starts to beat, to hurt, and to mistreat Heathcliff. However, as Heathcliff begins to spend time with Hindley’s sister, Catherine, their relationship grows, H eathcliff and Catherine develop feelings for each other, and in turn, fall in love. When Catherine decides to marry Edgar Linton, this new turn-of-events devastates Heathcliff. Even though Edgar is a member of a higher social class than Heathcliff, Catherine secretly remains in love with her beloved Heathcliff. To illustrate her love for Edgar and her true passion for Heathcliff, she states, â€Å"I’ve no more business to marry Edgar Linton than I have to be in heaven; and if the wicked man in there had not brought Heathcliff so low, I shouldn’t have thought of it. It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him: and that, not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am† (63). The manner in which Catherine, Edgar, and... ...k to him. Cathy does not like him. Once Heathcliff dies she is free to marry whoever she want s and live her own life. She no longer has to be trapped anymore. Bell states that, â€Å"Young Catherine and Hareton, who are led to beleive, eventually come to love with patience and understanding, but only after Heathcliff’s influence is removed†(Bell). No one is trapped anymore. Heathcliff experiences much pain and suffering in his search for true love. Heathcliff endures derision and personal injury from Hindley, insults from Edgar, and profound rejection from his dear Catherine. All of these events contribute to the subsequent anguish that many of the second-generation characters, Cathy, Hareton, and Linton, share throughout the latter part of the novel. After Heathcliff’s demise, Cathy and Hareton are now free from the terror and the tragedy that haunt the moors.