Wuthering Heights

Rating:
Summary: The Deterioration of a Soul
Review: Though this may be a romance, it isn't one in the Nora Roberts sense of the word (thankfully). Rather, it is a romance in the Shakespearian sense that it is neither comedy nor tragedy. It does have romantic aspects sprinkled throughout, but that is not the most important aspect. Rather, it is a dark, brooding novel that focuses far more on loss, revenge, and the deterioration of the human soul than it does on love or anything else the average person might conceive of as "romantic."

In many ways, it parallels Milton's Paradise Lost, if in a metaphorical sense. We have Heathcliff as the devil (as he is often referred to throughout) and his fall from grace. We have both Catherines as Eve-type characters in slightly different ways, and as I explain below, it is their choices (often under the infernal influence of Heathcliff) that determine the future of the narrative, much as Eve's choice determines the future of humanity. We even have the loss of paradise toward the end, but with the hope of eventual salvation and a return thereto (i.e., as Paradise Regained is suggested in the last book of Milton's epic).

The characters of Wuthering Heights are a generally unlikable bunch of flawed human beings provoking and being provoked by each other. Strikingly realistic for a "romantic" novel. It is the strong, independent women of the novel who are the foundational characters around which the book revolves. They are the focus of attention, and it is only through them that the male characters are able to accomplish whatever ends they set out to accomplish. In fact, one of the main struggles of the book can be seen as the attempts of the women to remain independent of the male characters' repeated attempts at subjugation and control. Interestingly, it is always the women who end up with the choice as to result will prevail in each battle of this war.

In this sense, Wuthering Heights can be seen as a feminist novel, but not as a preaching one. Rather, Bronte seems to strive for the reader to understand the strength and resiliency of her women through their subtle control of the narrative and their resistence to the constant pressure that the male characters exert from attempting to take that power away. One final example of this is through the framing of the narrative itself. Though superficially told by Mr. Lockwood, he is initially relating Ellen Dean's story verbatim through the first half of the book. However, halfway through, he discards Ellen and "summarizes" the story she told him off-screen. In other words, he attempts to dominate the telling of the narrative as Heathcliff, Edgar, Hareton, and Hindley attempt to dominate the women of the novel at various points. Yet, like all the other dominations throughout the novel, this narrative domination fails as well. Ultimately, Ellen is able to reassert herself as the official storyteller over the last few chapters, but what was the effect of losing her immediate voice for the intermediate period, I'll leave up to you to interpret. I'm still working it out myself.

Rating:
Summary: Not that great
Review: This novel was some what ridiculous. The main characters were childish and I actually ended up liking the neighbors better - which I think was the objective. The ending was the only part that I actually enjoyed - don't worry, I won't give it away. I'll just say that it is a relief from the chaos apparent through out the novel. The mood uf the entire novel is dark and despondent...it was just too gloomy for me. I read it first when I was 17 - after reading so many other well written classics by great authors - I have to say that this one does not compare.

Rating:
Summary: A literary masterpiece.
Review: I had to study this book a few years ago and i think it was the novel that opened my eyes to all classics. The Bronte sisters are among my most well loved authors and Emily's Wuthering Heights top the list. In fact, my book was so often read I had to glue the cover back on when it fell apart.
Wuthering Heights is a deep dark novel full of revenge, passion, love and hatred. I have once heard this book called 'dry' by someone who clearly hadn't read it as Wuthering Heights is so far from it. Heathcliff spends his whole life seeking revenge on other characters right from when Mr Earnshaw brings him home from London. However, it cannot be said that he is the only character seeking revenge. In all of the subplots one character is avenging his/herself on another.
Lockwood is among the silliest men ever written about, he is right up there with the bumbling Mr Collins of Pride and Prejudice (another favourite). Lockwood is the only character to whom anything of humour happens to, providing the reader with some light comic relief. Having said that, the violence which taints all characters has not passed over Lockwood who tries slitting the wrists of the ghost of Cathy .
The numerous allusions to the devil and supernatural were still a controversial subject, especially for a woman, to be writing about at the turn of the century and Emily Bronte was berated by many for writing such a book. However, without the references the book would lose so much of its full force. Heathcliff would not exist except as the evil man he is.
Somehow I love the people in this book but I could not tell you why. The only characters who I find myself disliking are Linton and Isabella, however they are the only ones with any sense of goodness surrounding them. I suppose the reason I love the others is for their passion and love for another.
This is the greatest of all the great classics and if you find it hard to catch onto do yourself a favour and persevere. I found it difficult the first time I tried to read it and now it's a favourite


Rating:
Summary: should have been a ghost story
Review: bronte's story of life on the moors in england revolves around the earnshaw and litton families. the "adopted" son of the earnshaw's, heathcliff, and his passion (i'm reluctant to call it love) for catherine, the legitimate daughter, is the centerpeice of the novel.

heathcliff is probably one of the most evil characters in literature. he destroys everything in his path, including catherine. his motivation appears to be revenge, but his actions go well beyond a reasoned response and continues thru subsequent generations to innocent offspring. the imagery surrounding heathcliff and the moors helps create the ominous setting. heathcliff actually appears to be possessed either by the devil or by catherine as she exclaims, "i am heathcliff."

the story ends somewhat ironically in that all that heathcliff has achieved in his revenge is overturned by the next generation.

the shortcoming of the story is that heathcliff is beyond the pale. how can catherine love him when he is the devil incarnate? the story which takes on a ghostlike quality particularly at the end, would have been better as a haunting of heathcliff rather than a tale of revenge. heathcliff could have been a very sympathetic character and you would have then cared about what happened to him.

but then again who am i to challenge a classic. read it on your own and decide.

Rating:
Summary: doing this for xtra credit and ill keep it short
Review: i wrote my full review on my test mr matta im just lazy because i dont want to type it all
Wuthering heights is a good book. If one does not pay full attention and not try to multi task while reading u will get lost, and end up hating classical literature and then not getting a good education then working as a a bus boy for those who did get a godd education (dramatization)
Wuthering Heights is the height of classical literature and shows the best of victorian literature (yet another dramatization). I still think the book is a must read because it is very entertaining and it makes u look smart when u talk to stupid people about it: )
in closing words i have to quote the most psychologically insane, obsurdely stupid person in mr matta's class "Cleafy!"