Wuthering Heights

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For other uses, see Wuthering Heights (disambiguation).

Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's only novel, first published in 1847, under the pseudonym Ellis Bell; a posthumous second edition was edited by her sister Charlotte. The name of the novel comes from the manor on which the story centres.

Though now taken to be a classic of English literature, Wuthering Heights' initial reception was lukewarm at best.

Its innovative structure, which has been likened to a series of Matryoshka dolls, puzzled critics when it first appeared. Some contemporary critics even believed it to be an earlier, less mature work from Charlotte Brontë (who had published Jane Eyre that same year under the pseudonym Currer Bell). Subsequent critics revised this view, and most agreed that Wuthering Heights' originality and achievement exceeded her sisters Charlotte and Anne's works. Wuthering Heights has given rise to many adaptations, including several films, radio and television dramatisations, and two musicals, as well as a hit song by Kate Bush, of which Brazilian progressive metal band Angra later made a cover.

1 Plot
2 Supernatural elements
3 Moral interpretation of novel
4 In other literature
5 Film and television adaptations
6 See also
7 External links
8 References

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Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Brontë's novel tells the tale of Catherine and Heathcliff, their all-encompassing love for one another, and how this unresolved passion eventually destroys them both. Social tensions prevent their union, leading Heathcliff to shun and abuse society. The plot is given here in detail, as the book's telling is neither linear nor always clear.

The story is narrated by a character named Lockwood, who is renting a house from Heathcliff. The house, Thrushcross Grange, is close to Wuthering Heights.

Much of the action itself is narrated to Lockwood during his illness by the housekeeper of Thrushcross Grange, Nelly Dean. Lockwood's arrival is after much of the story has already happened - but his story is interwoven with Dean's.

Dean's story provides insight into how the relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine would have far-reaching repercussions for their families. Heathcliff's passion for Catherine is so dark and sinister that he becomes hellbent on destroying the happiness of her sister-in-law, her child and even the happiness of his own child. This mission of destruction, though fervent during Cathy's lifetime, becomes still more impassioned after her death.

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Heathcliff arrives and departs

The plot is complicated, involving many turns of fortune. It begins with Mr. Earnshaw, the original proprietor of Wuthering Heights, bringing back the dark-skinned orphan Heathcliff from Liverpool. Initially, Earnshaw's children - Hindley and Catherine - detest the boy, but over time Heathcliff wins Catherine's heart, to the resentment of Hindley.

Upon Earnshaw's death three years later, Hindley marries a woman named Frances and takes over Wuthering Heights domineeringly, forcing Heathcliff to work in the fields. Despite this, Heathcliff and Catherine remain the fastest of friends. By means of an accident (a dog bite), Catherine is forced to stay at Thrushcross Grange for some weeks, wherein she grows attached to Edgar Linton.

A year later, Frances dies soon after the birth of Hindley's child Hareton. The loss leaves Hindley despondent, and he turns to alcohol. Some two years after that, Catherine becomes engaged to Edgar, causing Heathcliff to leave.

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Heathcliff returns

After three years of marriage, Heathcliff returns having amassed significant wealth. He dupes Hindley into owing him Wuthering Heights itself; he marries Isabella Linton, Edgar's sister, and is so in a position to inherit Thrushcross Grange, as well. His cruelty towards Isabella and Hareton knows no bounds.

Catherine herself dies in childbirth, giving birth to a girl—also named Catherine. Isabella flees a year after, giving birth to a boy, Linton. At around the same time, Hindley dies, and Heathcliff takes final control of Wuthering Heights. In perhaps the most complicated turn of the plot, fifteen or sixteen years later Heathcliff forces Catherine and Linton to marry. Edgar Linton, father of Catherine, dies, followed shortly by Linton. Heathcliff expects this to guarantee complete control of both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange.

It is at this point in the story, the winter of 1801, that Lockwood arrives. Dean tells him the past thirty or so years of the story during his illness. Lockwood is horrified and departs for London.

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Heathcliff dies

Catherine, at first repulsed by Hareton's roughness, eventually grows tender towards him—just as her mother grew tender towards Heathcliff.

Only through the union of young Hareton and young Catherine can the pattern of hatred and darkness be broken and of course this can only come with Heathcliff's eventual demise at the end of the novel. The difference between young Hareton and young Catherine and Catherine and Heathcliff is that they are matched in social status and experience and therefore have more in common than just their love for one another. Furthermore, it is strongly implied that Heathcliff himself, on seeing their love for one another, no longer cares to pursue his life-long vendetta.

Heathcliff dies, and Catherine and Hareton marry. Heathcliff is buried with Catherine (the elder), and the story concludes with Lockwood visiting the grave, unsure of exactly what to feel.

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Supernatural elements

A number of apparently supernatural incidents occur during the novel, although their true nature is always ambiguous. The mystery of Heathcliff's parentage is never solved, and at one point in the novel Nelly Dean entertains the notion that Heathcliff may be some hideous changeling. At the beginning of the novel, Lockwood has a horrible vision of Catherine (the Elder) as a child, appearing at the window of her old chamber at Wuthering Heights, begging to be allowed in; not only does Heathcliff, on hearing of this, lend it credence, but when he dies it is noted that the window of his room was left open, raising the possibility that Catherine returned at the moment of his death. After Heathcliff dies, Nelly Dean reports that various superstitious locals have claimed to see Catherine and Heathcliff roaming the moors, although in the closing line of the novel Lockwood discounts the idea of "unquiet slumbers for those sleepers in that quiet earth."

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Moral interpretation of novel

Wuthering Heights has been criticized as romanticizing domestic abuse.

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In other literature

In Albert Camus' essay "The Rebel", Heathcliff is compared to a leader of the rebel forces. Both are driven by a sort of madness: one by misguided love, the other by oppression. Camus juxtaposes the concept of Heathcliff's reaction to Cathy with the reaction of a disenchanted rebel to the ideal he once held.

Maryse Condé's novel Windward Heights adapted Wuthering Heights to be set in Guadaloupe and Cuba.

Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes both have poems titled "Wuthering Heights".

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Film and television adaptations

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Perhaps the best-known of the film adaptations was released in 1939. It stars Merle Oberon as Catherine Linton, Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff, David Niven as Edgar Linton, Flora Robson as Ellen Dean, Donald Crisp as Dr. Kenneth, Geraldine Fitzgerald as Isabella Linton and Leo G. Carroll as Joseph Earnshaw. The film was adapted by Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht and John Huston. It was directed by William Wyler. The movie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. It did not depict the entire novel, portraying only half.

In 1970, another film adaptation was released. It starred Timothy Dalton as Heathcliff.

A 1992 film adaptation was the first one to show both generations from the story; that is Heathcliff, Cathy, Edgar, and Hindley, as well as their children. Juliette Binoche plays two roles, Catherine Earnshaw and her daughter. Ralph Fiennes plays Heathcliff.

A 1953 adaptation on BBC Television was scripted by Nigel Kneale, directed by Rudolph Cartier and starred Yvonne Mitchell as Catherine. This version does not survive in the BBC archives.

Monty Python's Flying Circus Season 2 episode # 15 featured a sketch "The Semaphore Version of Wuthering Heights"

There was also a 2003 adaption for MTV. It starred Erika Christensen, Mike Vogel, and Christopher Masterson.

Originally offered to M. Night Shyamalan who turned it down in favor of The Village (which he later revealed to be partly inspired by the novel), it has recently been confirmed that a new film adaptation is underway starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp.<ref name="new adaption">{{cite web |author=Bellamy, Alison |year=20 January 2006 |url=http://www.leedstoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=39&ArticleID=1322649 |title=Depp and Jolie to play Heathcliff and Cathy in Yorkshire |format= |work=Leedstoday |publisher= |accessdate=January 27 |accessyear=2006 }} </ref>

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