Wuthering Heights

In many works of literature past and present, the notion of enduring love is idealized as the hope and dream of many a worthy protagonist. Wuthering Heights, however, is the novel that overturns those romantic visions of passionate and faithful love, presenting the truth of Heathcliff’s obsession with Catherine and Catherine’s love for Heathcliff in all of its violent and sometimes ugly intensity. At the start of the novel, Catherine’s generosity towards Heathcliff and his devotion to her are sweet and admirable. Their childhood companionship grows into a more mature friendship that at first, seems pure and genuine enough, but their personality characteristics eventually get in the way of their genuine attachment to each other. Heathcliff’s uncontrollable bad temper and Catherine’s sense of entitlement merge into a mutual sense of rageful frustration, so unhappiness ensues, for them and for the rest of their immediate society.

The novel is full of chaos, physical and emotional violence, misery,and heartache, which are all consequences of Catherine and Heathcliff’s love for each other. Even innocent young children are punished for the mistakes of the grown-ups, in particular young Linton Heathcliff and young CathyLinton, which only renders the love affair between Heathcliff and Catherine even less reputable.