Wuthering Heights Essay Research Paper Emily Bronte

Wuthering Heights Essay, Research Paper

Emily Bronte s most famous piece of writing, Wuthering Heights is a detailed description of contrasting houses, which embody the two major principles of life in the novel: storm and calm. Gradually depicted is a story of two families, two generations, and two houses located four miles apart over a time lapse of forty years. The novel discloses complex characters such as Heathcliff and Catherine who are affected greatly by their surroundings. Wuthering Heights is the residence of the Earnshaw family who represent the storm and the Lintons, originally from Thrushcross Grange, represent the calm. Emily Bronte uses two contrasting places to show that extremes of emotions are destructive and happiness is found in balance. Discord and hostility are thrust into the lives of those at Thrushcross Grange. The one side of the spectrum with passive, more civilized, and calm tendencies are not safe from the destructive behavior of extreme opposites. However, the Heights and its inhabitants, transpire to have strong, passionate, and stormy qualities. Theses qualities bring about an excess of emotion, which consequently results in violence and conflict as well. A resolution cannot be reached until these two extremes can come together at a mid-point with Hareton and Young Catherine.

Although Thrushcross Grange has beauty and decorum to offer, its lack of emotion complements the type of characters it creates greatly contrasting to Wuthering Height. At first glance, Thrushcross Grange is the ideal dwelling. It is a splendid place carpeted with crimson, and crimson-covered chairs and tables, and a pure white ceiling bordered by gold, a shower of glass-drops hanging with silver chains from the center and shimmering with little soft tapers. The Lintons adorn their household with ornaments and paint a picture portraying their pleasant yet shallow life. From this house pampered, delicate children emerge. Isabella lay screaming at the farther end of the room, shrieking as if witches were running red-hot needles into her. Edgar stood on the hearth weeping silently, and in the middle of the table sat a little dog, shaking its paws and yelping, which, from their mutual accusations, we understood they had nearly pulled in between them. Edgar and Isabella illustrate precisely the character of one from the Thrushcross Grange, spoiled and superficial. This absurd behavior, which occurred over the family pet, gives emphasis to the type of children reared in the house. However as learned from Catherine, just being in the presence of the Grange can change the most bold and saucy girl into a young lady. Cathy [Earnshaw] stayed at Thrushcross Grange five weeks so that, instead of a wild, hatless little savage jumping into the house, rushing to squeeze us all breathless, there lighted from a handsome black pony a very dignified person, with brown ringlets falling form the cover of a feathered beaver, and a long cloth habit, which she was obliged to hold up with both hands that she might sail in. Catherine s unexpected stay at Thrushcross Grange has transformed her into a dignified lady. She has been influenced by the superficiality and high-class, worldliness of the Lintons, and the fashion and courtliness of Mrs. Linton. Thrushcross Grange in essence masked Catherine s true self with fine etiquette and polished manners. Catherine is weakened beyond her will and suppresses all emotions. And as she had no temptation to show her rough side in their company, and had the sense to be ashamed of being rude where she experienced such invariable courtesy, she imposed unwittingly on the old lady and gentleman, bye her ingenious cordiality; gained the admiration of Isabella, and the heart and soul of her brother acquisitions that flattered her from first, for she was full of ambition, and led her to adopt a double character without exactly intending to deceive anyone. Catherine in fact created a double life for herself. Through the influence of the world a gracious lady appeared and hid a headstrong and stubborn side. Exposed to the outside world, this charismatic young lady charmed the Lintons and her brother. Hidden well from company, her boisterous and unruly temperament seems to be concealed by her five weeks of grace acquired at the Grange. Edgar falls in love with the new, refined Catherine, but the same love is not returned. She can only explain her love for Edgar in superficial terms, she loves him because he is handsome and young and because he will be rich. Despite all the disapproving factors, Edgar and Catherine do get married. This however is not true love and will not bring about peace. Edgar later detects a glimpse of the real Catherine, She never had power to conceal her passion, it always set her whole complexion in a blaze. The defiant girl within this character is stronger then her false courtly grace. Edgar is too weak and pallid for the stubborn headstrong Catherine, these two extremes will never be able to find a balance.

While Thruscross Grange has characters that keep a tight control over their emotions despite its beauty, Wuthering Heights contains an overbearing amount of emotion revealing its strength. The Heights are situated on a hill and are constantly buffeted by wild winds and stormy weather. Wuthering being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather. The home