Wuthering Heights

Title: “Wuthering Heights”
Author: Emily Brontë
Editor: Wordsworth Editions
Literary mode / genre: Narrative / Romantic Novel

This summer, I read “Wuthering Heights”. I didn’t know what to expect from it but somehow I managed to forget everything around me for that period of time and got completely sucked into its world, a world created by Emily Bontë. Set in Northern England between late 1700’s and early 1800’s, it’s a book that completely captures your whole attention and leaves you smiling and scowling along with its characters.

“Wuthering Heights” is the epic and tragic love story between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. It is told through two narrators, Mr. Lockwood and the primary narrator, Nelly Dean.

Their story begins with Catherine and her older brother Hindley welcoming an abandoned gypsy, later named Heathcliff, into their home. While Hindley detests the boy and constantly tortures and accuses him of vile things, Catherine grows extremely fond of him and the two set out on daily adventures. One night, the Lintons, a wealthy family living at Thruscross Grange, welcome Catherine into their home but cast Heathcliff aside. During her stay there, Catherine grows an attachment to Edgar and his sister Isabella and ultimately decides to marry Edgar despite her overwhelming love for Heathcliff, which she confesses to Nelly. Having not heard Catherine’s declaration of love for him, Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights and only returns three years later as a wealthy and polished man, much to Edgar and Nelly’s displeasure and Catherine’s delight. Heathcliff, tough, has come to cause trouble and get his revenge on the people that tormented and wronged him for years, with Hindley being the primary victim.

After the birth of his son Hareton and the death of his wife, Hindley resorts to drinking and gambling which makes him forever indebted to Heathcliff.

Due to her undying love for Heathcliff, Catherine spends more time with him much to her husband’s displeasure and the resulting arguments between herself, Edgar and Heathcliff result in her slowly losing her mind and ultimately dying after giving birth to a girl, later named Cathy.

The story then revolves around Cathy as she learns more about her family and the dark and mysterious man that lives at Wuthering Heights. Having never known her aunt Isabella, Cathy is delighted to hear she has a cousin, Linton Heathcliff, son of the man living at the Heights and the sickly boy she is supposed to marry as per the boy’s father’s orders. While at the Grange, though, Cathy encounters Hareton and although disgusted at first by him, she soon becomes intrigued and curious as to who he is. Heathcliff hates Cathy and his son profusely because of who they are and what they represent but has a somewhat soft spot for Hareton due to his resemblance to Catherine. And while he forces the girl to marry Linton, Cathy soon starts to care for Hareton and teaches him how to read and talk properly and they develop an affection that mirrors Catherine and Heathcliff’s. But will they have the same fate as them or will they manage to remain together?

Despite Catherine and Heathcliff’s tragic love story, the book makes you believe in love and in a way teaches us about pride and how too much of it will only ruin our happiness. It tells me not to be afraid to go after what we want and to never hold grudges because they destroy everyone in their path.

I can honestly say it’s not only one of the best stories that have been told but it’s also one of the best books out there and a complete, personal favourite.

Filipa Silva, do 12.º QA