Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights by by

Emily Bronte (1818—1848)Emily Bronte (1818—1848)

A. IntroductionA. Introduction

1.1. Background on the BrontesBackground on the Brontesa. The fathera. The father

b. The kids—Charlotte, Branwell, Anne, and b. The kids—Charlotte, Branwell, Anne, and EmilyEmily

c. 1826—Angria (five c. 1826—Angria (five years work)years work)

A. Introduction (continued)A. Introduction (continued)

d. Gondal—Emily’s imaginary world (rebels)d. Gondal—Emily’s imaginary world (rebels)

e. Yorkshire—wild weather, e. Yorkshire—wild weather, wild landscapewild landscape

f. Three sisters all publish f. Three sisters all publish (under male pseudonyms, (under male pseudonyms, Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell)—early deathsCurrer, Ellis, and Acton Bell)—early deaths

A. IntroductionA. Introduction

2.2. The Romantic MindThe Romantic Mind

a. Early 1800s—new way of seeing and a. Early 1800s—new way of seeing and understanding the worldunderstanding the worldsubjective, subjective, emotional, imagination, energyemotional, imagination, energy

b. Nature as theb. Nature as the

expression of expression of

the forces of the the forces of the

universeuniverseGodGod

A. IntroductionA. Introduction

C.C. rebellion against reasonrebellion against reason

The Imagination—the key to The Imagination—the key to understandingunderstanding

To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour.

A. IntroductionA. Introduction

D. The Byronic HeroD. The Byronic Hero

B. The NarrationB. The Narration

1.1. Two filtersTwo filters

a. Mr. Lockwooda. Mr. Lockwood

b. Nelly Deanb. Nelly Dean

B. Narration (continued)B. Narration (continued)2.2. MethodMethod

forces (spirit, love, soul, passion)forces (spirit, love, soul, passion) Physical ManifestationsPhysical Manifestations

Nelly (eyewitness)Nelly (eyewitness)Lockwood (understands little)Lockwood (understands little)

ReaderReader

3.3. Covers 30 years (1771—1802) and three Covers 30 years (1771—1802) and three generationsgenerations

B. NarrationB. Narration

4.4. Use of: diary (chapter 2)Use of: diary (chapter 2) lettersletters narration within narration narration within narration

(chapter 17—(chapter 17—Isabella)Isabella)

5.5. There is no objective truthThere is no objective truth — —only a series of only a series of

subjective piecessubjective pieces

C. StructureC. Structure

1.1. Two main parts:Two main parts:last meeting with Cathylast meeting with Cathy

Heathcliff’s motivation for revenge Heathcliff’s RevengeHeathcliff’s motivation for revenge Heathcliff’s Revenge

C. Structure (see chronological C. Structure (see chronological handout)handout)

2.2. Shakespearean Structure IIIShakespearean Structure III Act I: Introduction—childhoods II IV Act I: Introduction—childhoods II IV

Act II: Act II: Hindley’s abuse I VHindley’s abuse I V Cathy’s marriageCathy’s marriage

Heathcliff leaves and returnsHeathcliff leaves and returnsAct III: Climax—last meeting and Act III: Climax—last meeting and

Cathy’s deathCathy’s deathAct IV: Heathcliff’s Revenge on the childrenAct IV: Heathcliff’s Revenge on the childrenAct V: Heathcliff’s reconcilliaton, reunion with Act V: Heathcliff’s reconcilliaton, reunion with

Catherine; love of Catherine and Catherine; love of Catherine and HaretonHareton

D. Major ThemesD. Major Themes

1.1. The love themeThe love theme

Nature vs Civilization Nature vs Civilization

NaturalNatural

EarthyEarthy

PassionatePassionate

PhysicalPhysical

Destructive ?Destructive ?

Real (?)Real (?)

CivilCivil

ProtectedProtected

OrderlyOrderly

KindKind

CaringCaring

Artificial (?)Artificial (?)

D. Major ThemesD. Major Themes

2.2. Psychological LevelPsychological Level

individual’s (Catherine’s) battle between individual’s (Catherine’s) battle between the id (passion, nature, sensuality) and (passion, nature, sensuality) and the super-ego the super-ego

(civilization, order,(civilization, order,

tenderness)tenderness)

D. Major ThemesD. Major Themes

3.3. The social themesThe social themesa. Marxist level: class, society, money, a. Marxist level: class, society, money, “ownership” of the lands“ownership” of the lands

1. the “civilized” world is 1. the “civilized” world is repressive, repressive, artificialartificial

2. the natural world is 2. the natural world is real, powerful,real, powerful,alive, sublinealive, subline

D. Major ThemesD. Major Themes

b. Moral theme: love and revengeb. Moral theme: love and revenge1. evil against Heathcliff (his 1. evil against Heathcliff (his motivation? thrown into motivation? thrown into lovelessness) lovelessness)

2. Heathcliff’s revenge is cosmic in 2. Heathcliff’s revenge is cosmic in scope—not just against scope—not just against

Hindley/Linton thru Hindley/Linton thru Hareton/Cathy Hareton/Cathy but:but:

D. Major Themes (psychological)D. Major Themes (psychological)

--Revenge against the past through --Revenge against the past through the the

futurefuture

--Revenge against the class system --Revenge against the class system

through the takeover of the through the takeover of the houseshouses

D. Major ThemesD. Major Themes

4.4. Universal Level of Universal Level of ThemesThemes

a. illusion vs. realitya. illusion vs. reality

SurfaceSurface

appearanceappearance

TranscendentTranscendent

realreal

PhysicalPhysical Spiritual Spiritual (soul)(soul)

SublimeSublime

D. Major ThemesD. Major Themes

b. Organized religion vs true spiritualityb. Organized religion vs true spirituality

man-made vs natureman-made vs nature

D. Major ThemesD. Major Themes

c. Life after Deathc. Life after Death

in spirit through in spirit through

childrenchildren

Major ThemesMajor Themes

5.5. The Two Great Social Forces:The Two Great Social Forces:

Nature vs CivilizationNature vs Civilization

E. Setting: Worlds of Contrast E. Setting: Worlds of Contrast (see map)(see map)

1.1. The Houses:The Houses:Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights Thrushcross Grange Thrushcross Grange

MoorsMoors

E. Setting: Worlds of ContrastE. Setting: Worlds of Contrast

2. The Moors: The natural world2. The Moors: The natural world

a.a.

b.b.

c.c.

E. Setting: Worlds of ContrastE. Setting: Worlds of Contrast

3. the weather: sympathetic nature3. the weather: sympathetic nature

a.a.

b.b.

E. Setting: Worlds of ContrastE. Setting: Worlds of Contrast

4. the Kirkyard4. the Kirkyard

5. Penistone Crags5. Penistone Crags

F. Characters (see family charts)F. Characters (see family charts)

1.1. Mr./Mrs Earnshaw:Mr./Mrs Earnshaw:

2.2. Mr. Mrs. LintonMr. Mrs. Linton

3.3. Catherine Earnshaw:Catherine Earnshaw:

4.4. Heathcliff:Heathcliff:

F. Characters (see family charts)F. Characters (see family charts)

5.5. Edgar Linton:Edgar Linton:

6.6. Isabella Linton Heathcliff:Isabella Linton Heathcliff:

7.7. Hindley EarnshawHindley Earnshaw

8.8. Hareton Earnshaw:Hareton Earnshaw:

F. Characters (see family charts)F. Characters (see family charts)

9.9. Cathy Linton Heathcliff:Cathy Linton Heathcliff:

10.10. Linton Heathcliff:Linton Heathcliff:

11.11. Joseph:Joseph:

F. Characters (see family charts)F. Characters (see family charts)

12.12. The spirit lives on in the Children ThemeThe spirit lives on in the Children Theme

a. The journey of Catherinea. The journey of Catherine

Catherine LintonCatherine Linton

Catherine EarnshawCatherine Earnshaw Cathy Linton Cathy Linton

Catherine Earnshaw (2)Catherine Earnshaw (2)

Catherine HeathcliffCatherine Heathcliff

Social Studies is coolSocial Studies is cool

F. Characters (see family charts)F. Characters (see family charts)

b. The journey of Haretonb. The journey of Hareton

Mr. EarnshawMr. Earnshaw

Hareton Earnshaw (1500)Hareton Earnshaw (1500)

Hareton EarnshawHareton Earnshaw

Hindley Hindley EarnshawEarnshaw

G. Art and Style of WHG. Art and Style of WH

1.1. ImageryImagerya.a. AnimalAnimal

a.a. ElementsElements

a.a. WeatherWeather

G. Art and Style of WHG. Art and Style of WH

2. symbolism2. symbolisma. Charactersa. Charactersb. Settingb. Settingc. Booksc. Booksd. Natured. Naturee. References to heaven, hell and e. References to heaven, hell and

the the devildevilH. Final thoughts on Wuthering HeightsH. Final thoughts on Wuthering Heights