Essay/Term paper: Wuthering heights: summary

Essay, term paper, research paper:  English Literature Essays

Wuthering Heights: Summary


Emily Bronte was born in Thorton, Yorkshire, in 1918. Wuthering Heights was
Bronte's only book; however, she died in 1848 and never knew of the book's
success. It is said by many to be the finest novel in the English language.
Just before she dies, Catherine Earnshaw gives birth to a beautiful baby girl
named Cathy. After Catherine married Edgar, heathcliff becomes jealous and
marries Edgar's sister, Isabella. Isabella then gives birth to Heathcliff's son
Linton. Wuthering Heights, by Wmily Bronte, is a novel full of contrast between
Catherine and Cathy and Heathcliff and Linton.

While Cathy is growing up, the reader begins t see the contrast between cathy
and her mother. Catherine is a typical Earnshaw, having dark hair, and dark eyes.
While her daughter's characteristics are the exact opposite. Cathy has blonde
hair, fair skin, and irrestibly brilliant eyes.

Catherine and Cathy is emotional aspects also contrast a great deal. Young
Cathy's emotions are calm, while her mother's rage, and are as unpredictable as
a storm. Catherine's emotions are so passionate that she is unable to control
them. To the point of causing her own death. Before she dies, she says that
she wants both Heathcliff and Edgar to suffer-Edgar, because he never understood
heraffection for Heathcliff; and Heathcliff, because he never understood why
she married Edgar. Cathy has a mind of her own and some of Catherine's
willfullness. She is also capable of great sympathy towards Linton, whom she
marries and finally Hareton Earnshaw.

Heathcliff is a strange mix-ture of the refined and incouth; slovently, yet
dresses and acts like a g gentleman. While being dark with the look of a gypsy,
he is quite handsome. His son, linton resembles his mother, Isabella, as he is
blonde, pretty, feeble, adn effeminate. It is ironic thtat Heathcliff's son
should be so weak and sickly that he dies at the age of seventeen.

Although Heathcliff is his father, Linton displays none of Heathcliff's
characteristics. Heathcliff is a character full of brutality. Heathcliff shows
this brutality on several occasions. The most graphic occasion is after
Catherine's funeral, when Hindley threatens him with a knife. This
confrontation ends up with Heathcliff kicking and pounding Hindley's head into
the floor. Linton has his father's capability for violent temper, but not
phsical strength. Linton shows his each of phyiscal strength when Hareton
throws him and Catherine out of the room. Linton becomes furious saying he
would kill Hareton. This brought on a coughing fit in which blood gushed from
Linton's mouth, causing him to fall to the floor.