Ewan Stevenson L6 Creighton, English Lit
Comparing Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross grange; considering the symbols of the two houses, and what themes they employ and create
Emily Bronte defines the remote nature of Wuthering Heights as is as ‘perfect misanthropist’s Heaven’ and is described to be in ‘desolation’ this very remote landscape Bronte paints is key to the atmosphere of the novel. The setting is remote because it is removed from typical civilisation and further emphasises the sense of aloneness and abandonment. Wuthering Heights is not one for the faint hearted it is in desolation and remote from the qualms and culture of civilisation and city life that Lockwood is accustomed to.
Bronte throughout the first chapter uses a lot of imagery about Wuthering Heights to give use a clear presentation of its darkness, malice and also an engaging quality. Wuthering Heights is set against a backdrop of storms when we first have to described, this is Bronte using pathetic fallacy (weather reflects mood/feeling/tone) and ‘Wuthering’ is ‘descriptive of the atmosphere tumult it which its station is exposed in the stormy weather’ the use of stormy and tumult particularly emphasises the atmosphere. Stormy suggests that the whole atmosphere is of a dark and violent nature, and tumult has the suggestion of the uproar and turmoil that is evident throughout the novel, from the powerful love, misery, death and revenge. There is a powerful ‘north wind’ of ‘pure bracing ventilation’ the cold wind does give us an idea of the cold and dark things that have gone on within the Heights. The ‘range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun’ this shows how dark the Heights is, there is no happiness of the sun, it is something in eternal and it suggests pessimistic darkness – no good has come here. The darkness is certainly a good preparatory for the novel as a whole, as even during the romance of Heathcliff and Cathy we always have the dark side, and the dark side is prevalent always ‘the more the worms writhe, the more I yearn to crush their entails’. I think the darkness surrounding the Heights help create that gothic and in some ways evil atmosphere of the house. The image of ‘gaunt’ and ‘stunted’ has particular relevance; it suggests the harsh atmosphere of the house, and the harsh events that will go on in the novel. Aside from the harshness, it suggests the worn down atmosphere of the house, the surrounding nature does appear world-weary and lacking the lust for life of the moor we associate with Cathy and Heathcliff later in the novel. As we move further in the novel and realise we will see how Wuthering heights came to such a dark climax, it does prepare us for not the traditional romance novel full of light and happiness. There is an atmosphere of defence and seclusion that is shown through the physical appearance of Wuthering Heights. This defensive atmosphere is shown in the house with its ‘narrow windows… deeply set’ and it’s ‘corners defended with large jutting stones’. It has a very castle like quality, it is designed to not be desirable (said to be ‘exposed’) and the natural elements around it are ‘gaunt…[and] stunted’, but alongside this we have the building being very set in itself keeping people out. This creates a sinister atmosphere, there is no welcoming or friendly chat, this seems to be something that appears worn down, yet still keeps the world out from it gives is a preparation that the house has been worn down by the events that happen.
