Social Classes in Wuthering Heights.

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Social Classes in Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights, a gothic novel written by Emily Bronte in the early nineteenth century, describes the conflict and the passionate bond between Catherine Earnshaw and her rough but romantic lover, Heathcliff. In the beginning of the book, Heathcliff, an orphan is made a part of the Earnshaw family. This adoption is not readily accepted by the older brother, Hindley, who sees the new child as a rival to his claim of dominance in the family. However, Catherine, the sister is quickly attracted to young Heathcliff, so different from anyone she had ever known. As the two grow older, Heathcliff finds himself falling in love with Catherine. Mr. Earnshaw soon dies, leaving Hindley in charge of the Wuthering Heights manor. Hindley treats Heathcliff abusively as revenge for taking his spot in the family. Heathcliff accidentally overhears a conversation between Catherine and Nelly (the maid) where Catherine says that it would degrade her to marry Heathcliff. After hearing this, Heathcliff strives to make himself more acceptable to Catherine by moving up in the social system. Emily Bronte herself grew up in rural English society where the classes were rigidly segregated. By making the plot of