Examine the reasons for destructive relationships in Wuthering heights
Bronte’s Wuthering heights displays several characteristics of destructive relationships, stemming from jealousy, uncaring parents, and not knowing the true personality of a husband or wife. These situations are all present in the novel, and all cause a breakdown in communication between characters, resulting in hostility and separation.
The destructive relationships between parent and offspring are shown through the characters of Hindley and his father, as well as Linton and Heathcliff. When Heathcliff first begins living with Mr Earnshaw, it becomes difficult for the relationship between him and his son to remain unaffected. Hindley becomes hostile towards his father as a result of being overshadowed by Heathcliff, who is favoured by Mr Earnshaw. Nelly reveals to the reader in chapter 4 that she had noticed Mr Earnshaw becoming increasingly fond of Heathcliff, disregarding the feelings of his own son Hindley. This resulted in a separation between Hindley and his father. The destructive relationship between them presents themes such as isolation and depression, typical of a gothic novel. “..and at Mr Earnshaw’s death, which happened less than two years after, the young master had learnt to regard his father as an oppressor rather than a friend...”. Bronte skilfully chose to continue the theme of uncaring parents throughout the novel. This continues long after the death of Mr Earnshaw, and becomes present in the relationship between Hindley and Hareton as a result of his gambling and drinking addiction. Hindley is unable to care for Hareton properly, and speaks about him in an almost hateful manner. Hindley says to Nelly “As sure as I’m living, I’ll break the brat’s neck!” Showing no love or care for Hareton, their relationship becomes destructive and like Hindley and his father, leads to separation. Similarly, the relationship between Linton and Heathcliff becomes dysfunctional because Heathcliff doesn’t care about his son. Linton reveals that Heathcliff threatened him, and that he dreads seeing him.