While Heathcliff and Edgar act as foils for one another, it is more useful to consider their function in the novel as individuals. Discuss

While Heathcliff and Edgar act as foils for one another, it is more useful to consider their function in the novel as individuals. In the novel, if Heathcliff is to be considered the primary protagonist, then Edgar is the primary antagonist. Heathcliff's greatest desire is Catherine and the main obstacle that stands in his way is Edgar who, with his greater wealth and higher social status manages to keep her out of his reach. There is therefore a great connection between these two characters which could be explored in great detail; but is it more useful to consider them as two separate entities in the novel, with their other connections having greater importance? When viewed together it can be claimed that as the reader we understand the characters more clearly when they are contrasted against each other. Bronte has set up a possible juxtaposition between Heathcliff and Edgar as it allows the reader to gage the extremities of the two men who are, in many respects polar opposites. This is evident in the most immediate of ways: physical appearance. There is an instant difference in the "long light hair" of Edgar whose figure is "almost too graceful" to the face of Heathcliff that is "half covered with black whiskers" with eyes "deep set and singular". Further and possibly more useful comparisons include the gulfs in class and wealth of the two men. This is obviously an

  • Word count: 698
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Assess the ways in which Bronte establishes the mood of the novel and the essential contrast between Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange in the first 6 chapters.

Look at the first 6 chapters of 'Wuthering Heights.' Assess the ways in which Bronte establishes the mood of the novel and the essential contrast between Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange in the first 6 chapters. Wuthering Heights is first described by Lockwood in Chapter One. He comes to Wuthering Heights to meet Heathcliff his landlord. Lockwood's description of Heathcliff makes him appear mysterious as he states "Mr Heathcliff may have entirely dissimilar reasons for keeping his hand out of the way when he meets a would-be acquaintance." The narrator gives clues to the reader about Heathcliff's unknown past. In the same way, Wuthering Heights itself shares an unknown past with its inhabitants and its description demonstrates that the house has been ravished by time. The fierce weather that the beginning of the novel is set against establishes the mood of the novel; one in which passion and anger is key. The house has witnessed the events of time and therefore appears to be secluded and ruined. In contrast, Thrushcross Grange appears warm and inviting. Lockwood mentions that he has a "study fire." Wuthering Heights on the other hand, is inhospitable according to Lockwood; "I could ill endure after this inhospitable treatment." Therefore Bronte is able to establish a fearful mood to begin the novel. Wuthering Heights is a symbol of the repression of freedom whereas

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Critics suggest that Wuthering Heights is a novel concerned with boundaries. Explore the effect of these boundaries in relation to the relationship of Catherine and Heathcliff.

Critics suggest that 'Wuthering Heights' is a novel concerned with boundaries. Explore the effect of these boundaries in relation to the relationship of Catherine and Heathcliff. Throughout 'Wuthering Heights', physical and metaphorical boundaries are crucial in communicating Emily Brontë's moral messages about the position of women in 19th Century society and the barriers separating individuals of different social status. Both of these themes are conveyed by the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff as Catherine is forced to forsake her true love and instead marry Edgar Linton because he is socially acceptable, "And he will be rich, and I shall like to be the greatest woman of the neighbourhood, and I shall be proud of having such a husband" and Heathcliff is of lower social standing, "It would degrade [Catherine] to marry Heathcliff". The social barrier between Heathcliff and Catherine manifests itself in a myriad of ways during the novel and is eventually broken by Hareton and Cathy- the new generation of residents on the moors. This conclusion was clearly a statement of intent from Emily Brontë which suggested the oppressive boundaries of the 19th Century patriarchal society would ultimately be eradicated by a new generation of Britons- a view which was vindicated after Brontë's tragic death, as the Suffragettes earned women the right to vote and various

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Commentary on "I am the only being whose doom" by Emily Bronte

Commentary on "I am the only being whose doom" by Emily Bronte The title of the poem is directly taken from the first line, which immediately conveys the poet's cynical attitude towards life and her isolation from the world. No one would care for her anymore. Despite this, she "never caused a thought of gloom" because she had been distanced from the society and lost her feelings and hopes. "A smile of joy, since I was born" is said as if the poet is trying to cheer herself up in the moment of depression. She seems very firm and does not need any consolation, but in fact, this is not true. In this stanza, the poet talks directly to us, using earnest language and direct words. She lays bare her lonely soul to us. The diction is not at all euphemistic. Words such as "doom", "mourn", "gloom", "joy" are strong and direct. In stanza 2, the poet goes on telling about her life. Her life is "secret", as shown in "In secret pleasure - secret tears". Her secret pleasure is probably achieved through writing, while secret tears mean her sadness which nobody cares or even knows. The repetition of the word "secret", furthermore, places emphasis on her desolation. Then, she mentions "This changeful life has slipped away." A sense of poignancy infuses this line when we learn that her life is almost over. She seems to feel that life is not worth it. She remains "friendless" and "lonely",

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Love is the Root of all suffering in Wuthering Heights In what ways do you agree?

'Love is the Root of all suffering in Wuthering Heights'- In what ways do you agree? Many people see Wuthering Heights as a novel about love. However, for some characters such as Heathcliff and Catherine, it can have a detrimental effect. Isabella pursued Heathcliff as she saw him as a 'hero of romance'. She was besotted by him and this made her overlook all his flaws and brutality thinking that deep down he was loving and could care about her. 'She saw me hang up her little dog' despite this cruel and careless act she still eloped with him. Her love for Heathcliff made her ignore these warnings. Further into the marriage, Heathcliff acts violently towards her and deliberately mistreats her - 'I would turn her blue eyes black'. Eventually Isabella has to leave despite the fact she was married with a child to escape her suffering. She was brought up in an upper class family but ignored the social expectations of women because her suffering was so great. However, it can be argued that Isabella never really loved Heathcliff and it was just an infatuation commonly associated with Byronic heroes. As soon as she knew what Heathcliff was really like, she described him as a 'beast' and fled. Catherine described her love for Heathcliff as the 'eternal rocks beneath' and of 'little visible delight' The word 'eternal' suggests she will always love him yet the phrase 'of little

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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The position of the female in 19th Century English society was of key import to Bront in Wuthering Heights, explore the validity of this statement.

'The position of the female in 19th Century English society was of key import to Brontë in Wuthering Heights', explore the validity of this statement. During the early 1800's, the period in which Emily Brontë wrote 'Wuthering Heights', English women were treated as inferior to men and as a result had sparse rights and were in possession of almost no power. Women were expected to conform to strict social protocols such as complete obedience and devotion to their husbands, were only able to pursue careers in restrictive badly paid roles such as governess, and were poorly protected by a legal system which universally favoured men- making it virtually impossible to escape from an unhappy, possibly violent marriage. Throughout Wuthering Heights, Brontë challenges the position of the female in English society by developing the characters of Catherine Earnshaw and Isabella Linton as strong, intelligent women who were ultimately broken by the social conventions which bound their spirit and ambition- forcing them into decisions which would destroy their lives. Catherine Earnshaw is the female protagonist of the novel and is described as a beautiful, passionate woman who is torn between her socially degrading eternal love for Heathcliff and the prospect of conventional marriage with the upper class Edgar Linton, Brontë skilfully uses metaphor and incorporates themes of nature from

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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The Gothic Elements of Wuthering Heights

'The Gothic elements of Wuthering Heights are made credible by the novel's setting and narrators.' How far would you agree with this view? Some would argue that the novel's setting is particularly important in establishing the novels Gothic elements, in particular relations between past and present, the medieval and modernity. The contrast between the two houses, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, for instance, which has been seen as carrying such metaphysical significance, is not left a generalised level, but is grounded in specific details which reveal the time, place, and class of their opponents. The house at Wuthering Heights is a functional place, marked by dogs, guns and oatcakes which are part of a feudal agricultural economy, while Thrushcross Grange is a place of leisure, distinctly Victorian aristocratic, characterised by products of other people's labour - carpets, chandeliers, sweet cakes, and lap dogs. It is therefore possible to extract historical opposition between these two settings, with the Earnshaws, the yeomen farmers who work of the land, being replaced by the genteel way of the Lintons who live of their rents. This relationship with the past, which is juxtaposed with the 'new' world of Victorian decadence, is an important element of the Gothic which is brought to life by Bronte's description of these different abodes and their occupants. The

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  • Level: AS and A Level
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Comment on the way a sense of place is created in the first chapter of "Wuthering Heights"

Comment on the way a sense of place is created in this passage. In your answer, focus on: . Bronte’s narrative voice 2. Bronte’s language choices Mr. Heathcliff, a surly, ‘dark-skinned’ man living in a manor called Wuthering Heights - “wuthering” being a local adjective used to describe the fierce and wild winds that blow during storms on the moors. The use of the noun “dwelling” is used rather than house – why? This could be because maybe Mr Heathcliff doesn’t like living here or maybe it’s a farm house. The passage from the first chapter is spoken in the voice of Lockwood, represents the mysterious figure of Heathcliff, using first of many attempts in the book to explain of Heathcliff; his character and motivations. During the first chapter, a reader discusses the question of his social position—is he a gentleman or a gypsy? This causes particular confusion. Further on the passage, it says Mr Heathcliff “love and hate equally” implying that he treats everyone equally even though he has a higher status. The use of the metaphor and personification: ‘one may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house, and a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun.’ By describing the "stunted firs," "gaunt thorns," and the

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Is Catherine Earnshaw a Typical Victorian Woman or a Modern Woman?

Catherine Earnshaw’s attitudes and behaviour are more like those of a typical modern woman than a typical Victorian woman. ‘Wuthering Heights’ deals with the raw animal passion that finds no home within the walls of institutionalized society. Bronte dared to go outside of what Victorian society deemed correct, regarding the presentation of not only Catherine and Heathcliff's love but female sexual desire overall. This is why I believe that Catherine Earnshaw's attitudes and behaviours are depicted in a way that makes her to be more of a typical modern woman than of a typical Victorian one. It was widely assumed in the Victorian era that women did not have any sexual desire and were to therefore, stay chaste for their future husband. However, it is possible that Catherine had engaged in, or had expressed her desire to be in a sexual relationship with Heathcliff when she states, ‘I am Heathcliff’ as D.H. Lawrence expresses in his book, ‘The Divine Heroine’ that when two people engage in a sexual relationship they became, ‘two in one’; the same person. If Edgar Linton believed that Catherine was not chaste, it is likely he would not have married her in conformation with the Victorian society’s norms. Ultimately, it is Catherine’s intense love for Heathcliff that sets her apart from a typical Victorian woman; their love defies the status quo and is a faux-

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Outsiders and Outcasts in "Wuthering Heights"

Geofrey Banzi Explore the presentation of outsiders and outcasts in the novels. Use ‘’Orange are not the Only Fruit’’ to illuminate your understanding of the core text. “Wuthering Heights” is a Gothic novel written by Emily Bronte in 1847. The novel revolves around the story of a dark protagonist and outsider Heathcliff. As an outsider his presence is shown to have negative consequences resulting in the demise of various members of the Earnshaw Household, including that of his star crossed love, Catherine Earnshaw. The theme of outsiders and outcasts is seen to pervade the story, highlighting the prejudice and contempt that would have been shown towards members of a lower social class in essence making them social pariahs, as well as showing the deep rooted suspicion and contempt that were shown towards outsiders. The novel has a frame narrative which includes various narrators. The incorporation of so many narrative voices especially those of outsiders like Nelly and Lockwood shows how Bronte has given the outsider a voice in a society that would have them stifled. Similarly, “Oranges are not the only fruit” is a first-person narrative that gives the outsider Jeanette a voice, expressing the prejudice and discrimination she receives as an outsider because of her evangelical background. The text also explores the extent to which she was made an outcast, often

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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