In chapter 15 Nelly says "Far better that she should be dead than lingering a burden and a misery - maker to all about her". How far do you agree with Nelly's assessment of Catherine?
In chapter 15 Nelly says "Far better that she should be dead than lingering a burden and a misery - maker to all about her". How far do you agree with Nelly's assessment of Catherine? Brontë's presentation of Catherine is a very engaging one on many levels. She causes, directly and indirectly, misery and pain primarily to Heathcliff and Edgar. She can be seen as a "burden and misery - maker". However, you must also remember that during her childhood, Catherine and Heathcliff's relationship is punctuated by nothing but joy and support. Only when faced with the dilemma of choosing marriage for status or for love, does Catherine's relationships begin to alter and change. Nelly's assumed and obviously biased presentation of Catherine also influences the reader's perception especially her use of semantic fields and negative attitude. In death, however, Catherine causes coincidently more pain than she does alive, and so personally, I disagree with Nelly's assessment. Catherine develops from a mischievous little girl, to a materialistic young woman. Her self-centred attitude caused by her lack of attention and love as a child has a huge impact on the relationships she has and how she becomes a misery - maker. Catherine proves this when she says, "... dismiss that apathy... and look rather more anxious about me!" Although bringing joy and happiness to Heathcliff and Edgar, by the
Character Analysis of Heathcliff In Emily Bronte's novel, Wuthering Heights
Character Analysis of Heathcliff In Emily Bronte's novel, Wuthering Heights, the major character Heathcliff is a difficult to understand. He goes from a being an innocent victim to a self-centered, spiteful individual. He is determined to get revenge on many of the characters, which causes his characteristics, both good and bad, to show. Heathcliff is presented as an embodiment of dark powers. He is described by most characters as being evil or representing the devil. Edgar Linton describes him as a "most diabolical" man. His own son shrinks from him and Heathcliff exclaims, "You would imagine I was the devil himself - to excite such horror." (153) But Isabella Linton is the character that leaves the reader with the strongest impression that Heathcliff is devil-like. She writes a letter to Nelly telling of the conditions she is leaving under and the horrible way Heathcliff treats her. She says, "Is Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? If he is not, is he a devil?" (100) She also considers him to be "a monster and not a human being." Heathcliff declares that since he cannot punish Edgar for causing Catherine's illness, he will punish Isabella in his place. Heathcliff's abuse of Isabella is purely sadistic. It is amusing to him seeing how she can take his abuse and still come back for more. In these ways, he is very much like the devil. Naturally, the treatment he receives at
Examine the significance of place in Wuthering Heights.
Sophie Johnstone Examine the significance of place in Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte uses the idea of place in Wuthering Heights to portray many themes; the three main places within the novel are Wuthering Heights, Thrushcross Grange and the moors. Each one is very significant and symbolises it's own issue. Wuthering Heights is dark, inhospitable and fortress like, as if built for defence, "The narrow windows are deeply set into the wall and corners defended with large jutting stones", the residents of the house are also very defensive and the setting of the house frames the mood of the characters, " 'I don't want your help,' she snapped", the idea that the house changes the behaviour of the characters comes into motion at this point. However at the end of the novel I feel that this concept is reversed as the atmosphere of the house is completely changed and this is due to the characters who live there, "Both doors and lattices were open; and, yet, as is usually the case in a coal district, a fine, red fire illumined the chimney..." Wuhering Heights is a house, which is difficult to get to and where the wind blows and howls outside it, causing the 'stunted' fir trees to 'excessively slant'. The house is constantly battered by the Yorkshire weather but always manages to withstand it, just like Catherine and Heathcliff's passion for each other withstands anything. When the
Creative writing - A Christmas to remember.
Original writing Melissa Osman A Christmas To Remember For the first time in her life, Catherine Benson faced the prospect of spending Christmas alone. With a mixture of fond thoughts of the past and the sadness, she recalled the Christmas's of her childhood happy times full of love, laughter and family togetherness. However, this year, her parents were spending Christmas with her brother, who was happily married and with a family of his own. He lived In Wales. Of course, ever since college there had been Anthony. But even thinking the name now bought pain of sadness and loneliness. Anthony and Catherine had been inseparable. They has so many plans for the future. They'd shared dreams and so she thought, they shared lives. But that had all crumbled to dust in the last few months. The love she thought would last forever had failed to stand the first major test of their relationship. Sighing, she draped the last piece of tinsel over the branches of her small tree and stepped back to cast a critical eye upon it. It barely seemed worth the effort just for herself. Some how the tree and the fireplace, served only to make her situation seem little more worthwhile. If only she could get Anthony McBride out of her mind as effectively as he had removed himself from her life. But he crept into her thoughts at the most weirdest times and though it had been several hard painful
Compare and Assess at least two of the following approaches in feminist theory, with illustration from two of the Victorian texts you have studied: Anglo-American Feminism; French Feminism
Name: Student Number: Unit Number: 84523162 Unit Leader: Unit Title: Victorian Literature: Social Contexts and Theoretic Perspectives. Assignment Title: 'Compare and Assess at least two of the following approaches in feminist theory, with illustration from two of the Victorian texts you have studied: Anglo-American feminism; French Feminism; Socialist or Marxist Feminism; feminist approaches influenced by Foucault.' 'I declare that this is my own work and that I have followed the code of academic good conduct and have sought, where necessary, advice and guidance in the proper presentation of my work.' Signature: Date: 'Compare and Assess at least two of the following approaches in feminist theory, with illustration from two of the Victorian texts you have studied: Anglo-American Feminism; French Feminism; Socialist or Marxist Feminism; Feminist Approaches influenced by Foucault.' Feminist theory like psychoanalytic theory is relatively modern in its creation. The immergence of feminist literary theories can be linked to the out break of female political uprising in the early nineteenth century. The French Revolution marked the beginning of a fight for the obtaining of women's rights to power and equality in society. Elaine Showalter comments that the ideological socially acceptable view of Victorian
Is the Tragedy in Return of the Native and Wuthering Heights due to the author's presentation of the characters or social influences?
Is the Tragedy in Return of the Native and Wuthering Heights due to the author's presentation of the characters or social influences? The Return of the Native and Wuthering Heights are both novels that are centred around the theme of tragedy. The plots in both books involve mainly tragic characters and their downtrodden outcomes. The tragic storylines seem to be due to social influences rather than the way in which the authors present their characters. For example Cathy's undesired love for servant boy Heathcliff or Mrs Yeobright's family pride. An example of tragedy in Return of the Native is the death of Mrs Yeobright who dies from exhaustion when crossing the heath to settle an argument with her son Clym. This death could have been prevented if Eustacia had opened the door to Mrs Yeobright. The tragic death of Mrs Yeobright can be seen from two different view points. Some may say that the social influences caused the tragedy due to the fact that Eustacia was unable to open the door to Mrs Yeobright because Wildeve was in the house with her. In the 19th century when the book was written it would have been extremely frowned upon for a women to be alone with another man who wasn't their husband. When Clym finds out why Eustacia didn't open the door to his mother he puts all the blame on her. He says, 'You had another man in the house with you - you sent her away to die -
Taking into account the background of the of the author what do the remoteness and loneliness of the setting contribute to the effect of the novel,
Taking into account the background of the author what do the remoteness and loneliness of the setting contribute to the effect of the novel, "Wuthering Heights"? Emily Bronte loved nature and spent most of her childhood on the remote Yorkshire Moors near her home in Haworth. Emily found that the Moors were a place of peace and sanctuary where she could retreat to relax and follow one of her most favourite past times, which was writing. However she knew that in a matter of seconds the Moors could change into a wild and savage wilderness. Emily chose this ever-changing setting for her only novel "Wuthering Heights". "Wuthering Heights" tells the tale of two families living in and around the bleak Yorkshire Moors near a small village, very similar to Haworth, called Gimmerton. This setting mirrors the personalities of the savage and brutal characters. These characters live in a remote and weather ravaged working farmhouse called Wuthering Heights. Wuthering Heights acquired it's name due to the, "atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather" The inhabitants of Wuthering Heights need to be tough to survive and only those characters born in Wuthering Heights are able to survive within it. When Hindley returns from University with his wife Frances she dies rather quickly as she cannot survive the savage weather conditions. We do not expect Hindley to die
Heathcliff has been described as both an archetypal romantic hero and an intrinsically evil villain - Explore the contradictory character of Heathcliff in “WutheringHeights”, with reference to these generic categories.
Heathcliff has been described as both an archetypal romantic hero and an intrinsically evil villain. Explore the contradictory character of Heathcliff in "Wuthering Heights", with reference to these generic categories. "She abandoned them under a delusion" he said, "picturing in me a hero of romance and expecting unlimited indulgences from my chivalrous devotion." Heathcliff is portrayed as a villain but at the same time, a romantic hero. It seems that he is double edged. He schemes to get Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights, but he is not always so vengeful and rancorous. For example, when the ghost of Catherine Earnshaw came to the window, he wept for her and begged for her to come back. "Come in! Come in! Cathy do come. Oh do once more! Oh! My heart's darling! Hear me this time, Catherine at last!" in this he shows his hypersensitive side and emotional side. He begs Catherine to go to him and be with him forever. However, his vengeful side does get the better of him quite often and demonstrates him to be gothic, dark, evil and morose. "Though it's as dark, almost as if it came from the devil." This explains his gothic and dark approach. The evil and morose trait is unveiled with Hindley, where he swears revenge on him for all the grief and pain Hindley inflicted on Heathcliff. Hindley was so callous and malicious towards Heathcliff and always belittled him as well as
Explain what is happening in the passage of pages 120-128. What is shown about the relationship between the characters? How Cathy might be interpreted by different readers.
Sophie Hale 12Mc Explain what is happening in the passage of pages 120-128. What is shown about the relationship between the characters? How Cathy might be interpreted by different readers. It is this passage that Cathy realizes that she has made the wrong decision. She shouldn't have married Edgar she should be with Heathcliff. This realization is first saw when she saw her reflection in the mirror. 'Is that Catherine Linton?' Cathy asks this question because she saw someone that she does not recognize. She used to be a healthy, strong, wild girl and in her reflection she sees a pale, weak and unhappy woman. By seeing her reflection the reader can almost imagine what she is thinking. It seems as if she sees in the mirror her surroundings and realizes that it is her decision that puts her in this position. She chooses to marry Edgar and as a result denies her love for Heathcliff. From a feminist point of view it is a sign of Cathy's empowerment that she has finally realized that she shouldn't have married Edgar for his high social status, instead she should have married Heahcliff to satisfy her own feelings of immense love. It also touches on the fact that in this time period, once Cathy realizes she has made a mistake there is no way out of it, she has no means of escape, she is trapped. Cathy chose this path and as a result entered in to a world of distress and regret.
Through close reference to the novel as a whole explain to what extent you think this is an accurate assessment of Catherine.
'Catherine's folly lies not in indulging her taste for melodramatic literature but in imposing its values on the life around her.' Through close reference to the novel as a whole explain to what extent you think this is an accurate assessment of Catherine. 'Northanger Abbey' arose partially as a response to the popular novels of the time, principally it satirises the form and conventions of the Gothic genre, so sick is Austen of their absurd unrealism, "pictures of perfection as you know make me sick and wicked." In Catherine, Austen takes a realistic character that the reader can identify with, using her failings to teach a universal lesson, the dangers of imagination uncontrolled by reason. Whereas Austen's attack on the Gothic genre is merely a personal disapproval, through Catherine the author attempts to highlight the dangerous consequences of false allusions based on the books one reads (not necessarily gothic fiction), a message relevant to all. Through the course of the novel there are numerous references to traits of the Gothic novel, whereby Austen parodies these elements or turns them on their head. This is primarily evident in the characteristics of the novels' central protagonist, Catherine. The reader is introduced to Catherine as the most unlikely of heroines, "her mind about as ignorant and uninformed as the female mind at seventeen usually is." We discover