Wuthering Heights - A Gothic masterpiece: Book Review #6
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë isn’t (just) a romance. It is a gothic examination of the cycle of abuse and inequality
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
The Fallen Angel, Alexandre Cabanel, 1847
Wuthering Heights is a classic tale about broken people weathering stormy winters and generational trauma, finding love and losing it, seeking revenge and eventually embracing healing in the next generation.
Heathcliff is not a romantic hero. His abusive upbringing, anger at his wrongdoers, and the consequent horrible treatment of everyone make him a complex anti-hero. His bond with Catherine is built on shared trauma that brings them closer than perhaps shared joy ever could. They get caught in the vicious cycle of revenge and generational abuse, and make wrong decisions. However, there is hope for healing among the next generation as well as breaking the shackles of class structures.
“If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.”
The novel implores one to ask what makes someone ‘evil’. If a child is mercilessly abused, they can’t be expected to act in any other way than the one they were taught. There are racial undertones to the treatment of Heathcliff. I couldn’t help but reflect upon themes like imperialism and colonial oppression based on lineage and place of origin, especially after noting the juxtaposition of the two manors, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, representing opposing values of ‘wilderness’ and ‘civilisation’.
The unique narrative choice (an outsider repeating the account of the housekeeper, who observed the protagonists closely), along with narrators’ bias, might distance the readers from the inner voices of the protagonists. Time isn’t linear either, with the narrative taking us back to the past, abruptly spoiling the climatic fate of the protagonists and then revealing how it unfolded. Despite that, I absolutely loved the story, perhaps even more because of the way it was told. Emily Brontë is among the late authors that I would have loved to interview, delving into her artistic choices and understanding the reasoning behind her unique narrative style.
“You said I killed you - haunt me then. Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad. Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!”
This is a tale of people who are removed from the landscape of civilisational norms, perfect for readers who can appreciate unlikeable characters in a gothic setting.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5
Year of publishing: 1847
Year of reading: 2022
Genre: Gothic fiction, classics
Song recommendation: My Tears Ricochet by Taylor Swift