Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Wuthering Heights is a novel by Emily Bront, published in 1847. It was her first and only published
novel, as she died the following year, at age 30. The decision to publish came after the success of her
sister Charlotte's novel, Jane Eyre.

When the novel was written, the peak of the Romantic age had passed: Emily Bront lived a very
isolated life, and was in some sense behind the times. Wuthering Heights expresses criticisms of
social conventions, particularly those surrounding issues of gender. Bront had difficulties living in
society while remaining true to the things she considered important: the ideal of women as delicate
beings who avoid physical or mental activity and pursue fashions and flirtations was repugnant to
her.

This story is narrated by Lockwood, a gentleman visiting the Yorkshire moors where the novel is set,
and by Mrs Dean, housekeeper to the Earnshaw family, who had been witness of the interlocked
destinies of the original owners of the Heights. In a series of flashbacks and time shifts, Bront draws
a powerful picture of the enigmatic Heathcliff, who is brought to Heights from the streets of
Liverpool by Mr Earnshaw. Heathcliff is treated as Earnshaw's own children, Catherine and Hindley.
After his death Heathcliff is bullied by Hindley. Heathcliff who loves Catherine, but she marries Edgar
Linton. Heathcliff 's destructive force is unleashed, and his first victim is Catherine, who dies giving
birth to a girl, another Catherine. Isabella Linton, Edgar's sister, whom he had married, flees to the
south. Their son Linton and Catherine are married, but always sickly Linton dies. Hareton, Hindley's
son, and the young widow became close. Increasingly isolated and alienated from daily life, Heathcliff
experiences visions, and he longs for the death that will reunite him with Catherine.

Unlike most novels, Wuthering Heights' protagonists are anti-heroes; the very antithesis of what a
hero is supposed to be. Instead of compassionate and heroic, Heathcliff and Catherine are selfish and
petty. Instead of being blissfully in love, Catherine marries someone else and breaks Heathcliff's
heart. Too proud to tell each other their true feelings, they fight, storm and rage against each other,
destroying themselves in the process.

However, Catherine and Heathcliff are perhaps more realistic than most other novel characters claim
to be. They not only make mistakes, they cause desasters, completely devastate both people and
places and ruin it all by blaming solely themselves. The plot unravels, and with it, the characters,
blooming into bitterness and pride simply by being dishonest with each other. The entire drama is a
destruction of a human soul; how love can save and damn one man. Bront brings in a whole new
perspective on love.