Wuthering Heights Notes

Critical Opinions on Narrative and Genre

Ÿ ‘A moral tale of the futility of grand passion.’ - J. Hillis Miller

Ÿ ‘A conflict between two cosmological forces, calm and storm.’ - J. Hillis Miller - These two

forces could be taken to represent Edgar and Heathcliff and their battle for Catherine’s affection.

Whilst she effectively conforms to the more socially acceptable ‘calm,’ the ‘storm’ is a resonant

force throughout and dominates all aspects of the novel.

Ÿ ‘With its confident originality it appears to belong to the tradition of the roman personnel’.

- Claire Jones, York Notes

Ÿ ‘A romantic novel, given its pervading fascination with dreams and the unconscious.’ -

Claire Jones, York Notes - This also gives the novel Freudian connotations along with Catherine

and Heathcliff’s demonstration of the id; the indulgent element of personality.

Ÿ ‘The “enigmatic” figure of Heathcliff is the result of his crossing between literary genres.’ -

Nancy Armstrong, Stoneman, 1993 - Heathcliff, like the novel, can not be prescribed a definite

label, he avoids definition which makes his character so compelling; it is in the reader’s interest to

gain a true understanding of Heathcliff, although for the most part this is impossible.

Ÿ ‘The inadequacies of the perceptions of Lockwood or Nelly do not prevent the reader

from seeming to apprehend the real nature of the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff.’

- Catherine Belsey, Critical Practice, 1980

Ÿ Some feminist analyses have focused on the fact that Nelly’s narrative superscribes that

of Lockwood. - This portrays a belief of the dominance of women which can be compared to the

character of Catherine and to the author, Emily Bronte; both of whom rejected the social norms of

the time.

Ÿ ‘ The reader must reject Nelly’s point of view, forcing them into an active participation in

the book.’ - John K. Mathison, 1956 - Bronte encourages the reader’s judgement and proves the

nature of defining a novel is purely subjective.

Ÿ ‘The narrators are not merely neutral commentators on the action, but active participants

in it.’ - Carl Woodring, 1957

Critical Opinions
 Wuthering Heights Notes

Critical Opinions on Catherine

Ÿ ‘The world of the novel is testament to her character, but it is testament to a character

that can leave only the ghostly signs of itself behind.’ - Claire Jones, York Notes - This shows

mortality, yet immortality, in addition to Catherine’s dominance. She dominates Heathcliff’s life,

even after her death.

Ÿ ‘Catherine’s fractured or fragmented social identity… “I am Heathcliff” is both dramatic

and memorable, but it cannot stabilise her identity since Heathcliff is too enigmatic and uncertain.’

- Claire Jones, York Notes

Ÿ ‘Catherine is nevertheless equally capable of ruthless destruction.’ -Claire Jones, York

Notes

Ÿ ‘Catherine, who does not expect to inherit, responds spontaneously to Heathcliff’s

presence… a spiritual orphan as he is a literal one.’ - Terry Eagleton.

Critical Opinions on Heathcliff

Ÿ ‘Heathcliff has only the singular name, which serves him as both Christian and surname.

This places him radically outside social patterns and conventions.’ - Demonstrates a lack of

belonging. Whilst he was adopted into the Earnshaw family, this suggests he was not fully

accepted and can not escape his air of mystery.

Ÿ ‘Perceived as both a gift and a threat… compelling undecidability of his character.

Contradiction typifies Heathcliff.’

Ÿ ‘Disturbs the conventional structure of the novel.’ - And the conventional ways of Victorian

life. He is an outsider in society yet Bronte allows him to dominate the novel. Strong Marxist

connotations- the rise of the proletariat.

Ÿ ‘The principle of calm and the principle of storm… in spite of their apparent opposition

these principles are not in conflict.’ - Cecil, 1958 - Can be linked to the idea of Heathcliff as both a

hero and a villain. He maintains both positions with equal strength.

Critical Opinions of Edgar

Critical Opinions
 Wuthering Heights Notes

Ÿ ‘Edgar represents the world of conventional morality to which Heathcliff is the antithesis.’

Ÿ ‘A doll/ A spoiled child/ A soft thing/ A lamb [who] threatens like a bull.’

Ÿ ‘Edgar’s masculinity is that of social power’ - Gilbert and Gubar, 1979

Ÿ ‘He is not troubled by internal contradiction and he remains in his place throughout the

novel.’

Critical Opinions