Book review: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

This has thus far been the earliest piece of original writing I have read. It comes from a period in time when customs, norms and the way of life was vastly different from what they are today. This is an often neglected aspect when approaching older books. I find it important to keep them in context and thus excuse some of their perceived shortcomings.

Now, with the customary disclaimers out of the way, shall we begin?

The Setting

The book introduces us to Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange as the respective mansions of the Earnshaws and the Lintons - two families that are about to have their lives connected in dramatic ways. We are introduced to four characters almost outright - those of Mr. Lockwood, Mrs. Dean, the young Catherine and Heathcliff. In the beginning of the novel, one could only suspect their relationship, but would surely fail to correctly guess it. After a series of tense exchanges between one of the protagonists and the main antagonist, the book takes a retrospective step back in time to give context to what had transpired up to that point in time.

The story follows the lives of 2 generations of the Earnshaws and the Lintons. It offers a thorough showcase of human vanity, more specifically in the higher echelons of society. The storyteller (Mrs. Dean) offers no particular critique of said vanity, instead seemingly sympathising with it or at least tolerating it. The elder Earnshaw is father to Hindley and Catherine, additionally sheltering and taking care of an orphan, Heathcliff, whom Hindley deeply despises. The relationship between Hindley and Heathcliff is one of hate and torment, the former doing his utmost to keep the latter in a permanent state of physical and mental deprivation. So strong is Hindley's hate of Heathcliff due to his father's perceived favouritism of the latter, that he keeps Heathcliff in semi-literacy and refers to him as a 'brute'. Catherine, Hindley's sister and Heathcliff's love interest, takes on a pivotal role in the novel. She and Heathcliff develop a somewhat fiery, though platonic relationship where Heathcliff becomes deeply in love. Catherine considers him to be of lower standing and is condescending to him, while at the same time sympathising with him.

A time comes when Catherine falls in love with a neighbouring child, Edgar Linton, whom she perceives to be of equal standing to her. The ensuing envy, shame, regret and overall human tragedy that results is what makes the novel a masterpiece. The book's weakness, in my view, is the obvious lack of awareness of its characters' at times shallowness and their one-sided portrayals. This can to an extent be explained by the era in which the book was written, a time when pride and honour were given great significance and where social class was overwhelmingly important to one's chances of success. The novel's strengths, on the other hand, are many. The brutal, gritty realism of its contents offer a deep dive into the human soul. The complete lack of self-awareness of its characters, although infuriating at times, is easy to understand from a historical perspective. A time seemingly more cordial and refined, whilst in reality - a time that was far less egalitarian and more classist than what we have today, for all the faults of modern life.

Final words

I would certainly recommend the novel, as it is a captivating read. It offers a rare perspective of a writer from a completely different era, which comes with a ton of positives as well as with some negatives. Do not dive into the book expecting an introspective, psychologically inquisitive read, for in such a case you will be disappointed. Try to read it with a sense of historical perspective. With these final words, I hope you enjoy Wuthering Heights as mush as I did.