"...the guest was now the master of Wuthering Heights." -pg. 162
Oh, how the tables have turned! But seriously, the once-hated Heathcliff has now gained control of Wuthering Heights. Although I'm rather confused on how, he takes over the Earnshaw's place of residence after Mr. Earnshaw dies. To me, this foreshadows gloom towards all of Wuthering Heights. It further adds to the contrast between his place of residence and the Grange. The Grange is still a place of home and comfort, especially now that Healthcliff has taken over Wuthering Heights. This also represents a large shift in power. It upturns the idea of discrimination and proves that the minority can overcome the ones who have been putting them down.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Wuthering Heights 7
"his basilisk eyes were nearly quenched by sleeplessness and weeping" -pg. 155
This quote is describing Heathcliff and his misery. Heathcliff, a very complex character, can be hated and sympathized by readers. Personally, I really hate him. However, this quote and his experiences bring on a sympathy towards him. He has gone through discrimination and loss of the only person who didn't look down on him. However, based on his actions, he is characterized as evil. He tries to harm Earnshaw and Isabella many times, and is very hateful towards everyone after Catherine's death. Moments of sympathy cannot bring me to like him as a character.
This quote is describing Heathcliff and his misery. Heathcliff, a very complex character, can be hated and sympathized by readers. Personally, I really hate him. However, this quote and his experiences bring on a sympathy towards him. He has gone through discrimination and loss of the only person who didn't look down on him. However, based on his actions, he is characterized as evil. He tries to harm Earnshaw and Isabella many times, and is very hateful towards everyone after Catherine's death. Moments of sympathy cannot bring me to like him as a character.
Wuthering Heights 6
"...what had urged her to escape from Wuthering Heights." -pg. 149
This is just one example of the contrast between Wuthering Heights and the Grange. Bronte uses diction when describing Wuthering Heights that is dark, confined, and resembles a prison. In this quote, the speaker is "escaping" from Wuthering Heights as if it is a prison. Their place of refuge is always the Grange. Many times the characters have said they feel at home or have a sense of warmth here. The Grange greatly contrasts Wuthering Heights by the use of imagery and diction. Without this imagery and diction, we would not be able to get into the thoughts of the characters because of the first person narrative. The Grange continues to be a place of refuge and warmth throughout the book.
This is just one example of the contrast between Wuthering Heights and the Grange. Bronte uses diction when describing Wuthering Heights that is dark, confined, and resembles a prison. In this quote, the speaker is "escaping" from Wuthering Heights as if it is a prison. Their place of refuge is always the Grange. Many times the characters have said they feel at home or have a sense of warmth here. The Grange greatly contrasts Wuthering Heights by the use of imagery and diction. Without this imagery and diction, we would not be able to get into the thoughts of the characters because of the first person narrative. The Grange continues to be a place of refuge and warmth throughout the book.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Wuthering Heights 5
"Before I came to live here...I was almost always at Wuthering Heights." -pg. 29
Mrs. Dean, the narrator of the inner story, gives the reader information through anechdotes. In contrast, Lockwood gives us information through his thoughts and feelings. This change in narrator gives the reader more insight into the events of the story. Mrs. Dean's anechdotes are the primary source we get information about the past from. This change of narrator also represents a change in setting. Lockwood narrates in 1801, which is the present. Mrs. Dean's stories are set in the mid 1970's to the present. This is why Mrs. Dean's anechdotes are so important--they give the reader information about the past that we would not currently know without them.
Mrs. Dean, the narrator of the inner story, gives the reader information through anechdotes. In contrast, Lockwood gives us information through his thoughts and feelings. This change in narrator gives the reader more insight into the events of the story. Mrs. Dean's anechdotes are the primary source we get information about the past from. This change of narrator also represents a change in setting. Lockwood narrates in 1801, which is the present. Mrs. Dean's stories are set in the mid 1970's to the present. This is why Mrs. Dean's anechdotes are so important--they give the reader information about the past that we would not currently know without them.
Wuthering Heights 4
"It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him." -pg. 70
This brings about a big theme in the book-- the battle between what a character really wants, and the character's duty to his/her family. In this example, Catherine obviously loves Heathcliff very much, yet she cannot marry him because of his social status. Heathcliff was a beggar and is very dirty. He was picked up by the family because he was left on the side of the road. Because of this, Catherine feels like she cannot marry him and her family will not approve. However, this decision sends her into a downward spiral. Although she marries Edgar and thinks she is happy, she truly loves Heathcliff until the day she dies. She frustrates me as a character simply because she was the cause of all this destruction, including her own. She made the decision to marry Edgar over Heathcliff, causing her all this heartbreak and her own death.
This brings about a big theme in the book-- the battle between what a character really wants, and the character's duty to his/her family. In this example, Catherine obviously loves Heathcliff very much, yet she cannot marry him because of his social status. Heathcliff was a beggar and is very dirty. He was picked up by the family because he was left on the side of the road. Because of this, Catherine feels like she cannot marry him and her family will not approve. However, this decision sends her into a downward spiral. Although she marries Edgar and thinks she is happy, she truly loves Heathcliff until the day she dies. She frustrates me as a character simply because she was the cause of all this destruction, including her own. She made the decision to marry Edgar over Heathcliff, causing her all this heartbreak and her own death.
Wuthering Heights 3
"A high wind blustered round the house, and roared in the chimney; it sounded wild and stormy, yet it was not cold." -pg. 36
This scene is one example of how nature parallels to the events of the story. Wuthering Heights gets its name from the way the weather is stormy and dark sometimes, or "Wuthering". This example of the weather being described as stormy and windy directly parallels to the events going on within the residence. The father had just died and there is lots of mourning within the house. This also lets the reader know that whenever the weather is stormy or "Wuthering," the relationships and the events within the residences are reflective of the weather. It also shows the effect that nature has on the town and the towns near it. In the first few chapters, Lockwood was stuck at the Heathcliffs' because of the snowy weather locking him in. This also effected the plot by the dialect and events that happened during his short stay.
This scene is one example of how nature parallels to the events of the story. Wuthering Heights gets its name from the way the weather is stormy and dark sometimes, or "Wuthering". This example of the weather being described as stormy and windy directly parallels to the events going on within the residence. The father had just died and there is lots of mourning within the house. This also lets the reader know that whenever the weather is stormy or "Wuthering," the relationships and the events within the residences are reflective of the weather. It also shows the effect that nature has on the town and the towns near it. In the first few chapters, Lockwood was stuck at the Heathcliffs' because of the snowy weather locking him in. This also effected the plot by the dialect and events that happened during his short stay.
Wuthering Heights 2
"I have gained the reputation of deliberate heartlessness." -pg. 3
The narrator, Lockwood, directly characterizes himself here as heartless. He then proceeds to tell a story of how a woman broke his heart due to requainted love. This small anechdote from the narrator gives us a look into who he is as a person. This anechdote also foreshadows the rest of the book and the story within the frame. As I progressed through the book, I realized that this was foreshadowing of the complicated love that Catherine and Heathcliff share. Healthcliff, much like Lockwood, was unable to be with his love because she would not be with him. Healthcliff was too rugged and dirty for Catherine to marry, and this caused Healthcliff to be heartless. This heartlessness is shown towards Edgar, Isabella, and the rest of their family.
The narrator, Lockwood, directly characterizes himself here as heartless. He then proceeds to tell a story of how a woman broke his heart due to requainted love. This small anechdote from the narrator gives us a look into who he is as a person. This anechdote also foreshadows the rest of the book and the story within the frame. As I progressed through the book, I realized that this was foreshadowing of the complicated love that Catherine and Heathcliff share. Healthcliff, much like Lockwood, was unable to be with his love because she would not be with him. Healthcliff was too rugged and dirty for Catherine to marry, and this caused Healthcliff to be heartless. This heartlessness is shown towards Edgar, Isabella, and the rest of their family.
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