Wuthering Heights
Author: Emily Bronte
Life: 1818-1848
Publication Date: 1847
Setting: 1760-1800, Yorkshire England
Themes: Love, Revenge
Characters:
Heathcliff: A young gypsey orphan brought to live at Wuthering Heights by Mr. Earnshaw. Is not treated with any respect by anyone other than Catherine as a child after Mr. Earnshaw's death. Ends up falling in love with Catherine but later seeks revenge on her for marrying another man.
Catherine: Mr. Earnshaw's daughter. Is in love with Heathcliff but doesn't marry him because she thinks it would "degrade her". Marries Mr. Linton instead because he has money.
Edgar Linton: Catherine's husband. He is a very kind man but ends up falling into Heathcliff's plan.
Isabella Linton: Edgar's sister who falls in love with Heathcliff. He uses her to get what he wants.
Nelly: Catherine's servant. Follows Catherine to the Linton house.
Young Catherine: Edgar and Caroline's daughter. Spirited and loving. Heathcliff takes all her assets.
Hareton: Hindley and Frances's son. Heathcliff gains custody of him after Hindley's death. Falls in love with Young Caroline.
Linton: Heathcliff and Isabella's son. Heathcliff forces him to marry Young Catherine and write a will leaving all her assets to him. He dies shortly after.
Synopsis:
Heathcliff is brought to Wuthering Heights as a child. No one treats him with any kindness except for Mr. Earnshaw and Catherine. When Mr. Earnshaw dies he is forced to be a servant. Catherine and Heathcliff fall in love but when Catherine gets sick she goes to the Linton house to be taken care of. When she gets back she tells Nelly that Mr. Linton proposed to her and even though she does not love him she accepted because he "is pleasant to be with" and rich. She said she would not marry Heathcliff because it would be "degrading" She does not know that he is listening to her conversation and when he hears this he leaves and does not return for two years. He comes back and visits her at the Linton's and tries to make her leave Edgar for him. She refuses. He tells her that he owns Wuthering Heights now. Isabella tells Catherine that she has fallen madly in love with Heathcliff. Catherine acts like she doesn't care when she sees them kissing. When she asks Heathcliff about it he tells her to mind her own business and just let him have his fun. They end up getting married but he not very nice to her at all. Catherine has a baby girl whome she names Catherine. Shortly after she gets very sick. Heathcliff comes to visit her and she tells him that he is the reason she is dying. He tells her that she is the reason he is miserable. When she dies, he wishes for her to always be with him. He ends up convincing her daughter to marry his son and gets everything she owns. The movie ends with his death and he and Catherine together again.
Work: I have never read this book or anything else by Emily Bronte. I think it would have made more sense to me if I had.
Personal Response: This movie was very, very long. It was also really depressing and kind of boring. (Not to be too critical) I know some people really like this movie but it was a little too Gothic for me.