Women in Emily Brontë’s through Wuthering Heights (1847)
22 mayo, 2013 by Bego
Argument:
Mr. Earnshaw after a trip to Liverpool, brings two gifts: a violin and nearly wild child found abandoned on the streets of the city. Heathcliff (named by Mr. Earnshaw) comes to live with family and while Hindley Earnshaw, the eldest son, hates from the beginning to the intruder, his sister Cathy somewhat less than Heathcliff becomes your best friend.
This strange stability disappears with the arrival of Linton, whose children, Edgar and Isabella, have approximately the age of the Earnshaw. Refinement and social life bring dazzling just rejecting Heathclif Cathy, however, love that unites them is so great that convulsed his life and that of those around them.
Women in Wuthering Heights (1847)
In the only published work of the author that not be noted differences between the treatment given to male and female characters. Both have strengths and weaknesses that may be attributable to either of the two sexes. Does not make distinctions. Both genders expressed with equal force passions and feelings, affections, contempt and hatred. There is no reserve and restraint as a woman, no more authority and strength as a man.
The passionate side is found in the characters of Catherine and Heathcliff. Catherine is a girl raised in a «savage» uncivilized according to social norms of the moment, and therefore it will be a product of this, and not take into account any social norm or respect, as you can see, when front of more people stick to a maid:
«She kicked on the floor [Catherine] and then, after a brief hesitation, carried away by anger that the poisoning, I dealt a resounding blow that wiped my eyes with tears.» (Wuthering Heights. Page 114)
Both characters live their feelings to the limit, without finding terms mean, or estimate or hate. Despite their different origins and class there is nothing to separate them except themselves.
On the other hand, we find Edgar Linton and his family that represents the opposite of these characters. He is affable, patient, calm, kind, but to the extent that it becomes tedious, bland.
With this character and with Catherine we can observed as the author intended no distinction of sex. The powers attributed to Edgar Linton, are usually female characters themselves, while burning, the impetus, the effusion, the fervor of Catherine Earnshaw are more typical in other novels by men, such as the declaration of love that Kelly makes on HeathcIiff:
«He is my main reason for being. If all things perish but stay he could continue living. If, however, everything else remained and he were annihilated, the world would totally weird me and I do not seem to be part of it. «(Wuthering Heights, page 129)
Thus, the author creates her characters individually assigning each own certain characteristics, independent of gender and social status.