I hope you enjoyed reading my journey through Wuthering Heights. Thanks for reading!

Personal Reflection

Personally, I felt as though reading Wuthering Heights was a very rewarding and valued experience. Saying this Classic Novel Study has helped me evolve academically and intellectually is a true statement. In all honesty, from simply reading the first page I could tell Wuthering Heights was going to be a very challenging read because of the language and comprehension. As I have researched I have read a lot of comments remarking on how confusing this book was at points, especially in the beginning chapters. I was happy to discover that I was not the only reader that was dazed in confusion while reading. Although the first two chapters didn’t look very promising, I found that as I continued reading I began further grasping the text. I got use to the author’s style of text and while there were still some words unclear to me, I found myself able to wrap my head around what was occurring. Said that, a huge upside to reading this novel was that it expanded my vocabulary to a very high extent. I found as I read Emily Bronte’s text that I was so intrigued by her sentence structure. I would read a sentence and think “Hmmm, normally that word would go before that word but she put it after”. I intend on using what I’ve learned from Emily Bronte’s writing to further enhance my writing. This book was unlike anything I have ever read in the past and I admired that. I have learned writing comes in many different forms, and you have to find the individuality and splendor in each piece you read to further develop your writing and reading skills. The writing part of this project was also very beneficial. It made me truly engage in the plot, characters and conflicts. I found myself situating in the characters shoes while reading and writing. From this project, I have learned I am a very observant, critical reader when a book has a great impact on me. Wuthering Heights inspired me to think outside the box and outside my comfort zone and just write. I would HIGHLY recommend Wuthering Heights to anyone willing to keep an open mind while reading and willing to fully engage yourself in a novel.

Works Cited

Bront&, Anne. "Penguin Classics: Readers Guides." Penguin Classics UK Book Shop and Online Bookstore - Penguin Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. <http://www.penguinclassics.co.uk/nf/shared/WebDisplay/0,,82350_1_10,00.html>.

Bronte, Emily. Wuthering Heights.  New York: Bantam, 1947.

Derek Roper, ed., The Poems of Emily Bronte. Oxford University Press, 1996

Emily Brontë saved sections of five reviews of the 1847 version of Wuthering Heights, of       which four have been identified as having appeared in the January 1848 numbers of the Atlas, Douglas Jerrold's Weekly Newspaper, the Examiner, and the Britannia, 1848.

Apologia

Classic novels are novels of literary significance that have withstood the test of time and remained popular years after their publication. Wuthering Heights was published in 1847 and is still to this day being read by an immense amount of readers from all over the globe. Wuthering Heights is known as the gothic tale of the encompassing and fervent, yet thwarted, love between Heathcliff and Catherine. Despite the reasons for which Wuthering Heights was not valued in its own time, it has now been recognized as a work of extraordinary talent, elegance, and genius. It is considered to be one of the greatest literary works of all time. 

            Emily Bronte (July 30 1818- December 19 1848) was an English novelist and poet. Emily’s older sister Charlotte (who is known for the famous literacy work Jane Eyre), her brother Branwell, her younger sister Anne, and her father Patrick were all poets and writers as well. In 1844, Emily began copying all her works of poetry into notebooks. After coming across a manuscript volume of Emily’s poems in 1845, Charlotte urged that these poems be published. She noticed that they were “not at all like the poetry women generally write…they had a peculiar music- wild, melancholy, and elevating”. After much debate, Emily’s poems, as well as Anne’s and Charlotte’s were published pseudonymously in 1846. Although almost a complete silence greeted this volume, the three sisters were set on the fact of publication and immediately began writing novels. Emily’s effort, Wuthering Heights was considered lesser work to the greatly acclaimed Jane Eyre by Charlotte. Wuthering Heights’ innovative structure puzzled critics. Emily’s name did not emerge until the second edition of her novel which appeared in 1850. It was only after Emily had passed that Wuthering Heights was beginning to be established as the undomesticated and singular work of genius that it is. Charlotte writes, “Stronger than a man, simpler than a child, her nature stood alone.”

            Wuthering Heights got a strong reaction from readers. This reaction was due partially to the novel’s forceful inspection of the human spirit. Readers were accustoming to novels that sought a realistic depiction of the moors and manners of the English upper classes. Wuthering Heights focused not so much on society but on the minds, hearts and souls of its members. It was met with mixed reviews by critics when it was first published mainly because the narrative's depiction of mental and physical cruelty; although there were also many critics that did indeed appreciate the force and imagination of the novel. An unidentified review considered it a “work of great ability” and that “it is not every day that so good a novel makes its appearance”.  Wuthering Heights opened up the doors to a new approach to literature which was soon recognized which fashioned praise towards the novel.

            There were many adaptations of this novel prepared because the praise and popularity that became of Wuthering Heights. The earliest known film adaptation of Wuthering Heights was filmed in England and directed by A.V. Bramble. The most famous adaptation was 1939's Wuthering Heights directed by William Wyler. This adaptation, like many others, eliminated the second generation's story (young Cathy, Linton and Hareton). The novel has been accepted in opera and theatre as well.

Wuthering Heights has greatly proved its significance to literature decade after decade. It caused a vast amount of controversy over critics and changed the views and opinions of readers of English literature. It is beyond doubt unique, influential and has a timeless appeal. There is no better way to describe Wuthering Heights than to say it is a true classic novel.

Journal 4

Wuthering Heights is organized in such a way that its elements are arranged in a pair type formation. Catherine and Heathcliff see themselves as one or identical because of their similarities and the passion they share for one another. Heathcliff as well as Catherine’s characters have two different sides to them. Heathcliff is torn between a hopeless romantic hero and a villain seeking revenge. Catherine is torn between her two desires- being with Heathcliff for a life of eternal love, or being with Edgar for a life of wealth. Catherine and young Catherine are remarkably similar and strikingly different. They are both headstrong and occasionally arrogant. Although young Catherine seems to be a more gentle, compassionate character. Although the Earnshaw’s and the Linton’s share very different values, the intermarriages between the families bring them to a medium.

Journal 3

When Heathcliff decides he is going to take revenge on anyone and everyone who have done him wrong, it is an unanswerable question as to why exactly he decides to embark on such horrible deeds. His cold are heartless self was made know especially through the abuse of Isabella as he amused himself by seeing how much abuse she could take and still come crawling back for more. The desire to understand him and his motivations are what keep readers engaged in the novel. Although Heathcliff is made out to be a vengeful, dark character, the novel teases you and makes you wonder if Heathcliff is something other than he seems. Perhaps his cruelty is an illustration of his frustration towards the love he acquires for Catherine. Heathcliff is not the typical, traditional romantic hero. He is a character that stays true to his word and attitude and has seemingly dominant ability to hold grudges.

Journal 2

The exposure to harm of social status is an aspect that causes a great deal of conflict in this novel. Catherine’s decision to marry Edgar in order to become righteous is the most obvious of examples. Instead of following her heart and marrying the person who was dearest to her, she becomes infatuated with Edgar and his wealth and chooses the path that would lead her to social advancement. Edgar Linton and his family are fairly firm in their wealthy status but go to great extremes to prove this. Whereas the Earnshaws do not live on steady ground socially but are not ashamed. The shifting nature of social status is resembled well through the stages of Heathcliff’s course. He went from homeless waif, to adopted gentleman, to common laborer.

Journal Postings

Journal 1

When Mr. Earnshaw first returns home with the unfamiliar orphan boy, Heathcliff, who would now be raised as a member of the family, his children Catherine and Hindley do not take kindly to his welcoming and treat him with a great amount of disrespect. Although, Catherine soon grows to love Heathcliff and they become inseparable. This event first brings our attention to the main theme of this book, everlasting love. Catherine and Healthcliff’s love is rooted from their childhood. Their passion for one another seems to be the center of Wuthering Heights. It is the strongest and most dominant of all emotions represented in this book and is the source of most of the key conflicts that structure the novel’s plot. Catherine and Healthcliff’s loved is based off the perception that they are one. Catherine pronounces in the novel, “I am Heathcliff” as well as Heathcliff states he cannot life without his “soul” (soul being Catherine). Wuthering Heights presents the outlook of life as a process of change, and relates this process with the romance between the principal characters.

Wuthering Heights

Welcome to my blog! I created this blog in hopes of being able to share my reading experience of the beloved classic novel, Wuthering Heights with you! But why Wuthering Heights? Why out of the immense amount of classic novels out there did I pick Wuthering Heights? I decided to choose Wuthering Heights because I had heard nothing but wonderful things about the book. I heard it had a magnificant story line to it and was written beautifully. Although I heard to some it was a rather difficult read, I enjoy challenges and decided I was going to perservere through the book. Thanks for reading, I'll keep you posted on my journey through Wuthering Heights!

Useful Sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuthering_Heights

http://www.online-literature.com/bronte/wuthering/

http://www.wuthering-heights.co.uk/

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6185.Wuthering_Heights

http://classiclit.about.com/od/wutheringheightsbronte/a/aa_wutheringquo.htm

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/Wuthering-Heights.id-164.html

http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/42218.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032145/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104181/