Thoughts on "Wuthering Heights"

[salienne]

(Hey, that almost rhymed! :D)

Okay, so, yes, I am a geek and read this book for pleasure. And being the geek I am, I really really liked it. So. Freaking. Creepy. And really good... I went to bed an hour late (and since I had to get up early, that hour made a difference @_@) 'cos I couldn't stop reading.

So then...

Heathcliff=rather worse than Snape, although I maintain that there are fundamental similarities between the two. Both characters are fascinating, though.

Hell, I love all the characters in "Wuthering Heights", 'cos they seem to have so much more to them than the "one truth" we talked about in English when analyzing "Pride and Prejudice". That, however, is most likely a result of the 1st person POV--very good move. Beyond the fact that the speakers cannot possibly remember everything they relate, it works perfectly.

My one real complaint is that Lockwood is pretty much useless. I know that, if I were reading this book for English, we'd make this big deal about how it's a 1st p. POV within a 1st p. POV (sometimes within yet another 1st p. POV) but, honestly, all Lockwood does is give us another perspective and provide a conduit for Mrs. Dean's tale. And while the out-of-verse perspective is important (and, again, a good move that I like), in terms of purposefully constructing a novel, I don't think Lockwood's role was thought out enough for him to provide anything more than that. Hence I would fail English because I think the writer just went with it when she thought, "I want Nelly to tell Heathcliff's story. But someone has to listen. I know!"... Least that's how I work. And then I give it meaning after. ^.^

Oh, and the last paragraph? So. Absolutely. Gorgeous. Just, read this and tell me if you don't agree (no real spoilers, in case, by some chance, I'm not the only one who reads Emily Bronte for fun):

I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath, and hare-bells, listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass, and wondered how any one could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth.

So... all hail Emily Bronte! I really wish she'd gotten a chance to write more novels before her death. It be sad.

Okay, and now I'm off. To write or play video games or shower, perhaps all of the above. :D

Ta mates.

EDIT: And now for something completely different...

I didn't feel this necessary deserved an entry of itself, but I needed to complain about how UNFAIR it is that PotC 1 and LotR 2 are now showing at the exact same time. That's just cruel... 'cos I can't possibly watch both. T-T

Comments

[hippiebanana132.livejournal.com]

I love this book, but it makes me incredibly depressed because basically everyone spends the entire thing waiting for Heathcliff to die and then he does and no-one is happy. Well, thanks for that, I feel a whole lot better now.

The way everyone seems to so badly misinterpret it baffles me, too. Heathcliff is not someone you would invite round to tea and marry, girlies. He was a horrible, horrible man, even if he did have his reasons and his few redeeming qualities. I don't understand why so many women think he's this great, romantic, adorable, lovable hero with no faults. He's amazing, yes, no denying it, but I sit listening to people like that and think, "We were even reading the same book?"

All the same, parts of this book are just exquisitely beautiful. I last read it when I was thirteen, around four years ago, so I couldn't quote at you but certain moments with Catherine and Linton stick in my mind, especially when they were out walking. From what I remember, she was incredibly ill at the time and certain she was going to die. He said such lovely things to her, annoying as he could be, and she had the most wonderful, painfully beautiful attitude to death and the afterlife.

And I may have just spazzed about an entirely different book there, but you'll have to forgive me. *grins* Four years is a very long time.

[salienne.livejournal.com]

No, you've most certainly spazzed out about the correct book. :D

Hmm, but after he dies, li'l Catherine and Hareton get engaged and everyone is content. I thought the ending was a bit too happy, actually. Yay different viewpoints! :D

And there are people who like Heathcliff? Seriously? o.O The entire purpose of Isabella is to show that anyone who thinks he's not a horrible horrible person is a bit daft and, once being in his company, will quickly realize his/her mistake.

And I don't remember that conversation in particular, but basically Linton watches over her with the most tender care when she's completely bonkers and going to die at any point, so yeah... Linton is a sweetheart, though not Heathcliff's son Linton. He's awful.

I always felt a little sad about Mr. Linton's death, though--he's convinced he'll end up with Catherine in heaven, but from what we know about Catherine herself and her feelings for Heathcliff... well, assuming there's an afterlife, let's hope he's happy anyway. He deserves it.

What I really liked was how well-rounded most ofthe characters are--Linton is awful to Heathcliff but a very good man, the housekeeper is a good person but forgives/lets go/gets manipulated way too easily, Hareton has a harsh temper but is actually a good person, Catherine and Heatcliff are pretty awful but are good for another, etc.

Okay... and that's me shutting up about "Wuthering Heights." Sorry for ranting about something you haven't read for four years. :P

[hippiebanana132.livejournal.com]

I thought the ending was a bit too happy, actually. - Ooh, really? That's interesting. I'm tempted to read it again and see what I think of the ending now; I'll probably have a fairly different opinion on it from when I was thirteen.

Linton is a sweetheart, though not Heathcliff's son Linton. He's awful. - Ugh. Yes. I remember that much. *grins*

he's convinced he'll end up with Catherine in heaven, but from what we know about Catherine herself and her feelings for Heathcliff... - Mm! I remember hoping that she'd end up floating about on the moors with him, even though poor Linton wouldn't get a look-in. I think she did love him, it just...well, not in that crazy, fiery, impassioned way she loved Heathcliff. Though to be honest I always felt that Heathcliff was the more passionate one; Cathy seemed to view her love for him as more natural and part of her, if that makes sense.

What I really liked was how well-rounded most ofthe characters are - It's true. They're all completely 3D, complex people with a whole rainbow of attributes, both good and bad, woven into them. I know all good villains nowadays are more than just purely motivated by evil, but this book is sort of the ultimate in that. Even the good guys aren't exactly angels.

Sorry for ranting about something you haven't read for four years. :P - It's all good =D It'd do me some good to dig it out again, actually!

[salienne.livejournal.com]

I'm tempted to read it again and see what I think of the ending now; I'll probably have a fairly different opinion on it from when I was thirteen.

Yeah, quite possibly. And hey, it's worth rereading once every few years. ;-)

I think she did love him, it just...well, not in that crazy, fiery, impassioned way she loved Heathcliff.

Yup, I agree. Though we're also told her love for Linton is more transient and, obviously, less powerful than her love for Heathcliff. The latter is very literally her soul mate, after all.

Though to be honest I always felt that Heathcliff was the more passionate one; Cathy seemed to view her love for him as more natural and part of her, if that makes sense.

Hmmm... I'd never really thought of it like that. I think Heathcliff does act more as a result of his love, while she feels it just as much. She just seems to accept it more. I think she shows her passion more than enough when she goes nuts from being torn between Linton and Heathcliff, though.

They're all completely 3D, complex people with a whole rainbow of attributes, both good and bad, woven into them.

Emily Bronte was ahead of her time. :D