Childhood in Wuthering Heights
Childhood in Wuthering Heights.
Childhood is a key theme in Wuthering Heights as most of the characters' behaviours and characteristics are shaped by events from their past. Before Heathcliff was taken in to the Earnshaw family by their father, Hindley and Cathy had a perfect, idyllic childhood. Before Hindley's father leaves for Liverpool, he uses the possessive determiner, “my bonny man” in referral to Hindley. The common noun “man” gives connotations of flattery and respect which both father and son have for each other, meaning Hindley is being brought up in a safe and loving environment. He looks forward to seeing his father and is spoilt, loved and nurtured. However when Heathcliff is bought in to the family, Hindley's perfect childhood is taken away as he feels deprived of his fathers love which is now focused on Heathcliff. This is similar to the presentation of Clare's childhood in The Time Traveler's Wife, as she had a perfect childhood which is shown in the possessive pronoun, “my familiar, lovely Mama”. This is when it is Christmas, and Clare finds it hard to stay mad with her mother for embarrassing the family because she remembers the lovely, perfect mother she was whilst growing up.
Childhood is presented as a dark and violent in the novel. Since Hindley dislikes Heathcliff after he intruded his and Mr. Earnshaw's loving father and son bond, he becomes physically aggressive towards him. In the Victorian period, children were often beaten which the audience of that time would very much be used to and agree with. However, the 21st Century audience would find children being struck absolutely shocking. Even though Heathcliff isn't struck by an adult, he is struck by his rival sibling Hindley which is shown in the declarative sentence “he would stand Hindley's blows”. The dynamic verb, “blows” emphasises just how rough Hindley was to Heathcliff, and puts imagery in the readers head. Just as Mr. Earnshaw now favours Heathcliff as a son the most, this
Childhood is a key theme in Wuthering Heights as most of the characters' behaviours and characteristics are shaped by events from their past. Before Heathcliff was taken in to the Earnshaw family by their father, Hindley and Cathy had a perfect, idyllic childhood. Before Hindley's father leaves for Liverpool, he uses the possessive determiner, “my bonny man” in referral to Hindley. The common noun “man” gives connotations of flattery and respect which both father and son have for each other, meaning Hindley is being brought up in a safe and loving environment. He looks forward to seeing his father and is spoilt, loved and nurtured. However when Heathcliff is bought in to the family, Hindley's perfect childhood is taken away as he feels deprived of his fathers love which is now focused on Heathcliff. This is similar to the presentation of Clare's childhood in The Time Traveler's Wife, as she had a perfect childhood which is shown in the possessive pronoun, “my familiar, lovely Mama”. This is when it is Christmas, and Clare finds it hard to stay mad with her mother for embarrassing the family because she remembers the lovely, perfect mother she was whilst growing up.
Childhood is presented as a dark and violent in the novel. Since Hindley dislikes Heathcliff after he intruded his and Mr. Earnshaw's loving father and son bond, he becomes physically aggressive towards him. In the Victorian period, children were often beaten which the audience of that time would very much be used to and agree with. However, the 21st Century audience would find children being struck absolutely shocking. Even though Heathcliff isn't struck by an adult, he is struck by his rival sibling Hindley which is shown in the declarative sentence “he would stand Hindley's blows”. The dynamic verb, “blows” emphasises just how rough Hindley was to Heathcliff, and puts imagery in the readers head. Just as Mr. Earnshaw now favours Heathcliff as a son the most, this