Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights
There is much imagery in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. With so many symbols and hidden meaning within the book, it adds to the contrast between Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, Heathcliff and Catherine, and the Earnshaw and the Linton families. Each seemingly small detail is essential to understanding the complexity of both the setting and the characters. One of the many images begins with the two main settings of the book: Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. Wuthering Heights is first depicted as a haven to young Heathcliff, as Mr. Earnshaw adopts him and treats Heathcliff as his own son. However, after Mr. Earnshaw’s death, and Hindley’s return, Wuthering Heights becomes a hell, for both Catherine and Heathcliff. Meanwhile, Thrushcross Grange is the more civilized location of the two, and symbolizes the higher social status of the Lintons, due to the fact that Thrushcross Grange has more land than Wuthering Heights. Also, Thrushcross Grange is seen as a place to learn and grow, and education is encouraged. Therefore the overall image of Thrushcross Grange is depicted as heaven. Darkness versus light is another key image throughout the novel. Heathcliff is darker than both the Earnshaws and the Lintons, and is immediately singled out and mocked. His darker appearance leads to the nickname “Gypsy”. In contrast to the Lintons’ lighter hair and lighter complexions, Heathcliff’s darker appearance seems to show he is in the dark about much, meaning that he is not as civilized nor educated as any of the Linton family. His dark passion for revenge also fuels his hatred for both Hindley and Edgar and his cruelty towards them. A third key image is the symbolism of books. Wuthering Heights’s deprivation of books is seen as a hindrance of learning, to both the young Heathcliff and Hareton. Just as Hindley was cruel to Heathcliff and took away his education, Heathcliff, for revenge, also took away Hareton’s chance to become educated, and therefore more civilized. On the other hand, Thrushcross Grange is open to learning, education, and civilization. Catherine I becomes proper and civilized after visiting and staying at Thrushcross Grange; Catherine II teaches Hareton with the formal education her father Edgar provided for her. Another key symbol is the nature around both locations. For instance, terribly bad thunderstorms signify change. The change is between Heathcliff and Catherine, and symbolizes life changing events between the two lovers. Also, the moors around the grounds are very significant. They signify changelessness. The moors begin and are introduced as young Catherine and Heathcliff’s hideaway, and where they play as children. Later, it becomes a symbol of their love. Both Catherine and Heathcliff ache, during their lives apart from one another, to return to their beloved spot. After their deaths, their ghosts are seen in the moors. Ghosts are another important symbol in the novel. They signify the past, and the idea of living in the past and not moving on. Heathcliff cannot bear to part from the past as that is where his beloved Catherine resides with him, and in turn, his yearning to return to the past motivates his extreme hatred in the future. His grudges with Hindley and Edgar are due to the fact that Heathcliff wants to return to the innocent childhood with Catherine. He also lets his love for her dominate his life, and pleads for her to haunt him so he can still have her around. The last important symbol is the number two. Two people are able to get along better than three. If there are three people, one of them is bound to be left out. Pairs are the number where all are happy. With either Heathcliff and Catherine, or Catherine and Edgar, the fact that she holds on to both is what causes her pain. She refuses to make a decision. Also, with Catherine II and Linton, only after Linton’s death, do Catherine II and Hareton begin to fall in love, and eventually resolve the decades long dispute of the two families.