“The novel appears to celebrate a transcendent love which surpasses the bounds of authority, mundanity, even death.”
This quotation , from Pauline Nestor, while being close to an accurate description of Jane and Rochester’s relationship in Jane Eyre, does not go far in explaining the complicated and destructive relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. Their attachment might better be characterised by the word ‘obsession’ as none of the pure, selfless emotions associated with the literary ideal of true love seem to manifest in their relationship. Neither does the novel appear to “celebrate” it, as Bronte goes into detail about the terrible consequences of their connection over two generations. The relationship might even be seen as a bad example, put forward by Bronte in an attempt to debunk the romantic ideal of the Byronic hero.
Charlotte Bronte described Heathcliff’s feelings for Catherine as, “a sentiment fierce and inhuman” . While being a rather colourful description, this quote more accurately defines the nature of Heathcliff and Catherine’s relationship, at least as a destructive, rather than a positive force. The effects of this can be seen throughout the second half of the novel in Heathcliff’s treatment of the younger generation, particularly the younger Cathy, “Keep your eft’s fingers off… I detest you!” The image of an eft – an adolescent newt – is something simultaneously repulsive and pathetic, as, at this point in the novel, Cathy is begging for mercy from Heathcliff. Part of Heathcliff’s aversion to Cathy may, of course, be because she reminds him of her mother. While superficially explained as pure grief, this may also speak of the darker side to his relationship with Catherine, in that the girl’s reminiscence of her sparks animosity instead of love, as it does for Linton.
Although Bronte avoids conclusively defining the supernatural elements in Wuthering Heights as real, when taken as such, they indicate the transcendence of Cathy and Heathcliff’s love wherein they appear together as ghosts at the end of the novel. In this,
Charlotte Bronte described Heathcliff’s feelings for Catherine as, “a sentiment fierce and inhuman” . While being a rather colourful description, this quote more accurately defines the nature of Heathcliff and Catherine’s relationship, at least as a destructive, rather than a positive force. The effects of this can be seen throughout the second half of the novel in Heathcliff’s treatment of the younger generation, particularly the younger Cathy, “Keep your eft’s fingers off… I detest you!” The image of an eft – an adolescent newt – is something simultaneously repulsive and pathetic, as, at this point in the novel, Cathy is begging for mercy from Heathcliff. Part of Heathcliff’s aversion to Cathy may, of course, be because she reminds him of her mother. While superficially explained as pure grief, this may also speak of the darker side to his relationship with Catherine, in that the girl’s reminiscence of her sparks animosity instead of love, as it does for Linton.
Although Bronte avoids conclusively defining the supernatural elements in Wuthering Heights as real, when taken as such, they indicate the transcendence of Cathy and Heathcliff’s love wherein they appear together as ghosts at the end of the novel. In this,
Bibliography: The Works of Lord Byron: With His Letters and Journals, and His Life, Thomas Moore*A Student’s Guide to Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Richard E. Mezo*Douglas Jerrold’s Weekly Newspaper, 1848*American Review: A Whig Journal of Politics, W. Peck*Pamela by Samuel Johnson *The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer*Penguin Classics edition of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte*Penguin Classics edition of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte