Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

"You suppose she has nearly forgotten me?" he said.  "Oh, Nelly! you know she has not! You know as well as I do, that for every thought she spends on Linton, she spends a thousand on me! At a most miserable period of my life, I had a notion of the kind: it haunted me on my return to the neighbourhood last summer; but only her own assurance could make me admit the horrible idea again. And then, Linton would be nothing, nor Hindley, nor all the dreams that ever I dreamt. Two words would comprehend my future – death and hell: existence, after losing her, would be hell. Yet I was a fool to fancy for a moment that she valued Edgar Linton’s attachment more than mine. If he loved with all the powers of his puny being, he couldn’t love as much in eighty years as I could in a day." - Wuthering Heights

It was twenty, maybe twenty-five years ago that I first read Wuthering Heights (1847) by Emily Bronte.  I felt then that it was a brilliant, mesmerizing novel. I still feel that way.  And now, after a second reading, I think I understand it better in terms of what Emily Bronte was trying to say although there are many different interpretations among the critics.  The great classics defy a neat summing up.  One can only speculate and so here are my thoughts.

When I first read Wuthering Heights I wondered did Emily Bronte approve of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff's passionate all consuming and self destructive love?  And what to make of Heathliff's actions once his beloved Catherine dies?  Everyone around Heathcliff: his wife, his son, Catherine's husband and daughter and Hindley's son must be made to suffer and Heathcliff takes a sadistic pleasure and glee in causing their suffering. 

Are we to approve of Heathcliff's selfish and vengeful behavior because a cosmic love like his does not have to play by the rules of decency?  But now due to a second reading of Wuthering Heights I see the novel more clearly thanks in part to the character of Nellie Dean.  Nellie is the longtime housekeeper of the Earnshaws and Lintons.  Nellie narrates most of Wuthering Heights telling the story of these two families to a young traveller Mr Lockwood who is staying in the area and eager to learn the sad history of Wuthering Heights.  

Nellie begins her story 30 years prior when Heathliff a six year old orphan was found on the streets of Liverpool by Mr. Earnshaw who brought him home and raised him as a son.  Mr Earnshaw's daughter Catherine formed a bond with Heathcliff but her brother Hindley saw Heathcliff as a threat.  After Mr. Earnshaw dies Hindley becomes the young master of Wuthering Height and Heathcliff reduced to a badly treated servant.  But Catherine tries to protect Heathcliff.  She remains his loyal friend and companion and Heathcliff never forgets her love and kindness.  

That is the genesis of what happens at Wuthering Heights and the ensuing heartache, tragedy and cruelty that will follow Catherine Earnshaw's death. Nellie Dean is the voice of reason in this novel.  She is clear headed, intelligent, kind and a sounding board for the other characters as they tell her their stories.  Nellie is not perfect.  She can meddle and withhold information out of a desire to help which can backfire. But she is the moral center of Wuthering Heights and I believe the voice of the author.

So how did Emily Bronte feel about Heathcliff and Catherine?  Like Nellie I don't believe she approved of alot of their behavior, particularly Heathcliff.  But as with Nellie I think Bronte had compassion for Heathcliff.  And there is something elemental and eternal about Heathcliff and Catherine. like the moors themselves which Emily loved and wrote about so  brilliantly.

I highly recommend Wuthering Heights, the 5th novel for my classics challenge, reread a favorite classic, hosted by Ann at In Search Of Wonder