Book Review: Wuthering Heights
Somewhere in my search of good books I heard of Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte’s only novel which was published in year 1847. Considering the time when it was written, the story of the book is compelling and it explores the various facets of love, obsession and jealousy.
The story is about a boy who has hidden his feelings which lead to revenge over generation after generation. A classic story of poor boy challenged to be amongst the top layer of the society and later being hated by everyone due to evil intentions and conduct. The story is narrated by house-maid, Nelly Dean to the new tenant, Mr. Lockwood, a wealthy man visiting south of England and rented a place in Yorkshire, Thrushcross Grange. The landlord of Grange, Mr. Healthcliff stays in farmhouse, Wuthering Heights.
The story revolves around two family, Earnshaw and Linton. Mr. Earnshow owns a farmhouse called Withering Heights and Mr. Linton owns the house, Thrushcross Grange, where he and his wife stays with their two children, Edger and Isabella Linton. Mr. Earnshow during his travel adopts a homeless boy and name him Healthcliff. He brings him to his home to meet his own children, teenage boy Hindley and daughter, Catherine. Due to small accident, Catherine meets the Linton family and is impressed with their life and soon becomes more of ladylike. Being a homeless kid, Heathcliff is unkept and is often made fun of by Hindley Earnshaw and Edger Linston. Hindley on his study abroad, comes back with wife. Frances who later dies giving birth to their son, Hareton. Healthcliff falls in love with Catherine but over heard a conversion between Catherine and Nelly Dean, maid of the Earnshaw family, which upsets him as Catherine talks about Well-mannered Linton who just proposed to her and unkept Healthcliff who she loves but can’t marry due to lower social standards. Healthcliff runs away but soon comes back rich enough to seek revenge and claim back his love. During Healthcliff’s absence, Catherine is married to Edger Linton and gives birth to daughter name, Cathy. But due to distress in her life because of Healthcliff’s return and hatred, she eventually dies.
Healthcliff on his return plans to seek revenge and in order to hurt the Linton family, he marries Edger’s sister, Isabella. Isabella was in love with Healthcliff but soon realise his intentions and after being imprison at her husbands home, she runs away and soon gives birth to son name, Linton. Healthcliff stays in Wuthering Heights and gamble with Hindley just to left him in his debt and owns the Wuthering Heights. Hindley sad and depressed, becomes alcoholic and soon dies leaving Hareton in hands of Healthcliff. Edger on hearing the news of his sister, brings Linton home and introduce him to Cathy, his cousin. Healthcliff is not done with his revenge even after claiming Withering Heights, he comes to Edger for taking Linton home with him. Linton in short time get attached to Cathy and Healthcliff use this emotion to manipulate Cathy into marring Linton. Edger being old and tired soul, dies leaving Thrushcross Grange in hands of Cathy in turn to Healthcliff. Linton due to poor health dies soon after the marriage leaving Cathy with Healthcliff and Hareton at Wuthering Heights.
Healthcliff succeeded in taking both the properties, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange but he ended up living with Hareton and Cathy, both of them hating Healthcliff for his conduct and ways of treating people. In the end, despite taking revenge and ruining everyone’s life, Healthcliff ended up being lonely, grumpy and angry soul. His love for Catherine couldn’t be reclaimed neither cherished. He longed for death and peace for his soul.
The story doesn’t sound that exciting but it has all the twist and turn of soap opera. Being written at such an early stage, the story is quite compelling but it didn’t hold much for me as I avoid reading such stories. I also found it very much predictable reading it in year 2015 but when this was being written such story might be new thing in the town. British author has different style of writing and this book also reflect the old English accents which becomes little difficult to read, atleast for me.
Revenge has always been the interesting part of any love story. Rather revenge makes the love story spicy. Though in reality, revenge doesn’t take you to any better place. It is a game where you never win and end up losing all.
It is recommended for kids who have started reading books or needs book for English assignment. Also people who like British style of writing and books written in old year will like it.
