It's been close to two years since my last book review. TWO FREAKING YEARS. The last review I did was when I was pregnant, basking in blissful tranquility until two pint-sized dynamites entered my world with a bang (no pun intended). Actually I'm just being a little melodramatic here. I didn't think I would be reading (let alone reviewing) any kind of print material for another ten years or so. I'm so glad my bleak prophecy proved false 😊
Wuthering Heights by Emile Brontë is another English classic that escaped my attention for a long time. There it sat on my bookshelf, gathering dust, acquiring that nostalgic aroma of an old book and imploring any passerby to allow fresh air to breathe into its yellowing pages. Last week, I finally awakened from my literary stupor and chose this particular novel to revive my book-loving heart.
Before I delve into the review, let's look at some interesting facts about the author. Emily Brontë led, in many ways, a constrained life and is reported to have been solitary and reclusive by nature. Rarely leaving Haworth, the small Yorkshire village of which her father was curate, she was one of six children (five girls and a boy), all of whom had an influential role in her life. The two oldest girls Maria and Elizabeth died of illness during childhood. Emily was the third eldest of the four surviving Brontë siblings, between the youngest Anne and her brother Branwell. She wrote under the pen name Ellis Bell. Her surviving sisters also became writers – Charlotte, best known for Jane Eyre and Anne for The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Branwell, the favoured brother, succumbed to drink and drugs, but aspects of his life and personality can be identified in all the novels.
Wuthering Heights was Emile Brontë's only published novel. She died from tuberculosis at the age of 30.
***Plot***Wuthering Heights was Emile Brontë's only published novel. She died from tuberculosis at the age of 30.
I
The story unfolds in the beautiful county of Yorkshire, Northern England and chronicles the lives of the convoluted families of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange across two generations. The events are narrated chiefly by the loquacious and somewhat voyeuristic Ellen Dean, the housekeeper at the Grange (and a former one at the Heights) and in parts by Mr Lockwood, the current tenant at the Grange.
When a street urchin of unknown parentage, is given a new lease of life by his benefactor Mr Earnshaw (on the latter's trip to Liverpool), he becomes an unwelcome inhabitant of Wuthering Heights. He is bestowed the name Heathcliff. Mr Earnshaw's biological children, Hindley and Catherine do not know what to make of the dark-skinned 'gypsy' at first. As time progresses, Hindley comes to regard Heathcliff as a usurper of his father's affections and despises him whereas Catherine, sharing Heathcliff's fiercely passionate nature, makes him her inseparable companion. Catherine and Heathcliff are aware that they are kindred spirits and often run off to the moors together willy-nilly, shutting the doors on the outside world.
After Mr Earnshaw's death, Hindley wastes no time in tormenting Heathcliff. Meanwhile, Catherine develops a close friendship with siblings Edgar and Isabella Linton who live in Thrushcross Grange a few miles away. When Catherine chooses Edgar Linton as a worthy mate, thereby shunning the affections of her childhood companion, it forces a heartbroken Heathcliff to leave, only to return three years later, mysteriously rich and with a vindictive agenda. He goes back to the Heights where he lives under the same roof with the odious manservant Joseph and his arch nemesis Hindley (who has now become a worthless drunk after his wife's death). Hindley's young son Hareton is left to fend for himself and with no one to tutor or groom him, is raised wild and uncivilized.
Heathcliff makes habitual visits to the Grange residence much to the delight of Catherine and chagrin of Edgar. But Catherine's elation doesn't last long. Heathcliff confronts her about her decision to be with Edgar and Catherine, caught in a maelstrom of emotions, eventually dies in the process of giving birth to Edgar's child (who is later named Cathy).
When Heathcliff gets wind of the fact that he has become the object of Isabella's affections, he exploits the impressionable young girl into marrying him. He makes Isabella's life a living hell compelling her to flee from the Heights. Thereafter she raises their son, Linton, single handedly until her death twelve years later. Heathcliff isn't satisfied by the mayhem he has caused and tears young Linton away from the assured protection of his uncle Edgar at the Grange to live a life of misery at the Heights. He then orchestrates a friendship to blossom between the cousins Linton and Cathy and subsequently forces a union between the two. Her father Edgar is unaware of the conspiracy and dies blissfully. After the marriage, Linton's failing health lead him to the grave and consequently widow Cathy. She becomes a prisoner at the Heights forced to live a life of degrading oppression. An unlikely friendship with her other cousin Hareton is the only ray of sunshine in her woeful existence.
At this point, the flames of revenge burning in Heathcliff's malevolent heart have abated and all he wants now is to be reunited with his one and only love Catherine, in death.
After Mr Earnshaw's death, Hindley wastes no time in tormenting Heathcliff. Meanwhile, Catherine develops a close friendship with siblings Edgar and Isabella Linton who live in Thrushcross Grange a few miles away. When Catherine chooses Edgar Linton as a worthy mate, thereby shunning the affections of her childhood companion, it forces a heartbroken Heathcliff to leave, only to return three years later, mysteriously rich and with a vindictive agenda. He goes back to the Heights where he lives under the same roof with the odious manservant Joseph and his arch nemesis Hindley (who has now become a worthless drunk after his wife's death). Hindley's young son Hareton is left to fend for himself and with no one to tutor or groom him, is raised wild and uncivilized.
Heathcliff makes habitual visits to the Grange residence much to the delight of Catherine and chagrin of Edgar. But Catherine's elation doesn't last long. Heathcliff confronts her about her decision to be with Edgar and Catherine, caught in a maelstrom of emotions, eventually dies in the process of giving birth to Edgar's child (who is later named Cathy).
When Heathcliff gets wind of the fact that he has become the object of Isabella's affections, he exploits the impressionable young girl into marrying him. He makes Isabella's life a living hell compelling her to flee from the Heights. Thereafter she raises their son, Linton, single handedly until her death twelve years later. Heathcliff isn't satisfied by the mayhem he has caused and tears young Linton away from the assured protection of his uncle Edgar at the Grange to live a life of misery at the Heights. He then orchestrates a friendship to blossom between the cousins Linton and Cathy and subsequently forces a union between the two. Her father Edgar is unaware of the conspiracy and dies blissfully. After the marriage, Linton's failing health lead him to the grave and consequently widow Cathy. She becomes a prisoner at the Heights forced to live a life of degrading oppression. An unlikely friendship with her other cousin Hareton is the only ray of sunshine in her woeful existence.
At this point, the flames of revenge burning in Heathcliff's malevolent heart have abated and all he wants now is to be reunited with his one and only love Catherine, in death.
