For those who think Romeo and Juliet is THE best classical novel that exists, then you have missed the true notion of DEPTH… This gothic novel will take you to another world where everything is chaotic and complex! Written by the legendary Emily Brontë and published in 1847, it was unappreciated in the old time but is now one of the greatest pieces of art for the hopeless romantics!
Plot summary
Lost in a snowstorm, Lockwood, the new tenant of the Thrushcross Grange, gets to meet his landlord Heathcliff, a wealthy and mysterious man who lives in the manor of the Wuthering heights. This dark and cold atmosphere of the manor awakens his curiosity and leads him to ask his housekeeper, Mrs. Dean, the history behind this ancient manor and its owner, the burning passion between Heathcliff and Catherine and his revenge...
My review with spoilers!
I would like to start by saying that this novel really caught my attention. It reminds me of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë’s novel because both novels are so full of secrets, intense desires and deals with social inequality.
The story spans over two generations. It is full of revenge, madness, and passionate love. This book englobes different types of genres. I got to see the gothic, romance, and tragedy. The characters are so drawn by their emotions that they lose their insights.
We see the story through the eyes of Lockwood and Mrs. Dean, his housekeeper. The storytelling kept me drawn because she never left my side.
Her understanding of each character’s personality was on point! But she was way too subjective… So as a reader I had to remain objective.
I feel like the subject of social inequality and racism is cleverly explored. Heathcliff is, since the beginning, a victim of discrimination and it is something that was very normalised at this time of yore.
So shout out to Emily Brontë for being able to bring us into her world.
Concerning the characters, all along the book I was rooting for Heathcliff.
At first, I was fond of Heathcliff’s character. Everything about him seemed so perfect : his adventurous nature, his loyalty, and his devotion to this one person just swept me off my feet. But throughout the book, I changed my opinion because he’s way more complex. I would describe him as a hurricane, a resentful and possessive person. Reading this book through the lens of the #Metoo movement, I have to admit that Heathcliff is no Prince Charming at all.
My least favorite character would be Catherine. At first, I was neutral about her but as I was reading, I found myself annoyed by her haughty and selfish behavior. But at the same time I liked her because she is realistic, nothing is idealized about her. She is human, full of flaws and she doesn't try to hide it.
The characters are very complex. They show their demons so openly which makes their love story so enthralling. It is not the perfect love story. No happy ending. SPOILER ALERT… They both die! A lot of negative aspects of love are shown : jealousy, possession, anger….. So, can we really say it’s a love story?
Lastly, I would have preferred to have Heathcliff’s version of the story too because I feel like he’s the most misunderstood character.
I highly recommend this book if you like the gothic atmosphere. The topic of love is greatly approached : the bright but also the dark side of it. Emily Bontë is one of the best poets and novelists capable of encapsulating the destructive power of love.
Here are some of the quotes that are etched in me :
"The notion of envying Catherine was incomprehensible to him, but the notion of grieving her, he understood clearly enough”
“He is more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same”
“If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger. I should not seem a part of it.”
“My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath a source of little visible delight, but necessary.”
ALSO LISTEN TO THIS SONG, IT’S LIT : Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights - Official Music Video
written by Warda.
Comments