Jun 17, 2011 09:00 PM
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(Updated Jun 18, 2011 10:23 PM)
Emily Bronte's literary * output was very little. Besides some poetry, she wrote just one novel, Wuthering Heights; but the one novel which she wrote has been recognized as a masterpiece of English fiction and made her famous
'' Wuthering Heights '*' written by Emily Bronte is a complex work of art and such a number of theme stand out of it. Its basic theme, as of all great works of art, is the conquest of Good over Evil.
With it mingles the theme of love and theme of revenge. This Novel is about love and jealousy and revenge, as about love and desire, it is about selfishness, about cruelty, violence and fear, about evil of drunken-ness, about freedom, about untamed nature and the convention of society, about happiness and misery, about alienation, about sickness and death, it is about strange and supernatural, about the homely and the familiar, and finally, it is about a spiritual accord which defies separation and death to achieve reconcilation in life beyond the grave.
MAIN THEME- *Despite the multiplicity of themes, the main theme may be said to be the personal themes of *love and revenge, the love of Heathcliff and Catherine dominates the novel. It is an uncommon passion, almost spiritual in its intensity, and its triumphs eventually after the death of Catherine and Heathcliff.
Love of Catherine and Heathcliff- In Catherine 's words (when talking to Nelly) , '' ... my great thought is living in himself. If all 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 part of it. Nelly, I am Heathcliff- he's always, always in my mind- not as a pleasure any more than I am always a pleasure to myself- but as my own being...''
Spiritual Bond - * Heathcliff's reaction to her death also hints at their spiritual bond. On her Death he cries out in agony, '' Oh. God it is unutterable. I cannot live without my life. I cannot live without my soul !' *he prays her spirit to return to him and in the same chapters he feels unspeakably consoled by the sense of her presence; a few days before his death he tells Nelly, '' I am within sight of my heaven' and claims at the end , '' I have nearly attained my heaven.''
The theme of REVENGE - The theme of revenge is linked from the beginning to the theme of love. It begins when Hindley ( brother of Catherine) takes control of the household at Wuthering Heights and decided to avenge himself on Heathcliff who had ussurped his position in his father's affections. Thus the cycle of revenge begins from the repeated indignities heaped upon Heathcliff, it makes him deternined to pay Hindley back in his own coin '' He tells Nelly; ' I don't care how long wait, if I can do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do!'
* It is not until later the Caterine's marriage persuades Heathcliff's degradation, and Cathy is forcibly married to Heathcliff's separation. Heathcliff becomes master of Wuthering Heights where he was once treated worse than a servant, and owner of Thrushcross Grange, Which had been responsible for taking Catherine away from him.
Brief Summary -Mr. Earnshaw brings Heathcliff ( 6 years old)to live at Wuthering Heights.
Mr. Earnshaw sends Hindley away to college.Mr. Earnshaw dies; Hindley and Frances(wife of hindley) take possession of Wuthering Heights. Catherine first visits Thrushcross Grange around Christmastime. Hareton born ; Frances dies; Hindley begins his slide into alcoholism.
Catherine becomes engaged to Edgar Linton; Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights.
Three years later Catherine and Edgar are married; Heathcliff arrives at Thrushcross Grange in September. Heathcliff and Isabella elope in the early part of the year; Catherine becomes ill with brain fever; young Catherine is born late in the year; Catherine dies.
Early in the year, Isabella flees Wuthering Heights and settles in London; Linton is born.Hindley dies; Heathcliff inherits Wuthering Heights. Young Catherine meets Hareton and visits Wuthering Heights for the first time; Linton comes from London after Isabella dies. Early in the year, young Catherine is imprisoned by Heathcliff and forced to marry Linton; Edgar Linton dies; Linton dies; Heathcliff assumes control of Thrushcross Grange.
What happens next you must read the Novel Yourself.
Note - This Novel is in my syllabus of MA- English (First semester)
Don't worry first semester is cleared.
Bronte Sisters - Soon after the publication of Wuthering Heights, Emily was taken ill (T.B.). The T.B. already killed two of her sisters in early childhood. Emily Bronte was the fifth of six children- five girls and one boy. Sh was averse to medical treatment ' No Poisoning Doctor'' was to come near her, she told Charlotte (her sister). In desperation Charlotte wrote out a careful descriptions of the symptoms and sent them to a Doctor. The Doctor prescribed some medicine, which, however Emily refused to take. '' Moments so dark as these I have never known, '' recorded Charlotte. On the 19th December, 1848, Emily died, at the age of thirty or so, Anne (also sister of Emily) died of T.B. , within five months, having taken much trouble to find a cure. Charlotte lived another six years ( she too died of same reason). Reverend Bronte (brother) another twelve.
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