Bronte, Emily. Wuthering Heights. New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 2009. 427 pages.This classic tale of undying love begins to be retold to Mr. Lockwood through a series of stories told to him by a servant, Ellen Dean. His interest is sparked when, staying at Wuthering Heights overnight, he finds a diary of Catherine Linton. The story begins at Wuthering Heights, many years ago.
Cathy Earnshaw and Heathcliff grew up under the same roof, best friends, almost inseparable. When Mr. Earnshaw passed away and Cathy’s brother, Hinton, took over Wuthering Heights as master, Heathcliff was forced to give up his education and work. The chance meeting of Cathy and the Lintons, who lived at Thrushcross Grange, shifted her entire future. Although she still remembered Heathcliff, she preferred Edgar Linton’s polished background to Heathcliff’s primitive ways and tainted past. Her blossoming relationship with Edgar wounded Heathcliff and drove him further and further away from her. By the time the time of Catherine and Edgar’s engagement, Heathcliff knew Cathy was too wild for weak and timid Edgar Linton. But, the wedding was inevitable and soon Cathy had moved to Thrushcross Grange with Edgar. Their relationship took a turn for the worse and soon Cathy was dead leaving a child, Catherine Linton, in her place. With his only true friend and love gone, Heathcliff grew bitter and resentful. He knew he would only be at peace once again when he was with his one and only love once again.
Wuthering Heights is an amazing work of literature! The selfish, spiteful characters really made me worked up, and though I kept waiting for them to get what they deserved, they never did! Even a peaceful death didn’t seem like enough of a punishment when the characters almost waited for death. But the selfish, heartless characters in this book were so plentiful; I could almost sympathize with them regardless of their selfishness. I feel like the characters were very realistic and this book captured the hatred in people and the reality that many that many times, cruel people never get what they deserve. The language in this book was so rich and expressive it made modern books seem dead and lacking. Although at the beginning I found it very hard to understand and follow this book, towards the end I grew used to it and it seemed normal. If only all language were this alive and expressive! I recommend this to all, for it will change the way you look at books!
Reviewed By: DancingPenguin96
