Wuthering Heights By Emily Bronte - 1149 Words

During it release in 1842, ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Bronte was considered to be a novel of obscenity and monstrosity. The novel has the ability to adapt to a range of themes and transcend the forms of content and cultural context within the ideas of love, oppression, power and harmony. Critical readings of the text have challenged and enriched readers in a diverse array of interpretations of language and structure; forming personal meanings that have developed throughout history. England, in the1840s was a time where the economy struggled with depression and the middle and upper classes feared revolt. Terry Eagleton, within his critical reading, suggests that the novel, ‘Wuthering Heights’, is based on the â€Å"enteral conflict of social†¦show more content†¦He rebels against the ideas of social prejudice through the bond he shares with Catherine. Eagleton states that Heathcliff and Catherine change the interpretations of social status as an attempt to liberate themselves through love, enriching the idea of breaking the social standards and manifesting the idea that love conquers all. Oppression is a major theme that underlines the novel ‘Wuthering Heights’. This idea of confinement within the novel is presented through the social class and the oppression inflicted onto the characters. Bronte depicts social class between the Earnshaw’s and the Linton’s through the marriage of Catherine Earnshaw and Edgar Linton. Catherine fears that her love for Heathcliff could intruded the cultural standards of the time so therefor decides to marry Edgar instead of Heathcliff stating â€Å"†¦if Heathcliff and I married, we should be beggars†. This marriage is an attempt to rise social status as being with her true love, Heathcliff, would mean she descends society. Although Catherine marries Edgar, she still finds oppression. She is so torn between her love for Heathcliff that it slowly kills her, making her weak. When confronted by Heathcliff, who speaks of his suffering, she torments him saying †Why shouldn’t you suffer? I do! †. Catherine is naive, betraying her one true love for a life of wealth and comfort with Edgar. She believes â€Å"time