Reviews with content warning for Incest - Woeste Hoogten

Reviews tagging 'Incest'

Woeste Hoogten by Emily Brontë

156 reviews

jessicabearbooks's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

"If he loved with all the power of his puny being, he couldn't love as much in eighty years, as I could in a day."

This is a tragic and devastating story of lost love and toxic relationships. I didn't fully appreciate that till I started reading. 4 Stars for how this story made me feel. Emily Brontë's words are devastatingly soulful. The love declaration after death caused my own heart's death. I felt those tears so deeply throughout the chapters, and the way the yearning was explored...I was distraught.

I skimmed over all the parts with Yorkshire accents because I didn't have the strength to sound everything out, but I liked the depth it added to the characters. I still have no clue who's who and what was really going on - I recommend reading a chapter summary before each one as it helped me actually appreciate the story rather than crying with confusion. Also let's not forget that literally everybody married their cousin at least once during the story, and they all changed names but they were all the same names...so that didn't help.

I HATED majority of the characters, and actually cheered for one character's death, as sad as it was. The only people I really liked in the whole book were Isabella (sweet, caring Isabella who didn't deserve that life), and Nelly. That woman was a mother, a friend, and was the only one who truly deserves to go to the heaven yearned for throughout. Adult Catherine was catty and SO DRAMATIC. Actually every character was, why are we all throwing fits as soon as we don't get our way? But it was almost worth it for the second-hand embarrassment when nobody believed them, so they just had to walk away like nothing happened AHAHA, deserved. That all being said, Cathy was strangely loveable - child Cathy was definitely her mother's daughter, except I loved the empathy that lay beneath. Little Cathy ultimately did not deserve that much death, I hope she's happy now.

This book did feel long though, It only took me a couple days because I was determined to get through it so the actual reading didn't drag. That being said, the story is slow paced but something is always happening between characters or to a specific character's heart. It was definitely an enjoyable (painful) experience and I love that my Dad gave this to me. It's his favourite book and I'm so glad the story did his love justice.

Special mention for some of my favourite quotes because the hilarity and relatability of Brontë's writing should never be overlooked:

"canine mother"
"What vain weather-cocks we are!"
"I shall be was dirty as I please, and I like to be dirty, and I will be dirty".
"frittering your life away in silly trifles"
"your mother was a wicked slut"
"I needn't repeat that, because you would call it silly"
"don't degrade yourself into an abject reptile"
"get in, and don't annoy me."
"If you had any real griefs, you'd be ashamed to waste a tear on this little contrariety."

The ending was a lovely circle really and just added to the theme of yearning. Strangely, I am so glad I got to experience this pain, and I'm glad I get to love someone in my own life as deeply as Heathcliff loved Cathy. That being said, I can't imagine living a life with that much misery. I want to live my own freedom the way Cathy should have been able to.

"Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad! only do not leave me alone in the abyss where I cannot find you." Oh God it is unutterable. I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!"

Content Warnings

bookishbluejayle's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

sssnowjanus's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

my favorite book ever, i wish white people could read.

Content Warnings

snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

da_michael's review against another edition

3.25

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I hated everyone! Justice for Edgar Linton

Content Warnings

komiification's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was still a pretty difficult read, although I definitely understood it more reading it the 2nd time than the first. However, it seems the intention of the book is actually to confuse the reader with its dream-like metaphysical state and constant confusion of the naming schemes of characters, and that the writers who wrote the introduction for the book and critical analysis thereafter also were confused and had to re-read. Maybe by a third or fourth read, I'll actually enjoy it. Also, the version I read delved into some of the history of Emily Bronte, which I enjoyed.

TLDR: an important contribution to the literary canon, but definitely not a 'fun' or 'enjoyable' read.

Content Warnings

wuthrinheights's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I took my time rereading this. In between my other CRs, before I sleep, etc, that it took me 4 months to finish it. Well, I actually read nearly half of it just yesterday. It was one of those cold, rainy, gloomy days and I was breezing through this story. I couldn't help it. It felt as familiar as if I were reading my diary regarding my past (no, my past did not resemble this book in the slightest. I just mean it's so comfortable to read Emily's words as if it were home).

This book is so special to me. The gloomy atmosphere, the intense emotions, the wild characters, the beautiful quotes, the tragic family tree, the eerie supernatural sightings, the comedic scenes, the growth and development of the characters, the unforgettable love declarations... oh, what is there not to love? This is such an iconic book. I fiercely love Emily Jane Brontë.

This is my first time reading the Norton edition and it was enlightening. The essays helped me understand the literature better and it made me be even more in awe of this novel. How Q. D. Leavis compared Cathy to characters from Dickens, Tolstoy, Lawrence; how Inga-Stina Ewbank wrote about the symbols in the book to differentiate characters and societal classes; how John K. Mathison wrote an essay solely on Nelly and how she was an unreliable narrator (which really opened my eyes to a lot of missed details); how Carl R. Woodring wrote about the narrators of the books and how it plays with the events; how Mary Visick compared Cathy to A.G.A, a Gondal heroine; how Mark Schorer analysed WH through the analogies and how "Her metaphors instruct her, and her verbs"; and lastly, how William M. Sale, JR reiterated Miss Fanny Ratchford's conclusion that Wuthering Heights was born from the tales of Gondal. I've spent over an hour reading these essays and I've learned so much in one sitting.

C. P. Sanger summarised the book then went into detail of every date of birth and death of the characters, and wondered how Emily had knowledge of the dates as well as the laws of land ownership. He was in awe of her brilliance and knowledge. He also wrote that this was a "tempestuous book" and I couldn't find a more perfect word to describe it than that. Sums it up greatly.

David Cecil wrote that to Emily, "man and nature are equally living and in the same way; different manifestations of a single spiritual reality." That she accepted both good and evil in people: "the deeds and passion of humans do not spring from destructive impulses, but they're only destructive if they were diverted from their natural course." And that the characters' intense emotions resemble the forces of nature; they love each other not because of their pleasant personalities, but from a sense of affinity. That's such a brilliant way of reading into her works. Someone finally found the right words to explain a good reason to back up why I love this book despite the terrible characters.

As for the newspaper clippings of the book reviews, I can only imagine how much Emily must've laughed and felt a surge of pride seeing her words being reviewed in its time (especially when they just didn't get it, nor were they aware of who the actual author was).

All in all, this was such a perfect addition to my collection of WH. It's a must read by fans of Wuthering Heights who want to delve deeper into this brilliant novel. I'm so happy I found a copy so I can find more reasons to love my favourite book.

Content Warnings

ashleymae_'s review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I found Wuthering Heights to be refreshing after reading Jane Eyre. Both Charlotte and Emily have tremendous talent in storytelling, albeit vastly different modes of portraying themes, characters and morality. It is as though they have lived completely different lives, Charlotte is inspired by what is good and godly, Emily is attracted to darkness and misery. The content warnings could be rolling out the door.

Wuthering Heights delves into the reality of many people’s lives in Emily’s era, through morbid, selfish characters and of course her narcissistic / sociopathic anti-hero, Heathcliff who becomes a tyrannical patriarch. His ability to do so is enlightening in regards to the ease in which a man can inflict cruelty on those around him, especially women, with impunity from the law. Power-hungry and sadistic, Heathcliff seeks revenge for the way he was treated in childhood and for how his love was stolen from him— the only person who can stir positive feeling in him. Although Heathcliff is abhorrent, he is so intriguing and his devotion to Catherine renders this morally indefensible character understandable to the eyes of many readers. Although we cannot excuse his temperance, cunning and evil nature, we sympathise with the little orphan Romani boy he once was, treated terribly, until Catherine “saved” him, and her father warmed up to him.

In death, Catherine saves him once more, and calls him to the other side; or at least we may deduce this from his delirious state during the days leading to his death.

I am still reflecting on this novel and I shall be for a while, however here are some quotes which are poignant/of interest:

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same, and Linton is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire. - Catherine Earnshaw, 78

so who’s trying to merge souls?

What were the use of my creation, if I were entirely contained here? My great miseries in this world have been Heathcliff’s miseries, and I watched and felt each from the beginning; my great thought in living is himself. 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…Nelly, I am Heathcliff— - Catherine Earnshaw, 79-80

I love that the line between love and obsession is so faint, it may as well not be there between Catherine and Heathcliff

The moment her regard ceased, I would have torn his heart out, and drunk his blood! - Heathcliff, 143

Heathcliff is toxic (understatement) but I liked the vampiric imagery, he quite figuratively is a vampire seeking to use and destroy for his own ends/pleasure/consumption.

“I wish I could hold you…till we were both dead! I shouldn’t care what you suffered. I care nothing for your sufferings. Why shouldn’t you suffer? I do!” - Catherine Earnshaw, 152
Well might Catherine deem that Heaven would be a land of exile to her, unless, with her mortal body, she cast away her moral character also. - Nelly Dean, assuming the role of narrator, 152

I also appreciate how love and hate are intertwined, and how selfish they are in love— it’s difficult to determine whether they act for their lover or themselves, and yet it is both since they seem to be eternally bound.

…and on my approaching hurriedly to ascertain if she had fainted, he gnashed at me, and foamed like a mad dog, and gathered her to him with greedy jealousy. - Nelly Dean, 154
“…Why did you betray your own heart, Cathy? I have not one word of comfort— you deserve this. You have killed yourself…wring out my kisses and tears. They’ll blight you— they’ll damn you.” “I love my murderer—but yours! How can I?” - Heathcliff, 154-155

Their passion, through their disdain, through their spite, through their jealousy, it is unbreakable. Their tempestuous relationship is solidified as an unstoppable force in this scene, and unfortunately the surrounding characters (their family!) are drawn into the wreckage of the storm.
In regards to the narration, I love Nelly Dean, especially when she portrays Heathcliff in a preternatural, primal light, it fits the dark, gothic mood and it adds a sparkle to his enigmatic, morally grey character.

I finish this review under the misty full moon, left with feelings of repulsion and curiosity towards Wuthering Heights.

Content Warnings