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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
All 4.5 stars are for Nelly (Ellen) and Hareton.
Wuthering Heights is the epitome of the word ‘gothic’. It’s full of tragedy after tragedy, so much so that I questioned whether it were purely for shock value, but then I remembered the life expectancies in the Victorian era lol.
The Writing and Setting:
The setting was so immersive because the writing was descriptive in a way that I could feel it. I love how dark and gloomy it is.
It also didn’t bother me that it was told from Nelly’s perspective from Mr Lockwood because it was executed well and I love Nelly.
Themes:
Racial prejudices and discrimination played a huge role at the beginning of this book as Heathcliff is described as a brown child, most likely of Romani/Indian origin which makes me extremely baffled that Heathcliff has been white in all 20 TV adaptations, including the upcoming one! Emily Brontë was born 200 years ago, yet she’s more progressive than the modern day movie makers that won’t cast a brown person as the brown main character smh.
Pride is also a recurring theme, beginning with the pride of Hindley Earnshaw and ending with the pride of Cathy (Jr).
Characters:
In general I admired how individual each characters was, yet still equally nuanced. Most of the characters are intentionally unlikeable and I guess that’s why so many people hate this book, despite it being objectively good. I’ll give more opinions about each character from my favourite to my least favourite:
-Ellen Dean (Nelly): Sassy icon. I absolutely adore Nelly; she was the sweetest, most selfless person ever and the only character without a flaw. She was truly a mother to everyone.
I loved how she was an anti-racist queen and that she held people accountable, especially when they were spoilt (e.g Catherine Sr.). She was brave and said what she thought!
Iconic Nelly quote: “Small loss to his family whenever he drops off.”
-Hareton Earnshaw: A sweetie pie who did not deserve to be treated the way he was initially by Cathy Jr. He also did not deserve to be used as a pawn in Heathcliff’s revenge against his father.
-Edgar: A gentle natured soul, but too gentle for his own good. He was loyal and a loving father.
-Mr Earnshaw: He was the first to love Heathcliff and the fact that he was not white made no difference to him - he treated him as his own son, with great care and affection.
-Isabella: Despite being foolish in her marriage to Heathcliff, she was a nice girl and a good mother.
-Cathy Jr: She has her faults (I hated how she mistreated Hareton and how she was stubborn) but she grew to be a lovely girl in the end.
Nelly on Cathy Jr.: “She must have had a warm heart, when she loved her father so, to give so much to me!”
-Zillah: Not awful but didn’t have a spine and was complicit in Cathy’s mistreatment.
-Linton: I felt sorry for him at one point but he was a manipulative, attention seeking idiot and was evil to Cathy Jr.
-Heathcliff: I was rooting for him because he was treated so awfully and it broke my heart when he said “I wish I had light hair and fair skin.” But for some unexplained reason (well I guess it was jealously and vengefulness) he becomes a despicable person, particularly i’m regards to Isabella, Cathy Jr., Hareton and Linton.
-Catherine Sr: Selfish and a player. The only thing I liked about her was her protectiveness of Heathcliff when they were younger.
-Mr Lockwood: Just an NPC that I disliked for no real reason, but I liked when he stood up for Hareton.
Hindley: Hateful, racist, abusive alcoholic.
Joseph: All my homies hate Joseph. Why was he a servant but he was bossing everyone about? He was cold hearted and that’s all.
Relationships:
The only r/s I was rooting for was Hareton and Cathy Jr.
I did not care for Heathcliff and Catherine Sr: They were too messy, but I did like some quotes from their relationship:
“he shall never know that I love him: and that is not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
“I have not broken your heart - you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine.”
“I love my murderer - but yours! How can I?”
“You said I killed you - haunt me, then! …. drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! …. I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul.”
“for what is not connected with her to me and what does not recall her? I cannot look down to this floor, but her features are shaped on the flags! … I am surrounded with her image … my own features mock me with a resemblance. The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her.”
TL;DR: I have too many opinions for my own good and believe it or not I had more to say, but overall this was brilliantly gothic and funny at times. Also I’m glad I didn’t live in this era so I’m not forced to marry my cousin, or the closest man in my vicinity.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Classism
Minor: Racism
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
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
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this, especially the structure with the reader as Lockwood being thrown into the story halfway through and slowly getting the story from Nelly. This structure adds to the themes of repeating generations and Heathcliff’s character arc as we see him so miserable in the present day.
I loved both Cathy characters as you can see their similarities across the generations. Even though both can be exhausting with their ‘nature’ feel I found is really interesting, in particular when ‘old’ Cathy first comes back from spending time with the Earnshaws and you see her change in character with her more traditional views on class and presentation.
When Cathy dies however I found Heathcliff’s revenge arc to me a bit too melodramatic for me to the point where it feels ridiculous which hurts the emotion Emily Brontë tries to convey. After this though I found the last few chapters to be amazing, I loved seeing Cathy and Hareton put their kind of prejudices aside and truly connect. While this is going on I also loved Heathcliff’s change on revenge and outlook before his death with his monologue about being free being a massive highlight.
Overall I thought this was great with really interesting themes and characters and I could easily rate this higher if I think of it more. Also another part towards the end of the book that I appreciated was Cathy and Hareton’s relationship being shown in the past with Nelly narrating, as in the present when Lockwood arrives again after Heathcliff’s death it’s only a small conversation he hears of with Cathy teaching Hareton.
I loved both Cathy characters as you can see their similarities across the generations. Even though both can be exhausting with their ‘nature’ feel I found is really interesting, in particular when ‘old’ Cathy first comes back from spending time with the Earnshaws and you see her change in character with her more traditional views on class and presentation.
When Cathy dies however I found Heathcliff’s revenge arc to me a bit too melodramatic for me to the point where it feels ridiculous which hurts the emotion Emily Brontë tries to convey. After this though I found the last few chapters to be amazing, I loved seeing Cathy and Hareton put their kind of prejudices aside and truly connect. While this is going on I also loved Heathcliff’s change on revenge and outlook before his death with his monologue about being free being a massive highlight.
Overall I thought this was great with really interesting themes and characters and I could easily rate this higher if I think of it more. Also another part towards the end of the book that I appreciated was Cathy and Hareton’s relationship being shown in the past with Nelly narrating, as in the present when Lockwood arrives again after Heathcliff’s death it’s only a small conversation he hears of with Cathy teaching Hareton.
(3.6/5)
از خوندنش لذت بردم. هرچند با یه سری چیز هایی که شنیده بودم از وسط کتاب به بعد به چشم کتاب بد که ارزششو نداشته باشه بخونیش، نگاش کردم، ولی کاملا ارزششو داره یکبار هم که شده بخونینش. کتاب ارزشمندیه؛ چون کاملا نشون میده تنفری که به کسی میورزید، چجوری توی وجود اون فرد رشد میکنه و چه بسا یه روزی گریبانگیر خودتون هم میشه. من از اول کتاب تا آخر کتاب فکر میکردم "چی میشد اگه همه به خوبی باهم رفتار میکردن". کاترین تنها کسی بود که به هیت کلیف عشق ورزید و تا لحظه آخر از ذهن هیت کلیف بیرون نرفت. قدرت عشق رو نشون میده. که چی میشد، اگه هندلی این چرخه نفرت و شروع نمیکرد و بقیه هم ادامهش نمیدادن. و در آخر هم میبینین بجز هیرتن، هیچکس برای مرگ هیت کلیف رنجیده نشد. اینه که قشنگ نیست. چیزی که ناراحت کنندهس اینه که وقتی هیت کلیف یه همنشین میخواست تا توی اتاق تنها نباشه، کسی قبول نکرد. این غمگینه که با هیت کلیف چیکار کردن که امیدش رو به خوبی از دست داد. و فاجعه اونجا شروع میشه که آدما امیدشون رو به خوبی از دست میدن.
_کاترین گفت: "بله، من میدانم او ذاتا شرور است چون خون شما در رگ هایش جریان دارد. اما این را هم میدانم که مرا دوست دارد و من نیز او را دوست دارم. اما شما چه آقای هیت کلیف؟ هیچکس شما را دوست ندارد. چون بدبخت و درمانده هستید و به سعادت دیگران حسادت میکنید و میخواهید همه را عذاب دهید. شما تنها و بیکس و حقیر هستید، درست مثل شیطان. مطمئنم همه آرزوی مرگتان را دارند و کسی در مرگ شما قطره اشکی هم نمیریزد. من بسیار خوشحال و خوشبختم که جای آدم منفور و پست فطرتی مثل شما نیستم. شما موجود بدبخت و قابل ترحمی هستید که درماندگی خود را در پس نقابی از سنگدلی و قساوت پنهان میسازید."
(July 17, 2022.. 19:34)
+بابت اینکه وقتی خوندم: "معلوم است خبر ندارید آقای هیت کلیف مرده است!" لبخند زدم متاسفم.
+ادگار، ایزابلا و هیرتن آدمیانِ قابل احترامی هستند.
+شروع کنیم؟
از خوندنش لذت بردم. هرچند با یه سری چیز هایی که شنیده بودم از وسط کتاب به بعد به چشم کتاب بد که ارزششو نداشته باشه بخونیش، نگاش کردم، ولی کاملا ارزششو داره یکبار هم که شده بخونینش. کتاب ارزشمندیه؛ چون کاملا نشون میده تنفری که به کسی میورزید، چجوری توی وجود اون فرد رشد میکنه و چه بسا یه روزی گریبانگیر خودتون هم میشه. من از اول کتاب تا آخر کتاب فکر میکردم "چی میشد اگه همه به خوبی باهم رفتار میکردن". کاترین تنها کسی بود که به هیت کلیف عشق ورزید و تا لحظه آخر از ذهن هیت کلیف بیرون نرفت. قدرت عشق رو نشون میده. که چی میشد، اگه هندلی این چرخه نفرت و شروع نمیکرد و بقیه هم ادامهش نمیدادن. و در آخر هم میبینین بجز هیرتن، هیچکس برای مرگ هیت کلیف رنجیده نشد. اینه که قشنگ نیست. چیزی که ناراحت کنندهس اینه که وقتی هیت کلیف یه همنشین میخواست تا توی اتاق تنها نباشه، کسی قبول نکرد. این غمگینه که با هیت کلیف چیکار کردن که امیدش رو به خوبی از دست داد. و فاجعه اونجا شروع میشه که آدما امیدشون رو به خوبی از دست میدن.
_کاترین گفت: "بله، من میدانم او ذاتا شرور است چون خون شما در رگ هایش جریان دارد. اما این را هم میدانم که مرا دوست دارد و من نیز او را دوست دارم. اما شما چه آقای هیت کلیف؟ هیچکس شما را دوست ندارد. چون بدبخت و درمانده هستید و به سعادت دیگران حسادت میکنید و میخواهید همه را عذاب دهید. شما تنها و بیکس و حقیر هستید، درست مثل شیطان. مطمئنم همه آرزوی مرگتان را دارند و کسی در مرگ شما قطره اشکی هم نمیریزد. من بسیار خوشحال و خوشبختم که جای آدم منفور و پست فطرتی مثل شما نیستم. شما موجود بدبخت و قابل ترحمی هستید که درماندگی خود را در پس نقابی از سنگدلی و قساوت پنهان میسازید."
(July 17, 2022.. 19:34)
+بابت اینکه وقتی خوندم: "معلوم است خبر ندارید آقای هیت کلیف مرده است!" لبخند زدم متاسفم.
+ادگار، ایزابلا و هیرتن آدمیانِ قابل احترامی هستند.
+شروع کنیم؟