Okay, so....the choice of this book started with good intentions; it was supposed to be a Book club read. However, while me and one other person choose to read it others sat it out. This book was perhaps one of the most perplexing books I've ever been compelled to read. The prose was beautiful and the characters (to a point) were relatable. But none of them other than The Linton's, Lockwood (narrator) and Ms. Dean. (House keeper) are likable. All of the main characters are absolutely horrifying. The Story revolves around Catherine and Heathcliff; two young people who are very fond of one another. Heathcliff is moody and mean and his upbringing definitely has a lot to do with his hard demeanor. Catherine is a spoiled brat. She must have her way and she will abuse and use anyone to get what she wants. She treats those that she loves harshly and looks down upon them. She loves Heathcliff but will deny it in favor of someone richer. It's this acknowledgment of her feelings that drives Heathcliff away for three years and leads to her marrying Linton.
The Linton's seem to be good natured, sensible people. The glimpses we have of their upbringing verse that of Catherine and Heathcliff are stark to say the least. The Linton children seem to be loved and carefree and nurtured. While Catherine is tolerated and Heathcliff is down right hated. Isabella Linton is sweet and naive and easily taken in by Heathcliff's good looks and brooding ways. She fancies that she loves him. While Catherine is mean spirited and spiteful; she's also manipulative. Edgar Linton is gentle and sweet and a well bred gentlemen; while Heathcliff is a brute and vindictive. When Heathcliff finally returns home he is wealthy (no one knows how he came about the money) and he is out for revenge. He starts with Catherine's (Hindley Earnshaw) uncle; he begins to take advantage of the mans financial misfortune and is soon the owner of Catherine's family homestead. He makes sure that Hindley's son, Hareton, has no inheritance. Heathcliff than goes after the Linton's. He plays on the feelings of Isabella Linton. She ends up running away with him and marries him.
You'd think she'd stay away from him. She is warned not only by Catherine but by Ms. Dean. Not to mention on the night she runs off with Heathcliff she catches him in the act of hanging her dog. Yeah you read that right. The psycho was attempting to kill the dog of the woman who loves him. Isabella marries him and then runs away from her while pregnant. Heathcliff's revenge on Linton is far from complete. Things only get worse for them all because Catherine becomes ill and when she dies Heathcliff is determined to blame Edgar Linton for the loss of his beloved.
It's through the child Isabella bores that Heathcliff will have his ultimate revenge. At every turn Heathcliff makes sure everyone attached to him suffers; and even more so when it seems Catherine's spirit is haunting him.
Wuthering Heights is a story about so many things - its about pain, love, loss, revenge and most of all its about how our past deeds shall always come back to haunt us. This book was hard to like; but definitely is a classic I can say I appreciate. I gave this book 4/5 stars on good reads. The Book Babe Reads a Classic....My review of Wuthering Heights
Okay, so....the choice of this book started with good intentions; it was supposed to be a Book club read. However, while me and one other person choose to read it others sat it out. This book was perhaps one of the most perplexing books I've ever been compelled to read. The prose was beautiful and the characters (to a point) were relatable. But none of them other than The Linton's, Lockwood (narrator) and Ms. Dean. (House keeper) are likable. All of the main characters are absolutely horrifying. The Story revolves around Catherine and Heathcliff; two young people who are very fond of one another. Heathcliff is moody and mean and his upbringing definitely has a lot to do with his hard demeanor. Catherine is a spoiled brat. She must have her way and she will abuse and use anyone to get what she wants. She treats those that she loves harshly and looks down upon them. She loves Heathcliff but will deny it in favor of someone richer. It's this acknowledgment of her feelings that drives Heathcliff away for three years and leads to her marrying Linton.
The Linton's seem to be good natured, sensible people. The glimpses we have of their upbringing verse that of Catherine and Heathcliff are stark to say the least. The Linton children seem to be loved and carefree and nurtured. While Catherine is tolerated and Heathcliff is down right hated. Isabella Linton is sweet and naive and easily taken in by Heathcliff's good looks and brooding ways. She fancies that she loves him. While Catherine is mean spirited and spiteful; she's also manipulative. Edgar Linton is gentle and sweet and a well bred gentlemen; while Heathcliff is a brute and vindictive. When Heathcliff finally returns home he is wealthy (no one knows how he came about the money) and he is out for revenge. He starts with Catherine's (Hindley Earnshaw) uncle; he begins to take advantage of the mans financial misfortune and is soon the owner of Catherine's family homestead. He makes sure that Hindley's son, Hareton, has no inheritance. Heathcliff than goes after the Linton's. He plays on the feelings of Isabella Linton. She ends up running away with him and marries him.
You'd think she'd stay away from him. She is warned not only by Catherine but by Ms. Dean. Not to mention on the night she runs off with Heathcliff she catches him in the act of hanging her dog. Yeah you read that right. The psycho was attempting to kill the dog of the woman who loves him. Isabella marries him and then runs away from her while pregnant. Heathcliff's revenge on Linton is far from complete. Things only get worse for them all because Catherine becomes ill and when she dies Heathcliff is determined to blame Edgar Linton for the loss of his beloved.
It's through the child Isabella bores that Heathcliff will have his ultimate revenge. At every turn Heathcliff makes sure everyone attached to him suffers; and even more so when it seems Catherine's spirit is haunting him.
Wuthering Heights is a story about so many things - its about pain, love, loss, revenge and most of all its about how our past deeds shall always come back to haunt us. This book was hard to like; but definitely is a classic I can say I appreciate. I gave this book 4/5 stars on good reads.
Post Script:
I would caution any Book lovers that this book contains several scenes in which books are thrown about or thrown into fire places. This really pissed me off and actually made Heathcliff seem even more unkind to me.
Here are a few quotes I liked:
Definitely a book I will never read again! Lol and no one I would have got through on my own!
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