Compare And Contrast Grange And Wuthering Heights

The story of Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë centres on the character of Heathcliff. In the beginning Heathcliff was a homeless orphan and throughout the novel grew as a character, gaining wealth and power. Heathcliff has numerous relationships with other characters within the novel which really give the reader an insight into his personality and what kind of person he is when dealing with different scenarios which he come across. The two main households and property’s which the novel surrounds are Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights. Although both share some similarities they are opposites due to their extreme differences. The location of both properties plays a big part within the novel. The Heights is located on a hill top, un-sheltered …show more content…
The Grange is home to the Linton’s who are quite well-off in comparison to the Earnshaw’s. When we were introduced to the character of Heathcliff at the beginning of the novel he was a homeless orphan with nothing, he was then taken in by the Earnshaw’s who cared for him but who weren’t well off. When looking at his character it is clear that the presence of money may have changed his progression from a child into an adult, shaping him into a better person. The Grange is a warmer and more welcoming, civilized location which could have benefitted Heathcliff a lot more than the isolation of the Heights. It is quite clear that Heathcliff doesn’t really have much of an identity within the novel, he was taken in by the Earnshaw family and given the name of a dead son but lacked a surname which would prove he belonged. Throughout the novel Heathcliff battled with himself and many others which gave off the impression that he was a violent individual but according to Brontë this side of Heathcliff was merely due to the fact that his upbringing lacked the characteristics needed to fulfil a wholesome human being, “Emily Bronte keeps telling us that he has been victimized and that his viciousness arises from his misery.” (Fegan, Melissa, …show more content…
The coldness of the heights always highlighted elements from Heathcliff’s past that slowly tortured him inside, also living with Catherine while dealing with their overwhelming relationship only encouraging his violent nature further. The Grange would have provided the best possible environment for Heathcliff to reach his potential as a character and in many ways tame his character which would benefit everyone within the novel. The heights is where Heathcliff fully became a recognised person and was accepted fully for who he was without judgement. It was also where he met Catherine and fell in love with her and grew and developed from a child into an adolescent, almost as if he was reborn. Heathcliff belongs culturally within the heights because that is where he was first accepted into a family and where he first experienced family