The texts, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, both offer social commentary on the usage of the law. Parallels can be drawn between Mr. Jaggers, Compeyson and Heathcliff, as each of these men abuse their power and the law to the detriment of others. By extension the law becomes connected to these immoral individuals, and is suggested to be corrupt, as it values either appearances or money, over justice. In contrast, the law is indicated to be written against characters like Magwitch, young Cathy Linton and Hareton Earnshaw. It allows others to objectify and control their outcomes, and therefore is illustrated to be unable to protect them. With this in mind, Andrew Abraham’s article, “Emily Bronte's Gendered
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Additionally, the law is not limited to making Cathy vulnerable; Magwitch and Hareton are also made vulnerable in the courts and by inheritance laws. In connection, the texts suggest that the law offers an unequal balance of power and justice for different members of society. In Great Expectations, Magwitch is presented as a vulnerable character due to his low position in society, and the law is continuously set against him. Firstly, Magwitch is suggested to only commit crimes in order to survive. For instance, Magwitch states that one of his earliest memories is of “thieving turnips for [his] living” (Dickens 346). With this in mind, we are made to feel sympathetic towards Magwitch, especially when he states, “but what the Devil was I to do? I must put something in my stomach mustn’t I?” (347). …show more content…
When Linton Heathcliff, Cathy’s husband dies, Heathcliff quickly collects Cathy’s property, Thrushcross Grange and make Cathy dependent on him. Abraham points out that this is made possible because, “women [in the Victorian period] had the same legal status as minors, criminals, and the insane” (Abraham 94). Therefore when Cathy becomes married, she cannot legally protect herself against her father-in-law, Heathcliff. Cathy is then made into a kind of slave, forced to pay Heathcliff with domestic tasks or “services for her bread”, and she cannot escape because as Heathcliff points out, “where would [she] go?” (Bronte 287). Additionally, Hareton also loses his property in a similar manner. Hareton at his father’s death was supposed to be “the first gentleman in the neighbourhood,” someone of high rank (188). However, Heathcliff reduces him to “live in his own house as a servant deprived of the advantage of wages, quite unable to right himself” (188). Similar to Cathy, Hareton’s misfortunes occur whilst he is a child and unable to protect himself, because he was ignorant “that he [had] been wronged” (188). Likewise, both characters cannot change their circumstances, because of their reduced status and power. Hence Heathcliff’s actions are immoral, because he attacks defenseless persons. With this in mind, the law is suggested to be
Additionally, the law is not limited to making Cathy vulnerable; Magwitch and Hareton are also made vulnerable in the courts and by inheritance laws. In connection, the texts suggest that the law offers an unequal balance of power and justice for different members of society. In Great Expectations, Magwitch is presented as a vulnerable character due to his low position in society, and the law is continuously set against him. Firstly, Magwitch is suggested to only commit crimes in order to survive. For instance, Magwitch states that one of his earliest memories is of “thieving turnips for [his] living” (Dickens 346). With this in mind, we are made to feel sympathetic towards Magwitch, especially when he states, “but what the Devil was I to do? I must put something in my stomach mustn’t I?” (347). …show more content…
When Linton Heathcliff, Cathy’s husband dies, Heathcliff quickly collects Cathy’s property, Thrushcross Grange and make Cathy dependent on him. Abraham points out that this is made possible because, “women [in the Victorian period] had the same legal status as minors, criminals, and the insane” (Abraham 94). Therefore when Cathy becomes married, she cannot legally protect herself against her father-in-law, Heathcliff. Cathy is then made into a kind of slave, forced to pay Heathcliff with domestic tasks or “services for her bread”, and she cannot escape because as Heathcliff points out, “where would [she] go?” (Bronte 287). Additionally, Hareton also loses his property in a similar manner. Hareton at his father’s death was supposed to be “the first gentleman in the neighbourhood,” someone of high rank (188). However, Heathcliff reduces him to “live in his own house as a servant deprived of the advantage of wages, quite unable to right himself” (188). Similar to Cathy, Hareton’s misfortunes occur whilst he is a child and unable to protect himself, because he was ignorant “that he [had] been wronged” (188). Likewise, both characters cannot change their circumstances, because of their reduced status and power. Hence Heathcliff’s actions are immoral, because he attacks defenseless persons. With this in mind, the law is suggested to be