As a female writer in early nineteenth century England, Emily Bronte defies societal norms that deems men as intellectual superiors, especially in the sphere of literature. In a time period when feminism was burgeoning as a radical notion, emerging novels from female authors such as the Bronte sisters gave a voice to a marginalised group who were hitherto without one. Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights was deemed radical during its Victorian age: presenting racially ambiguous characters, asexual love stories, and progressive portrayals of female characters. Through Bronte’s descriptions of Isabelle, Catherine, and Cathy, as well as their detrimental interactions and harmful experiences within their patriarchal culture, she provides an indictment
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Described as a “charming young lady” with “infantile manners”, Isabella’s weak and childish nature is what allows Heathcliff to reduce her status and importance to that of a pawn in his plan to acquire the Linton’s property (79). Despite Heathcliff’s revelations to Isabella as to his intentions of pursuing her, Isabella regards Heathcliff as an enigmatic, romantic hero and enters into a loveless, abusive marriage with him. Heathcliff recognizes her innocence and naivete, and exploits them, noting that “ '[Isabella] abandoned [her reason] under a delusion...picturing in me a hero of romance, and expecting unlimited indulgences from my chivalrous devotion. I can hardly regard her in the light of a rational creature, so obstinately has she persisted in forming a fabulous notion of my character and acting on the false impressions she cherished” (118). Alongside Heathcliff’s obliteration of Isabella’s self esteem by illustrating her as both vapid and ignorant, to her face, his continual degradation of her and denoting her worth to that of property, are the driving factors that lead to the declination of Isabella’s self esteem and mental health. After the humiliation and torment she faces as the expense of Heathcliff, Isabella …show more content…
While older Cathy found herself reduced to being “Edgar’s wife” rather than an individual, and Isabella found herself diminished as a pawn in Heathcliff’s vendetta, Catherine finds herself dwindled in both ways. Heathcliff uses Catherine as a pawn in his enactment of revenge against her father, Edgar; coercing her into a marriage with his son Linton, so that he may secure his acquisition of the Grange property. Contrastly to Isabella’s story, Cathy is aware of her role in Heathcliff’s vengeance on her father, and willingly participates, out of her love for Linton, as well as the hopes of seeing her father before he passes. Her awareness and understanding of her role as a pawn is what allows her story to differ from that of Isabella’s and Catherine’s. Although she does have feelings for, and cares for Linton, he abuses that love, as well as his sickness, to pressure her into staying in a relationship with him. Catherine is initially unaware of this abuse, until Nelly warns her “that [she] is not the person to benefit him, and that his condition of health is not occasioned by attachment to you… Come away, as soon as he knows there is nobody to care for his nonsense, he’ll be glad to lie still!” (184). Linton’s abuse towards Catharine persists, and he remains passive in helping Catherine escape Heathcliff’s maltreat. This problem,
Described as a “charming young lady” with “infantile manners”, Isabella’s weak and childish nature is what allows Heathcliff to reduce her status and importance to that of a pawn in his plan to acquire the Linton’s property (79). Despite Heathcliff’s revelations to Isabella as to his intentions of pursuing her, Isabella regards Heathcliff as an enigmatic, romantic hero and enters into a loveless, abusive marriage with him. Heathcliff recognizes her innocence and naivete, and exploits them, noting that “ '[Isabella] abandoned [her reason] under a delusion...picturing in me a hero of romance, and expecting unlimited indulgences from my chivalrous devotion. I can hardly regard her in the light of a rational creature, so obstinately has she persisted in forming a fabulous notion of my character and acting on the false impressions she cherished” (118). Alongside Heathcliff’s obliteration of Isabella’s self esteem by illustrating her as both vapid and ignorant, to her face, his continual degradation of her and denoting her worth to that of property, are the driving factors that lead to the declination of Isabella’s self esteem and mental health. After the humiliation and torment she faces as the expense of Heathcliff, Isabella …show more content…
While older Cathy found herself reduced to being “Edgar’s wife” rather than an individual, and Isabella found herself diminished as a pawn in Heathcliff’s vendetta, Catherine finds herself dwindled in both ways. Heathcliff uses Catherine as a pawn in his enactment of revenge against her father, Edgar; coercing her into a marriage with his son Linton, so that he may secure his acquisition of the Grange property. Contrastly to Isabella’s story, Cathy is aware of her role in Heathcliff’s vengeance on her father, and willingly participates, out of her love for Linton, as well as the hopes of seeing her father before he passes. Her awareness and understanding of her role as a pawn is what allows her story to differ from that of Isabella’s and Catherine’s. Although she does have feelings for, and cares for Linton, he abuses that love, as well as his sickness, to pressure her into staying in a relationship with him. Catherine is initially unaware of this abuse, until Nelly warns her “that [she] is not the person to benefit him, and that his condition of health is not occasioned by attachment to you… Come away, as soon as he knows there is nobody to care for his nonsense, he’ll be glad to lie still!” (184). Linton’s abuse towards Catharine persists, and he remains passive in helping Catherine escape Heathcliff’s maltreat. This problem,