Wuthering Heights Feminist Analysis

Wuthering Heights, written by Emily Bronte, is a story about different social groups interacting with each other during romanticism; however, there is a struggle between the characters. The struggle reflects the ideologies of that era, for instance marriage and love and the reason behind them. Catherine Earnshaw, a young woman considered to be from the middle class due to her father´s land. Heathcliff, however, reflected the lower class with no background nor a name or money or a good look. Edgar, unlike Heathcliff, was from the upper class. He had a well-known family name to rely on and land which he owned, in addition of all that, he had good looks, too. Catherine choose to marry Edgar. As a result to Catherine Earnshaw´s choice, Heathcliff …show more content…
Her husband worked in the business market. To her husband, Edna was considered as an object. Edna was something that belonged to him, with no feelings or interests. However, Edna fell in love with Robert, a young fellow. There is also a struggle in the Awakening, although it’s about Edna herself and how she was dealing with her new feelings. The novel was written during the realistic era and reflects women’s struggle during that time. Catherine and Edna have unconventional marriages; however, Catherine’s character is sad and melancholy while Edna’s is courageous and brave.
Catherine´s life circulated around Heathcliff. When Heathcliff came back to Wuthering Heights, Catherine had already married Edgar, however Heathcliff’s absence and return changed Catherine’s life. Before Heathcliff’s …show more content…
When Edna swam for the first time, the feeling was overwhelming. It was like waking up from a dream. She described a feeling of exultation; “A feeling of exultation overtook her, as if some power of significant import had been given her to control the working of her body and her soul…” (Chopin: 32)”. Swimming was for her the first thing she did by herself, as an achievement her husband and children had no interference with. However, Edna’s husband thought that she was something belonging to him, “He thought it very discouraging that his wife, who was the sole object of his existence, evinced so little interest in things which concerned him, and valued so little his conversation. (Chopin: 9)”. This reflects how men considered how women should be in a marriage: devoted to their husbands and they should try to show interest in their husbands’ lives. However, Edna did not share this opinion which was opposite the norm that the society had. She always took off her wedding rings, and it exaggerated once when she throw away the ring and stamped on it; “Once she stopped, and taking off her wedding ring, flung it upon the carpet. When she saw it lying there, she stamped her heel upon it, striving to crush it. (Chopin: 57)”. The wedding ring was or should have been a symbol for love and compassion, a non-breakable relationship between a couple, but it was as if Edna felt that the ring was like a chain that hold her from her dreams, desires