Isolation crumbles mental sanity in addition to affecting physical health. The symptoms Michael Bond, the author of The Power of Others, described of interrupted sleep patterns, inattentiveness, and inoperative reasoning skills all take an effect upon many characters within Wuthering Height, with an emphasis in Heathcliff. Emotional isolation caused the characters of Wuthering Heights to make questionable decisions and actions building up to Bronte’s theme that human nature depends upon connection to other humans, not only geographically but emotionally.
Geographically, the setting nestles itself as nearly remote as the South Pole, especially when the children rarely, if ever, escaped …show more content…
Heathcliff personifies this perfectly as his insanity grows more and more desperate throughout the years deprived of emotional connection to anyone without Catherine. Nelly reflects later to Lockwood that Heathcliff’s sleep patterns were considerably altered and he withdrew into himself, no longer seeming to have the strength or will to lash out at those around him (Bronte Ch …show more content…
House, Landis, and Dr. Umberson show that isolation is linked to and affects all age groups (quoted by Cornwell). The second generation portrays this effect with Catherine Linton, the daughter of Catherine Earnshaw and Edgar, and Hareton Earnshaw. Growing up, Catherine Linton has not a care in the world; she emotionally connects with her father and Nelly as they raise her with doting love. For the first few years of his life, Nelly raises Hareton the same way; causing him to be a sweet toddler until Nelly’s departure for Thrushcross Grange with Catherine. Both Catherine Linton’s and Hareton’s character deteriorate once they are separated from those they connect with. Catherine cruelly teases Hareton before her connection to him, and until his connection to her, Hareton remains a crude brute with no want to better himself or impress anyone.
The emotional isolation takes its toll upon even the best characters in Wuthering Heights. Physical and psychological symptoms become increasingly apparent throughout the lives of multiple characters and affecting their actions and decisions. All of the turmoil building up to Bronte’s theme that human nature demands emotional connection with other