Therefore, the significance placed on social status is prevalent throughout the novel. Bronte illustrates how the importance of social status affects Heathcliff and Catherine. These social pressures affect the character’s self-worth, decisions, and their relationships. Heathcliff, a poor, orphan had the most trouble fitting into the prim and proper standards of the English high class society when he arrived at the Wuthering Heights estate to live with the Earnshaws. All of the family members shared negative opinions of him, except Catherine, who also once belonged to the lower class. “Catherine, who does not expect to inherit, responds spontaneously to Heathcliff’s presence” (Eagleton). Despite her natural attraction to him, Catherine only pursues Heathcliff because she does not think that she will inherit much, so she feels as if she has nothing to lose by doing so. The relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine ends on the basis everyone’s negative views of Heathcliff and his lack of high social
Therefore, the significance placed on social status is prevalent throughout the novel. Bronte illustrates how the importance of social status affects Heathcliff and Catherine. These social pressures affect the character’s self-worth, decisions, and their relationships. Heathcliff, a poor, orphan had the most trouble fitting into the prim and proper standards of the English high class society when he arrived at the Wuthering Heights estate to live with the Earnshaws. All of the family members shared negative opinions of him, except Catherine, who also once belonged to the lower class. “Catherine, who does not expect to inherit, responds spontaneously to Heathcliff’s presence” (Eagleton). Despite her natural attraction to him, Catherine only pursues Heathcliff because she does not think that she will inherit much, so she feels as if she has nothing to lose by doing so. The relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine ends on the basis everyone’s negative views of Heathcliff and his lack of high social