Topic > Analysis of Motifs in "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte

Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights explains the ups and downs of love between each character in the book. Depicting Heathcliff's stormy life and his interactions with Catherine, the dynamic between the characters is arduous, full of betrayal, hatred and revenge. Bronte shows how emotions drive people to act irrationally and their decisions, for some, could haunt them forever. Looking at the novel's theme of nature/time/seasons, we can deduce the theme: the human expression of dark emotions inevitably follows suffering. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Throughout the novel, Bronte uses eloquent descriptions of the time that support the solemnity of the characters. Early in the novel Mr. Earnshaw “began to fail,” falling ill, gasping for breath in death. He finally “died peacefully in his chair one October evening.” surrounded by his grief-stricken family. Immediately after his death a "strong wind blew around the house and roared in the chimney" was described as "wild and stormy, but it was not cold". Mr. Earnshaw's death evokes a dark cloud among family members. No doubt they feel complete agony at the loss of their father, friend and companion. The emphasis on sadness is shown through the powerful swirl that runs through the house. Similar to the wind, Earshaws feelings are chaotic, bearing the brunt of the tragic situation. The sadness that prevails over every other emotion is just as strong as the wind they endured, showing the intense dark emotion after experiencing hardships. Later in the book, Catherine talks to her maid Nelly who Heathcliff and Catherine are close to. Without realizing that Heathcliff is within earshot, Catherine admits to Nelly that "it would degrade her to marry" Heathcliff. Stunned by sadness and grief, he continues to "rise from the bench and walk away silently" Heathcliff then walks away and disappears. Nelly and Catherine eventually venture out into the storm to search for Heathcliff. Nelly illustrates that "about midnight" there was "a violent wind, as well as thunder, and one or other split a tree at the corner of the building." The turbulent weather continued to inflict calamity, collapsing “a portion of the eastern chimney” and “sending a clang of stone and soot into the kitchen fire.” The worsening climate allows the nature of the scene to be represented through the destructiveness of Heathcliff's broken departure and the storm. Catherine is devastated by his passing, her love for him has never left and she would be heartbroken too. She has fallen into a desolate state since Heathcliff left her and cannot bear to live without him. Heathcliff himself is left devastated after hearing the words that cut his heart, after hearing the love of his life say how ashamed she would be to be married to him. The betrayal Heathcliff felt sent him into a downward spiral of anguish. After experiencing the traumatic hardship of being betrayed by a loved one, painful emotion is inevitable. Finally, at the end of the book, Cathy goes to visit Linton in the midst of Edgar's death. During their hike, Catherine's face "was just like the landscape" with "shadows and sun flitting across it in quick succession," however, the shadows rested longer and the sun was more transient." The solemn emphasis of the drowning shadows and fleeting sunlight on Catherine's face portrays the internal struggles she faced in life, the decision to leave her father's side and take the unwanted journey to visit Linton. It has a certain.