I am seriously debating about changing the phrase "as constant as the north star" to "as constant as Heathcliff's and Catherine's love for each other" because it is literally that constant. Besides this, their entire relationship is quite out of the ordinary in every aspect. Wuthering Heights, at it's core is essentially a love story. Although there are multiple love stories within the novel and the majority of these relationships are anything but normal, it is a love story nonetheless. Frankly Wuthering Heights makes Romeo and Juliet seem simple and relatively shallow. The wild passion between Heathcliff and Catherine is what drive the entire novel. This complete and utter devotion last longer than any other emotion in the story, so clearly these two love birds are significant. Their relationship, though, is far from the ordinary romance novels of Emily Bronte's time period.
Forbidden loves are nothing new, but there is a distinct lack of secret meetings and steamy kissing behind closed doors in Heathcliff's and Catherine's affair. Originally, that didn't bother me at all because I was still too busy associating the two as more of a brother and sister duo than a romantically involved pair. The sibling relationship, though, is probably closer to their real connection than the typical romantic relationship. Their entire relationship is based on the fact that they mutually agree they are one in the same. They view each other as identical. At one point, Catherine actually says, "I am Heathcliff," which in my opinion is a little odd. No matter how much I may love someone, I never once think that I am that person. It is not just Catherine being weirdly obsessive; Heathcliff does it too. Because of this incredibly deep and unusual connection, their love simply never changes. Their relationship is the epitome of constant. By constant, though, I don't mean fairly casual and calm. Their relationship is about as fiery and wild as they come. This intense emotion doesn't stop it from becoming a perpetual part of their lives. Ever since they were children, Catherine and Heathcliff have had this sort of relationship. Even when Catherine marries Edgar, her love for Heathcliff never ceases to consume her. This never changing love has it downfalls. The love story of Heathcliff and Catherine ends in tragedy. Catherine dies still married to Edgar, and Heathcliff spends the rest of his life wreaking havoc on everyone else's lives in one giant vengeful plot.
Without delay, the second Catherine is introduced into the novel, and a second love story takes the center stage. This one, though, is between Catherine's and Edgar's daughter (who is aptly named Catherine) and Hareton, Hindley's mostly forgotten son. This second love story is vastly different from the first. Although it is no where near the emotional intensity of Catherine's and Heathcliff's love, the second generation's love story ends on a much happier note. Unlike Heathcliff and the elder Catherine who both end up dead and without each other, Hareton and the younger Catherine get married happily to each other and end the story with joy and hope for the future of Wuthering Heights. How come Catherine 2.0 gets the better end of this deal? Well, there is one crucial difference between her love and her mother's love: change. Absolutely nothing changes between the old Catherine and Heathcliff, while her daughter and Hareton develop and transform together. For the majority of the novel, Catherine despises the illiterate and rough Hareton, and Hareton grows rapidly frustrated at Catherine for her constant teasing. As time goes on, they grow fond of each other, and Catherine teaches him how to read. The two make quite a good pairing, combining the best characteristic of their two families.
Throughout Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte creates many pairs and juxtaposition, and these two relationships are no exception. By having two love stories back to back, we can't help but compare the two. Is Emily trying to warn her readers about the dangers of a relationship that never changes? One that is based off of identical nature? Heathcliff's and Catherine's love never changes and is centered on the fact that the two feel like they are truly the same person. Hareton and the younger Catherine are two very different people from very different backgrounds with a changing love that grow stronger. Clearly, this second love story ended on a much more positive note with both lovers happily married and alive. Maybe Emily Bronte is attempting to warn her readers of the kind of toxic, obsessive love that Heathcliff and Catherine share. I for one never want to be that obsessed with someone after reading Wuthering Heights. Very complicated relationship advice or not, Wuthering Heights is still one of the most complex and fascinating love stories I have ever read. If you want to be kept on your toes and maybe a little bit emotionally drained by the end, I highly recommend Wuthering Heights.
It sounds like you had hard novel to analyze because of its ability to consume the reader in the complexity of the story itself before even beginning to think of a deeper meaning. However, you did a great job pinpointing parallels and juxtapositions despite the complexity of the novel. I agree with your wondering about Emily Bronte’s statement about relationships that do not change. I was thinking a similar thing as I read your final blog. It sounds as though Emily Bronte uses the relationships of each of the Catherines in contrast showing that while the second Catherine changed and evolved with her husband and their relationship, the first Catherine did not. The difference between the two seems to me to be the reason that one relationship ended tragically while the other carried on happily. The fact that, as you mentioned, the second generation of characters is full of relatives of the first generation of characters also supports your idea that Emily Bronte was giving a statement about relationships that do not change and using the relationships of the two Catherines to contrast each other. In a sense, the second generation seems like a re-do or a “what could have been” of the first generation. I have not read the story so I could be completely wrong about my expansion on your idea. Nevertheless, I think you analyzed the story well and I think you were onto something when wondering about Bronte’s statement about relationships.
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