A more sorry lot of characters you will never meet in literature. Heathcliff (an orphan of poor education and manners) is brought home from a trip by Mr. Earnshaw to his country estate where he is greeted none too kindly by Mr. Earnshaw's son, Hindley, daughter, Catherine and servant Nellie. Catherine and Heathcliff soon develop an unbreakable bond and even Nellie is won over. But Hindley is appalled that his father would bring home a second "son" whom he so clearly favors and the girls' acceptance makes Hindley livid. When Mr. Earnshaw dies, Hindley goes out of his way to make life miserable for Heathcliff. Matters are made worse for Heathcliff when Catherine, whom he is now deeply in love with, begins flirtations with a proper young gentleman who would be able to keep Catherine in high style buy who lacks the fire that Catherine and Heathcliff share. So Heathcliff takes off. And Catherine marries the young man, Edgar Linton because, what the heck, Heathcliff has left her.
Oh, but not so fast. Some years pass and who should reappear but Heathcliff and if you thought the book was sad and gloomy up until now, things are about to get much worse. Heathcliff now has the means AND the motive to exact revenge on everyone who has ever slighted him without regard to who is hurt in the process.
This is regarding a great love story but I felt much more that I was reading a story of revenge and hatred. The love that Heathcliff and Catherine share is so destructive. If you're daughter fell into such a love, you'd move heaven and earth to get her away from this guy. I've read the book three times now, each time thinking that I would finally "get" what the appeal was reading from a greater maturity. No such luck. While the writing is certainly wonderful, I couldn't stand the characters and didn't feel in the least sorry for Heathcliff for what had made him the person he became. Catherine was no better--in fact, maybe worse. She, after all, had been raised with everything a girl could need or want and made the choice to marry for wealth and status rather than love. Her spirit is broken, her heart is crushed and she ends up a ghost roaming the heights. Pretty much came away from the book feeling she deserved it.
I will not be re-reading this book ten years from now hoping to gain a new perspective!
This was the exact opposite of what I expected from the book. I thought it was a love story, but truly it's a hate story. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThis is one I am yet to read. I wonder how I will view it. At least they get what they deserve huh?!
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