Wuthering Heights; a Gothic Novel

Heathcliff, Cathy, the moors names and places famous worldwide, even to
those who have never read the book. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontes only
novel is widely considered one of the greatest works of fiction ever written.
Primarily, it is a Gothic novel of an orphan boy who sets upon gaining
revenge on the two houses that ruined his life. Emily Bronte successfully utilises
the typical conventions of the Gothic Genre in her novel, Wuthering Heights.
This can be proven by Heathcliffs passionate desire, the struggle between
good and evil and various supernatural elements.
Heathcliff stereotypes the typical Gothic hero-villain as his revenge is merely
his desire to correct those who did him wrong. The Gothic is devoted primarily
to the destructive desires of human nature. Characteristically, Gothic
Literature features a passion-driven villain, a character who takes revenge on
those who treated them in a harsh way. Heathcliffs revenge is products of
several factors such as the orphan years spent at Liverpool and the ill-
treatment at Hindleys hands. Hindley blamed their father for treating H. too
liberally; and swore he will reduce him to his right place.(p. 34) Additionally,
Edgar treated him for a fool, and succeeded in marrying the woman he
loved. Cathy, his so-called soul mate, claims that it would degrade her to
marry him. As a consequence, Heathcliff runs away and returns as a wealthy,
refined man who is intent on vengeance. Heathcliffs revenge destroys
Hindleys, disgraces Isabella, and puts an end to Cathy. In Gothic tradition,
Bronte features Heathcliff, who punishes everyone in what can only be
described as wicked, due to his destructive desire for revenge. Put succinctly,
Emily Bronte has successfully produced a typical Gothic character, who by
his revenge, wreaks vicious havoc among the two opposing houses.
The two houses Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange is
representative of the struggle between good and evil, which is a major
theme in numerous Gothic novels. In Wuthering Heights, this is amplified. Emily
Bronte explores the context of Good vs. Evil as a battle of storm and calm
between the two houses and how it mirrors their inhabitants choices.
Wuthering Heights, the land of storm, is a local word descriptive of the
atmospheric tumult This refers to the wild winds to which the house is
exposed to. The continuous battering by the winds has stunted the tress
around Wuthering Heights. Its owner, Heathcliff, has also been twisted and
stunted by the storms he has had to endure in his life. In comparison,
Thrushcross Grange, the land of calm, is described as a splendid place
carpeted with crimson, and crimson-covered chairs and tables This too
bears resemblance to its inhabitants, the genteel Lintons, who are safe and
protected from the winds that both Heathcliff and Cathy were exposed to. It
becomes obvious that the usual distinction between human being and
nature did not exist for Bronte; rather, for her, they were alive in the same
way, an angry man and an angry winds both literally manifesting the same
spiritual principles. Thus, Emily Bronte effectively manipulates the houses to
represent good and evil, not only as a clash between humans, but also in a
spiritual sense.

In traditional Gothic style, Wuthering Heights is permeated by supernatural
elements and surrounded by extreme landscapes. Typically, Gothic Literature
focuses on the unknown, and the frightening inexplicable aspects of the
universe. Lockwood describes Wuthering Heights as a wilderness of
crumbling griffins (3.49) The obvious physical appearance of the Heights
builds a threating feeling in the reader, which only increases during the novel.
Furthermore, Lockwood is woken by a tree tapping (3.65) at his window,
which proceeds to transform into a supernatural sighting. Lockwood claiming
that the Heights is swarming with ghosts and goblins! (3.67) makes the
audience wonder if the Heights is indeed haunted or if it is just Lockwoods
imaginings. Bront tactfully presents them in such a way that whether they
really exist remains ambiguous. Thus the world of the novel can always be
interpreted as a realistic one which only enhances the fear of the unknown.
The moors too, seem to be touched by something unnatural. While sick,
Cathy exclaims for her to be once again be among the heather on those
hills. (12.46) The moors exist as a supernatural, liberating, and boundary less
region and for Cathy the ultimate freedom is only associated with wandering
on the moors. Bronte successfully evokes horror in the audience by her usage
of supernatural beings, as typical of the Gothic Genre.
In conclusion, Emily Bronte utilizes several conventions of the typical Gothic
Novel in her book, Wuthering Heights. This is through her usage of
characterisation, theme and setting. This is clearly seen Heathcliffs
passionate desire for revenge, the struggle between good and evil and
how setting influences the main characters. Brontes obvious understanding
and insightful usage of the Gothic conventions is partially what makes
Wuthering Heights the phenomenon it is.