Could you ever live far away from society in near complete isolation? I could never ever do that in a million years. In Wuthering Heights it is ok to be in the middle of no where and be content. In the eighteen hundreds there was not much to do in the first place, and the cities where not as we know them. I would be drive to insanity by living so far away in todays day and age. Lockwood says “I am now quite cured of seeking pleasure in society, be it country or town. A sensible man ought to find sufficient company in himself " (Brontë 28). Brontë uses sophisticated words to show Lockwood’s sophistication. Lockwood reflects Brontë's need for solitude and isolation. Appreciation for solitude is what separates the people who live at Wuthering Heights from the civilized world. Heathcliff, the most wild of all says, “I wish I had light hair and a fair skin, and was dressed, and behaved as well, and had a chance of being as rich as he will be” (Brontë 56). Do you ever wish you could change how you are to fit in to society? If so what would you change and why? As I personally do not really fit in anywhere, I am happy as I am because I stand out, but I wish people would view me differently then what they do. Also if you could give yourself any label what would it be and why?
Wow! Those are some deep questions! I don’t even know where to begin. There are times when I wish I could change how I fit into society. In the past few months I have especially felt like that. There have been times recently when I look around at the group I’m “supposed to hang out with” and think that I have nothing in common with any of them and just want to find new friends. If one day I could just completely mix up the friend groups at school and find people I actually really like to hang out with, that would be an amazing day! If I could give my self a label, it might be different from one that others may give me. Others would probably say “the nice one” or “the goody two shoes”. If I were to give myself a label I’m not sure what it would be. I feel that I’m still getting to know myself. That feels cliché but it’s the truth. I feel like I have changed a lot in the past few years and I’m still getting used to it.
ReplyDeleteChapters six to nine mark a big turning point in the novel. A key quote from chapter nine is, “It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him; and that, not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same, and is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire” Catherine’s speech to Nelly about her acceptance of Edgar’s proposal, in Chapter nine forms the turning-point of the plot. It is at this point that Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights, after he has overheard Catherine say that it would “degrade” her to marry him. Even though the action of Wuthering Heights takes place so far from the business of society motivates many of the actions of these characters. Catherine’s decision to marry Edgar out of a desire to be “the greatest woman of the neighborhood” exemplifies the effect of social considerations on the characters’ actions. She really sees to just do what society says. She does not seem to do much thinking for herself about what’s good for her.
Do you ever find yourself trying to conform to society? What do you think about the proposal? Do you think the relationship will last?
I find myself conforming to some things and other things I stand strong in my own beliefs. An example of standing strong in my own beliefs is how I view men as superior in some things and women superior in others. The controversies over genders roles and equality is a thing I have my own thoughts about. A way I conform to society is the simple fact I take the small things we have as citizens of the United States for granted. As for the proposal, I feel as if it is to cruel to be lobe therefor there would be misery if they went through with it. She tries to switch how she thinks in order to try and under stand,”had he been in my place, and I in his, though I hated him with a hatred that turned my life to gall, I never would have raised a hand against him... I never would have banished him from her society, as long as she desired his” (Brontë 147). Have you ever tried to walk a mile in someone else's shoe? Did doing so help you understand where that person was coming from, or the situation any more? Isabella was attracted to Edgar's aggression until he was aggressive with her. Edger tried to control his wife and she left. How would you handle a controlling husband? I wouldn't last a week. Brontë uses a lot of sexism, jealousy, and criticism in chapters eleven through fourteen.
ReplyDeleteThe phrase “have you ever walked in someone else’s shoes” is one hat I have heard a lot. My mom tells it to me whenever I start to complain about some of my friends or other people in general. She is always wanting me to look for the benefit of the doubt in all situations so that I can try to always see the best in people. I have tried this and found it mostly successful. To answer your question about the controlling husband, I’m not sure what I would do. I think that the man should be the head of the relationship, but not to the point of him becoming aggressive towards me. I would not be ok with that.
ReplyDeleteI am going to talk primarily about chapter 15. I found it to be very interesting and telling of the characters. What Catherine says and does not say produces an insightful incite. She tells Heathcliff, “You and Edgar broke my heart”. This puts all the blame on them. She seems to be a bit confused because during this whole conversation she never once says she regrets her marriage to Edgar. She ends up asking for forgiveness from Heathcliff, but he wont give it to her. This seems to kind of haunt him and cause him to feel uneasy. Catherine says, “if you nurse anger, that will be worse to remember than my harsh words”. She is feisty. This shows that Catherine may have come to know what true love is, even if it is right before her life ends. At the end of the chapter, nelly responds quite harshly. She is holding Catherine, and basically thinks she is dead, and says that she is glad Catherine is dead.
What do you think about how Nelly responded? What would you do if you were in this place? Would you feel the same?
I feel that Nelly did respond somewhat odd. No matter what a person does it is never a good thing to wish death to a person or be happy with the fact that someone has died. I do not think I would feel the same because death freaks me out. I would far rather see someone alive and be suffering, then to know that they could have a chance at resting peacefully. Even if I hated someone I would rather see them suffer then the thought of them in hell. "No do not kiss me. It takes my breath dear me!" (Brontë 237). Linton complained that writing to Cathy had been very tiring, and that the servants didn't take care of him as they should, and that he absolutely hated them. He said that he wished Cathy would marry him, because wives always loved their husbands. To which Cathy answered that that was not always true. Brontë again goes against the social truths and breaks genre expectations in her writing. This small rebellion of the society around her gave way to the right we as females have today. How do you feel about there relationship? What kind of wife would you be? Do you feel like Brontë pushes feminism to much or in respect to feminism, how much of a feminist is Brontë? Do you agree with Brontë’s ideas?
ReplyDeleteEvery relationship is so different. I really don’t know exactly what type of wife I will be. I would probably be the one who cooks diner every night and welcomes my husband home each day. I would love to be a stay at home mom or work part time or volunteer at my kids school. I basically want to be a typical soccer mom and wife. It’s a traditional concept but I like traditional. I am not a feminist. To be completely honest feminism annoys me. I want to be in relationships with a guy who wants to be the bread winner and wears the pants in the relationship. Just about an ounce of feminism bothers me. Bronte definitely pushes feminism. I guess its not too much in general, but its too much for me. I don’t agree with many of Bronte’s ideas.
ReplyDelete“I shall be your father, to-morrow—all the father you’ll have in a few days—and you shall have plenty of that”. This is when Heathcliff is promising fatherhood spells and misery and some abuse to his daughter-in-law to be. This shows the big confusion with family roles in the novel. Heathcliff never felt like he was never really treated like a brother so he is going to make sure that he does not really act like a father.
What do you think about Heathcliff being a father? Have you ever seen or experienced weird family dynamics? Do you think these family dynamics with Heathcliff will ever be completely resolved?
I think his child will be miserable living with him. That Heathcliff will set unrealistically high standards for the kid, and force the kid to be something it is not. Heathcliff seems way to controlling to be a good father and is way to controlling to be a husband if his own bride to be is afraid of him. That is not ok. I doubt that Heathcliff will have good family dynamics. The child will probably not feel safe going to its dad for anything and will forever hid who it truly is. I have seen some as you could say weird family dynamics, my aunties high school sweet heart and her were married, and had two kids together. This guy David would beat and dehumanize my auntie every day, until my mom busted into their house, stole my cousins and made my auntie choose. Guys with hidden issues will never change, but once they beat a girl down that much, he will have done no wrong in her eyes. Chapters thirty and thritey-one provide foreshadowing for the end of the novel. Heathcliff is becoming a softy, and his plans for taking revenge do not seem as important to him. Cathy and Hareton, still arguing, however they show signs of developing a friendly relationship, and Lockwood, still the outsider, has to know more because he is the narrator of the events and they have not yet come to close. "You have left me so long to struggle against death, alone, that I feel and see only death! I feel like death" (Brontë 268-269). The characters mature and everything thats meant to be falls into place. What do you feel Brontë is trying to get across from this quote? What do you think of her use of foreshadowing? Did you enjoy this book?
ReplyDeleteThat quote is very significant. It shines light on how Bronte views death and dying. It shows that she struggles with the thought of death but has become more a peace with it due to her involvement with the concept of it. She ends the quote by saying that she feels like death. This is the ultimate outcome of her thinking. She feels pretty much embraced with death. I love her use of foreshadowing. It is so interesting to try to find double meaning in her text to see the foreshadowing. I have enjoyed this book. It has a good base story but I don’t agree with some of the topics that she discusses.
ReplyDeleteThe book ends on interesting terms. It ends with Lockwood leaving Wuthering Heights for the Thrushcross Grange stopping on the way to see Hareton and Catherine. Nelly tries to talk at the end to give some closure to the story. She says, “the crown of all my wishes will be the union of these two; I shall envy no one on their wedding day. There wont be a happier women than myself in England!”. This shows that Nelly will be ok and that she is looking forward to her new adventure.
If you could start a new chapter in your life, what would it include? How do you feel about the ending of the novel? What would you change about the story as a whole?
Woah, what a deep conversation about the implications of these relationships for real life! Your observations on the way the pressures of society act on Catherine are especially apt--do you see any similar pressures working in Pride and Prejudice? Remember they are from a similar era. Good quote choices, though your analysis would be more fruitful if you were to discuss the context and implications of the quotes more within the book, rather than going so quickly into our modern world. Remember the consistent AP questions...how do the pieces and techniques of the work create its deeper meaning? Your modern day discussions do touch on many deeper meaning--don't forget to explore them thoroughly back in the text. Thanks! Grade on PP.
ReplyDelete