Isabella Ubly

“Wuthering Heights” is one of my favourite novels and rekindled my love of classics after spending a long time reading crappy YA books. I thought at first this novel was just the greatest novel of the Bronte sisters, but upon re-reading it, it may be one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.  The sheer passion that comes out of Wuthering Heights makes it one of the most outwardly passionate Victorian novels and you can really see Emily's poetry in her writing but also in her ability to create these wonderfully troubled and dynamic characters- only Emily Bronte can make you actually like and feel sympathy for a man like Heathcliff. Although, upon re-read I found myself rooting and pining for Hareton the most.

 The main critics towards this book are that it is melodramatic. Though I do admit it seems like a Victorian reality show with the outbursts, crying and emotional distress that makes characters instantly fall ill, this melodrama emotionally guides the reader; Just like the weather in Wuthering Heights, the turbulent storms are balanced with bitter winds and kind skies. The second criticism is that it is a difficult read and hard to understand and although, yes, if English is your second language and etc. the language itself may be difficult but I find that in most cases if a book is looked at as a difficult hurdle that is only read to be ticked off a list, it is likely to seem treacherous and laborious. What books like Wuthering Heights need is patience, but I promise, once you get into the rhythm of the novel it will be passing by incredibly fast-paced, for it is a very exciting and drama-packed book. At times when I found scenes difficult I also recommend this particular audiobook which can be found on youtube; it is a dramatic reading of the novel on this channel called ‘The Greatest Literature'.

Some moments from this reading of the novel that really stood out to me are:
- The dream sequence at the start of the novel from Mr Lockwood may be one of the best gothic passages I have ever read.
- I've always wondered why Bronte choose Nelly, a meek and morally uptight maid, to be the one to narrate a novel primarily about destructive love and passion in the intimate relationship of Heathcliff and Catherine until moments in the novel made it clear why Emily Bronte choose this. The frame narrative allows for some deeply tense and greatly irritating moments of miscommunication such as when Catherine declares her love for Heathcliff just as Heathcliff leaves after hearing her insult him.  
- As mentioned earlier on this earlier I found myself sympathizing the most with Hareton who was probably my favourite character (when usually it would be Heathcliff)

Terrific and had me in awe for 600 pages which is rare but I do wish that the characters were more developed as I always felt from arms length from them. And who names every character sci fi names like Hawat and Stilgar etc etc and names the main character Paul??? Other than that a extraordinary book