Withering Huts

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Compiled Reading Logs all by Nicholas Benson

Civility and Passion

Section 3 (Chapters 8-9) Chapter VIII: Page 66: Nelly compares the old Catherine that was passionate with the current haughty Catherine that has become considerably civilized. The double presented here has to do with the contrasting reflection of time between young Catherine and teenage Catherine. Nelly states that "she did turn out a haughty..creature!", referring to how the character has developed from less than haughty, passionate beginnings. Nelly also adds "after her infancy was past", furthering emphasizing the difference time has made on Catherine over the years. The purpose of the contrast between young Catherine and teen Catherine to the meaning of the novel is to teach the reader about the influences of passing time on the soul and how people change overtime.

Section 3(Chapters 8-9) Chapter VIII:Page 71:Catherine contrasts the civilized Edgar with the passionate Heathcliff. The comparison between the two is "a bleak, hilly, coal country" and a "beautiful fertile valley". The contrast between Edgar and Heathcliff in appearance, intelligence, and countenance all reflect the underlying theme of passion and civility. Heathcliff's wild, savage, nature reflects that of his passion. Edgar's proper and well composed countenance embodies his civilized form.

2. Section 5 (Chapters 12-13) Chapter XIII:Page 138: Edgar nurses over Catherine in the hopes that she not only become healthy but also that she return to her more civilized state. Edgar contrasts Catherine's current passion induced sickness with the health she had when she was behaving in a more civilized manor. The quote "that her mind would settle back to its right balance also, and she would be entirely her former self" truly says it all.

Two Houses

Section 4 (Chapters 10-11):Chapter X:Page 111: On this page the two houses, "Wuthering Heights" and the "Grange" are used to create a foreboding tone regarding the nature of Heathcliff's intentions. Shrouded in mystery at this point in the story, Nelly is fearful of what Heathcliff's future actions may be and how they will effect the two homes (the main settings of the novel). This foreboding tone creates a sense of suspense and foreshadows future events. Wuthering Heights represents Heathcliff's goal of revenge for past trials, while the Grange symbolizes his growing desire for conquest.
Section 6 (Chapters 14-16):Chapter XIV:Page 151: Wuthering Heights symbolizes constraint of desired freedom for Isabella. The Grange symbolizes attainment of freedom from Heathcliff and acceptance by her brother. The Grange is the house that is better represented physically and represents desire, while Wuthering Heights is represented poorly physically and emphasizes the undesired. "You may call Wuthering Heights...it is out of the question my going to see her" is a statement by Edgar that reflects the symbolism of Wuthering Heights being a prison that prevents the dreams of those within from being fulfilled. Isabella will never get what she desires at Wuthering Heights and is trapped away, unable to reach the Grange: the forgiveness it symbolizes, or the freedom from Heathcliff.
Section 1 (Chapters 1-3):Chapter II:Page 7: The Grange acts as a symbol of civilized luxury. Wuthering Heights symbolizes negativity and passion. The symbolic nature of these two houses is consistent throughout the novel. "I had have a mind to spend it by my study fire, instead of wading through heath and mud to Wuthering Heights" supports the idea that the Grange is a preferable and more enjoyable residence than Wuthering Heights. The grime and mud representing the cold, discomforting and disgusting nature of Wuthering Heights. The study fire reflecting the warm home feeling that resonates from the Grange.

Window

Section 2 (Chapters 4-7):Chapter VI:Page 83 (Kindle Version):The drawing-room window in this scene acts as a portal between the savage and civilized worlds. On one side of the portal are the civilized Linton children, while on the other side is the passionate but savage children of Wuthering Heights. The window not only acts as a way for the two worlds to view one another through its transparency but also acts as a barrier, dividing the two worlds from truly meeting. The window brings the two worlds together, while still at the same time keeping them apart. This symbolism emphasizes the running theme of civilized vs. passionate that runs through the novel and connects to the novel's deeper meaning regarding the question of whether one can truly be civilized without being passionate, and vice-versa.

Property and Ownership

Section 7:Chapter XVII:Page 177:Isabella smashes and burns her ring, which is symbolic of her cutting ties with Heathcliff and moving on with her life. Isabella has "run the whole way from Wuthering Heights" to escape the abusive brute. In an act of passion and self liberation she smashes and burns her "ring" as a final stand against her oppressor as she moves on to Gimmerton. This marks an important transition in the novel, as Isabella has finally taken her first steps to escape from Wuthering Heights physically and figuratively. With her "wound" bounded and her "garments" changed by Nelly, Isabella has destroyed the last thing that connects her to Heathcliff symbolically...the only thing left connecting them being their child.
Section 9:Chapter XXV:Page 266-267: In the last passage of page 266 which carries on to page 267, Edgar shows that he is willing to sacrifice the Grange for the love of his daughter. This moment in the novel seals the fate of the Grange and allows Heathcliff's plan to reach one of its greatest heights. While Edgar has been resistant to Catherine and Linton being together in the end he concedes the idea of keeping them apart stating that the only way she could gain the property that was rightfully her's "was by union with his heir". Edgar has reached a point where he is willing to loose the Grange to Heathcliff for the sake of his daughter.

Interior and Exterior

Section 8 (Chapters 20-22):Chapter XXII:When Catherine falls on to the exterior of the garden wall she looses her protection from the evil of Wuthering Heights. The garden walls of the Grange symbolize a protective shield that prevents the negative influences of Wuthering Heights from taking hold of Catherine. Nelly warns Isabella to "Stay where you are", emphasizing the dangers of going to far from the wall..from the safety of the Grange. Moments after she falls on to the other side of the wall "Heathcliff" arrives to tempt her to go with him. Nelly attempts to "open" the gate and bring Isabella back in, but she is far too late. This scene holds an ominous tension that builds up suspense for the novel and re-enforces the symbolic purity of the Grange and the negative aura of Wuthering Heights.

Ghosts

Section 10 (Chapters 27-30):Chapter XXIX:Page 295: Linton's fear of his father has manifested psychological presences that haunt him in the night. When Heathcliff states "my presence is as potent on his nerves as a ghost", he is personifying the strength of Linton's fear for his father. The novel's personification of fear symbolizes the trembling power that fear holds over people. The quote "he sees me often though I am not near" further cements the use of phantom imagery to give fear a face.
Section 11 (Chapters 31-finish):Chapter XXXIV:Page 348: The novel ensures that the power of love lives on with its use of ghost to personify the everlasting love of Catherine and Heathcliff. Catherine and Heathcliff are buried together in one united grave. Catherine and Heathcliff always appear together as ghosts. Even though they have both departed, they will always be together reflecting that of a love that will never pass. A love so strong that even a young boy can see it as he notes: "There's Heathcliff, and a woman".

Compiled Themes all by Nicholas Benson

Love as a Creative Nurturing Force vs. All Consuming Destructive Force

Chapter VIII: Page 66: "his sorrow...will not lament" "neither wept nor prayed" "cursed and defied": Hindley's love for his lost wife has consumed him in sorrow and pushed him to "reckless dissipation". The loss of his love one, and the power of love still in his heart for her, is acting as a destructive force, breaking him apart.
Chapter IX:Page 83:"If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it." Catherine's love for Heathcliff takes on two forms. She loves him so much that he makes up her existence and gives her a place in the universe. She also loves him so dearly that without him, she would feel alienated to the entire universe. Her love for Heathcliff defines her very being, it's creation, and it's destruction.
Chapter XIII:Page 138: "Edgar tended her" "his care by forming the source of constant future anxiety" "gratitude and joy for when Catherine's life was declared out of danger" "illusion that her mind would settle back to its right balance also, and she would be entirely her former self.": Hindley works to help nurture his ill wife Catherine out of love. His love for Catherine consumes him and acts a source of constant anxiety, acting as a destructive force against himself. Hindley not only nurtures Catherine, but also himself, as he is elated when Catherine begins to feel better.
Chapter XVII:Page 178:"Catherine had an awfully perverted taste to esteem him so dearly" "He extinguished my love effectually" I could still be loving him if-no, no!" "Even if he had doted on me, the devilish nature would have revealed its existence":Isabella states that even if Heathcliff had doted on her with nurturing love it would not forever hide his inner-destructive nature.
Chapter XXII:Page 240:"He was in earnest-in love" "he's dying for you" "unless you restore him": Heathcliff pleads that Linton is dying due to his love for Catherine. When Catherine stopped sending letters to Linton it cut off the nurturing power of their love and began to consume and destroy Linton's being. Only by returning the nurturing love of Catherine can Linton survive.
Chapter XXV:Page 266:"a portion of his income...a natural desire that she might retain" "he considered her only prospect of doing that was by a union with his heir":Out of love for his daughter, Edgar, desires that she have access to his fortune, even though this means that Heathcliff will be that much closer to gaining control of the Grange. His love for his daughter compels him to nurture her, but at the cost of destroying the Grange's protection from Heathcliff's consuming grasp.
Chapter XXIV:Page261:"your kindness has made me love you deeper than if I deserved your love" "though I could not": Linton is consumed by his love for Catherine but her kindness that fills him with love only makes him reflect upon his own destructive tendencies and passion. Her kindness nurtures him and lets him feel love but when compared to himself makes him feel inferior, breaking his own self image.
Chapter XXXIV:Page 348:"he has seen two on 'em" "There's Heathcliff, and a woman": Heathcliff's love of Catherine nurtures him in death as he has kept the company of her in the afterlife. It consumed him and even destroyed him in life, but finally in death together they are in peace.

The Destructive Power of Revenge

Chapter VIII: Page 66: "became daily more...savage" "He delighted to witness Hindley degrading" "possessed of something diabolical": Heathcliff is possessed by the destructive power of revenge to the point that he has become diabolically obsessed with the degradation of Hindley.
Chapter VIII:Page 76:"the intensest anguish at having made himself the instrument of thwarting his own revenge": Heathcliff after saving the life of Hareton, instead of being cheerful at saving the boy has had any feeling of heroism destroyed by the fact that he missed an opportunity to get revenge on Hindley.
Chapter IX:Page 85:"The master will play the devil tomorrow" "You mustn't drive him out of his head for nothing!" Joseph is personifying the destructive power of revenge that possesses Hindley as playing the devil.
Chapter IV:Page 38: "regard his father as an oppressor rather than a friend, and Heathcliff as a usurper of his father's affections" "he grew bitter": Hindley in his child hood was already infected by jealousy, and any kind-hearted nature was destroyed by a precursor to the destructive power of revenge that he desired to exact on Heathcliff.
Chapter XI:Page 114:"he pays dad back what he gies to me-he curses daddy for cursing me." "Devil daddy" "He says I mun do as I will": Hareton is perverted by Heathcliff's desire for revenge against Hindley and has destroyed any manners he may have previously possessed and his relationship to his father.
Chapter VII:Page 108 (Kindle Version): "I'm trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back." "God won't have the satisfaction that I have.": Heathcliff is obsessed with plotting revenge on Hindley. The destructive power of revenge has damaged and altered him.
Chapter VI:Page 81 (Kindle Version):"they forgot everything the minute they were together again: at least the minute they had contrived some naughty plan of revenge.": Cathy and Heathcliff's shared love helped to motivate them to continue on their destructive path of revenge against Hindley, their shared agitator.
Chapter VII:Page 94 (Kindle Version):"Heathcliff, you may come forward: cried Mr.Hindley, enjoying his discomfiture...'You may come and wish Miss Catherine welcome, like the other servants.'": Hindley using the destructive power of revenge against Heathcliff by trying to destroy their youthful bond of passion by creating a clear contrast between the civilized and savage natures between them.

The Consequences of Passion That Dominates Reason

Chapter VIII: Page 65: "Damn the doctor!" "Frances is quite right": Hindley's passion dominates his reason as his love for Frances puts him in denial of her inevitable death.
Chapter VIII:Page 72:"She never had the power to conceal her passion, it always set her...in a blaze" "impelled by the naughty spirit within her, slapped me": Catherine still enveloped in passion over her conversation with Heathcliff and now her upset countenance against Nelly is acting out in front of Edgar unintentionally showing him her hidden passionate nature.
Chapter VIII:Page 73:"You've made me afraid and ashamed of you" "I'll not come here again": After Catherine's harsh outburst of passion, the civilized Edgar is disgusted and promises not to return to Wuthering Heights.
Chapter VIII:Page 73:"He's doomed, and flies to his fate." "the quarrel had merely effected closer intimacy" "broken the outworks of youthful timidity" "confess themselves lovers": Catherine and Edgar become passionately upset with one another and both agree to go their separate ways, only for them both to become overwhelmed by their true passionate feelings and confess love for one another.
Chapter IX:Page 79:"You love Mr.Edgar because he is handsome, and young, and cheerful, and rich": Catherine feels passionate about status and riches that belong to Edgar rather than Edgar himself. She is possessed by a shallow love that dominates her true passion for Heathcliff and her reasons for loving Heathcliff the way she does.
Chapter IX:Page 87:"Cathy, who got thoroughly drenched for her obstinacy in refusing to take shelter, and standing bonnetless and shawlless to catch as much water as she could": Overcome by her passionate worry for Heathcliff, Catherine stands in the harsh storm against all reason.
Chapter X:Page 108:"disclosure she had made of her secret feelings in a transient fit of passion" "Catherine and Isabella...on hostile terms": In a fit of passion, Isabella revealed her feelings for Heathcliff to Catherine and now is on bad terms with Catherine.
Chapter VI:Page 81 (Kindle Version):"Hindley in a passion told us to bolt the doors, and swore nobody should let them in that night.": Hindley overcome by passion ignores reason and leaves the children locked outside overnight alone.

Symbol:Ghosts (Reading Logs 2)

Reading Logs

Section 10 (Chapters 27-30):Chapter XXIX:Page 295: Linton's fear of his father has manifested psychological presences that haunt him in the night. When Heathcliff states "my presence is as potent on his nerves as a ghost", he is personifying the strength of Linton's fear for his father. The novel's personification of fear symbolizes the trembling power that fear holds over people. The quote "he sees me often though I am not near" further cements the use of phantom imagery to give fear a face.
Section 11 (Chapters 31-finish):Chapter XXXIV:Page 348: The novel ensures that the power of love lives on with its use of ghost to personify the everlasting love of Catherine and Heathcliff. Catherine and Heathcliff are buried together in one united grave. Catherine and Heathcliff always appear together as ghosts. Even though they have both departed, they will always be together reflecting that of a love that will never pass. A love so strong that even a young boy can see it as he notes: "There's Heathcliff, and a woman".

Symbol: Love and Hate (Reading Log 0)

Reading Logs

(This log doesn't count) Section 9 (Chapters 23-26):Chapter XXIV:Page 261: Linton's self confidence has been destroyed by his father's hate, but his wonder has been restored by Catherine's "kindness" which fills him with "love". The novel enforces the idea that love and hate are two powerful forces that drive the emotions and ambitions of people. Love being a power that helps rise Linton out of his own self pity and hate being what buries Linton within a tomb of fear and judgement. The novel wishes to reflect the message that love and hate manipulate our lives and our actions.

Symbol:Interior and Exterior (Reading Logs 1)

Reading Logs

Section 8 (Chapters 20-22):Chapter XXII:When Catherine falls on to the exterior of the garden wall she looses her protection from the evil of Wuthering Heights. The garden walls of the Grange symbolize a protective shield that prevents the negative influences of Wuthering Heights from taking hold of Catherine. Nelly warns Isabella to "Stay where you are", emphasizing the dangers of going to far from the wall..from the safety of the Grange. Moments after she falls on to the other side of the wall "Heathcliff" arrives to tempt her to go with him. Nelly attempts to "open" the gate and bring Isabella back in, but she is far too late. This scene holds an ominous tension that builds up suspense for the novel and re-enforces the symbolic purity of the Grange and the negative aura of Wuthering Heights.