the ONE thing that is annoying me most about the Wuthering Heights criticism is everyone saying “Wuthering Heights is not a romance, ughh how could anyone see the story as romantic, it’s not meant to be romaaaantic”
Like, yes it is. The love between Heathcliff and Cathy is there. It is a tragic story about their selfish, destructive, unconsummated love for each other.
The classist, racist society around them made their love for each other impossible, not because of any one character alone but simply because of who they are in the world they live in. Society is a villain. It begets the abuse, the anger, the cycle of violence and revenge.
The constraints of societal expectations and norms, internalized by Cathy in particular, are what ultimately deprive them of their love for one other.
Cathy is allowed to run wild as a child and is more or less unrestricted by the typical societal expectations of someone of her position. In her youth, she doesn’t see this wild and carefree part of herself as something to be ashamed of until she meets the Lintons.
After meeting Edgar and Isabella, Cathy becomes ashamed of herself and ultimately ashamed of Heathcliff, as a reflection of the most personal, intimate and unencumbered parts of herself. The parts that society thus asks to be exchanged for acceptance.
But unlike Cathy, Heathcliff doesn’t have the luxury of just deciding one day to fit in. His otherness is insurmountable and therefore the choice has to be made. Join society, be respected, secure yourself or give in to love.
Cathy is SO young in this story. She is incredibly sheltered and naive which makes her spoiled, entitled, crass and cruel. She never stops being that way because she never stops rejecting the expectations of society. She cannot let go of that part of herself that loves Heathcliff and loved being free as a child.
She is literally driven mad by having to participate in the role society expects of her (childbirth leading to infection) and ultimately she dies a young girl, heartbroken and longing to be free.
Healthcliff and Cathy’s love is so interlaced into who they are, she haunts his every thought even after she’s died.
I’m not saying anyone should model their love life after it, but it is a beautifully crafted, tragic love story and that is not at all where the criticism of the movie should be coming from, there is plenty real criticism for it !
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