 | ||||||
|
| ||||||
|
Kelly Kent wrote:
I wish we would have read the gothic novel, Wuthering Heights, in
the British literature 
course
I took instead of Mary Shelley’s boring Frankenstein. This was
so much more interesting. I enjoyed reading this strange novel. The plot and
complex characters intrigued me and kept me reading. The beast-like behavior
of Heathcliff astonished and bewildered me as to why this is one of Krissy’s
favorite books. A maid at Wuthering Heights remarks that for the first
time she could see what resembles a smile on Heathcliff’s face, “I'd
rather have seen him gnash his teeth than smile so.” Her reaction shows
what a surprising and scary thing it was to see Heathcliff smile since he truly
is a brute.
Spark notes say that historically, romance novels revolved on the cliché,
“a reformed rake makes the best husband.” I kept reading and hopelessly
waiting for Heathcliff to change his character and become a perfectly amiable
man like in an Austen’s novel. According to critic Joyce Carol Oates,
Bronte tests how many times the readers will be disgusted and appalled at Heathcliff’s
brutal behavior and vengeful actions and still see Heathcliff as a romantic
hero. Oates’s theory is affirmed by me who kept searching for a redeeming
quality in Heathcliff to justify liking him. I remember reading in a magazine
that Heath Ledger was named after Heathcliff because his mother loved Wuthering
Heights. I liked Heathcliff, but not enough to name my child after him.
I guess she was going through a phase similar to when I wanted to name my future
son Doug after Joaquin Phoenix’s character in Inventing the Abbotts.
©K. Kent Last Updated: February 3, 2005 Email Kelly Kent
