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Revision as of 12:22, 10 November 2004 by Martin TB (talk | contribs) (added Kate Bush info)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's only novel. Published in 1847, it has become a classic of English literature, and has given rise to many adaptations, including several films, radio and television dramatisations, and a musical, as well as inspiring a hit song by Kate Bush. A posthumous second edition was edited by her sister Charlotte.
The setting for the book is Brontë's native Yorkshire moors. It takes the form of the first-person narrative of a minor character, Lockwood, who through conversations is told the tale of the principal protagonists. This framing device gives distance to the events. (It was also effectively used by Joseph Conrad in Heart of Darkness.) Nellie Dean, the secondary narrator recounts scenes of strong emotion, violence and sadism in a manner which is not completely dispassionate, but somewhat detached: she is not surprised at the extremes she recounts.
The anti-hero is the foundling Heathcliff, who is taken in by the wealthy Earnshaw family as a child, and falls in love with their daughter, Catherine. But he is not considered good enough to marry her. Instead, Cathy marries a wealthy neighbour, Linton, and the embittered Heathcliff sets out to ruin the fortunes of her family, which he does over a period of many years.
Thematic Analysis
There exist in the world books which require the reader to search every facet of their composition for a message, a moral or didactic to take from them. However, Wuthering Heights does not have this - despite owning many elements that would suggest this might be the case (symbolism is rife at times and devices such as metaphor and metonymy are used throughout). The underlining power of the book is story-telling. This is a subtle feature, but upon reading and then reflecting on the book it is clear that the words of Nelly Dean, transported to us through the window-like character of Lockwood, are intended to provoke emotions in the reader in such a way that the story develops with your feelings; so strong are the descriptions and in particular the character of Heathcliff.
Film & Television Adaptations
Perhaps the best-known of the film adaptations was released in 1939. It stars Merle Oberon as Cathy Linton, Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff, David Niven as Edgar Linton, Flora Robson as Ellen Dean, Donald Crisp as Dr. Kenneth, Geraldine Fitzgerald as Isabella Linton and Leo G. Carroll as Joseph Earnshaw. The film was adapted by Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht and John Huston. It was directed by William Wyler. The movie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
A 1992 film adaptation was the first one to show both generations from the story; that is Heathcliff, Cathy, Edgar, and Hindley, as well as their children. Juliette Binoche plays two roles, Catherine Earnshaw and her daughter. Ralph Fiennes plays Heathcliff.
A 1953 adaptation on BBC Television was scripted by Nigel Kneale, directed by Rudolph Cartier and starred Yvonne Mitchell as Cathy. Sadly, this version does not survive in the BBC archives.
Opera
Carlisle Floyd wrote an opera based on this novel in 1958.
Role-Playing Game Adaptation
The Wuthering Heights Roleplay game is a role-playing game based on the French "René le Jeu de Rôle Romantique" by Philippe Tromeur.
This is a parody game, free for download here : http://philippe.tromeur.free.fr/rene.htm
Single by Kate Bush
Wuthering heights is also the title of a single by Kate Bush taken from her first album The Kick Inside released in 1978. Based on the novel, Kate was inspired to write the song after watching the 1939 version of the film.
External links
- Full text of Wuthering Heights from Project Gutenberg