Wuthering Heights: Question 3

The biggest theme in Wuthering Heights is revenge. Although it is a romance, Emily Bronte doesn't quite follow the rules. In order to have revenge upon his childhood tormenter, Hindley, Heathcliff begins scheming as to how he can take the Heights from him and become the master. Then because Edgar steals his Catherine from him, he commences a new plan to become the master of Edgar's manor as well. All this just to serve up some revenge to those who have wronged him. Another big theme in Wuthering Heights is that of love. It's hard to believe due to the fact that all the lovers in this novel seem to be constantly trying to make each other miserable. That's not entirely true. Mostly true...yes. But not quite entirely. Catherine and Heathcliff are our most predominant lovers. Even though they never technically end up together, the few moments they had when they were legitamitely happy to be in each other presence are quite magical. Emily Bronte's understanding of human nature appears pretty thorough. She understands and portrays nicely that people do and say things that they don't necessarily mean. She also understands that people always want what they can't have. Heathcliff wants Catherine, she can't have him. Catherine Linton wants Linton Heathcliff (at first) but cannot have him.