Ms. Sobrero, you told me that Heathcliff was like Mr. Darcy. I agree to some degree, just not entirely. Heathcliff, to me, was a lot more obsessive and creepy than Mr. Darcy ever could be. And Heathcliff frequently weirded me out with his obsession.
It was cute how he put Catherine first. But not so cute when he continued to do so after her death and harmed other's in his quest for revenge. And wished to mingle with Catherine when they decomposed. Yeah, that wasn't cute in any way. Gave me chills actually.
Overall for this story, I'll say it amused and entertained me. And it made me really pay attention to the little details and made me finish a chapter so as to not confuse me as to who the narrator was. It was a Romeo and Juliet-esque kind of story that was split into two stories with the second story being an alternate ending for the former.
All's well that ends well, for young Catherine and Hareton at least.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
19. Wuthering Heights
I knew Hareton and Catherine would fall in love. I knew it!
They're the alternate, "would have, should have, could have" ending that should have been Heathcliff's and Catherine's. And I'm glad that Heathcliff gave up his plan of revenge and reached a 'peaceful' end.
Weird connection but when Catherine was giving books to Hareton, it reminded me of Beauty and the Beast, the Disney version. Although Hareton is not a beast, and the Beast wasn't illiterate. The books did it for me as well as the fact that Catherine was a bewitching beauty like Belle.
They're the alternate, "would have, should have, could have" ending that should have been Heathcliff's and Catherine's. And I'm glad that Heathcliff gave up his plan of revenge and reached a 'peaceful' end.
Weird connection but when Catherine was giving books to Hareton, it reminded me of Beauty and the Beast, the Disney version. Although Hareton is not a beast, and the Beast wasn't illiterate. The books did it for me as well as the fact that Catherine was a bewitching beauty like Belle.
18. Wuthering Heights
I retract my last statement from the previous blog. I suppose Heathcliff has 'won' in his own sick, twisted and obsessive way.
Really gross. Now whenever I think of graveyards, I think of Hamlet. "To be or not to be that is the question!", well I can guess how Heathcliff would answer, probably something along the lines of, "To be together with Catherine for eternity."
I'm thinking about it right now and it occurred to be that young Catherine is in her teen years, meaning Old Catherine has been dead for a really long time and Heathcliff still claims she is recognizable. Ew.
Really gross. Now whenever I think of graveyards, I think of Hamlet. "To be or not to be that is the question!", well I can guess how Heathcliff would answer, probably something along the lines of, "To be together with Catherine for eternity."
I'm thinking about it right now and it occurred to be that young Catherine is in her teen years, meaning Old Catherine has been dead for a really long time and Heathcliff still claims she is recognizable. Ew.
17. Wuthering Heights
The desperate moves of a desperate man. The carefully orchestrated game Heathcliff was playing had to be moved along at a faster pace for fear of failure. I still can't believe he forced them to marry like that. Though I suppose it could have been worse.
It's weird the people he has added to his hodgepodge of a collection. From sickly and resented Linton, headstrong and his own kind of mini-me Hareton, and now young Catherine whom represented all that he wanted and wished to take away from Edgar.
But I'm still not sure whether he 'won' that round. Edgar now gets to spend eternity next to his love, overlooking the moors.
It's weird the people he has added to his hodgepodge of a collection. From sickly and resented Linton, headstrong and his own kind of mini-me Hareton, and now young Catherine whom represented all that he wanted and wished to take away from Edgar.
But I'm still not sure whether he 'won' that round. Edgar now gets to spend eternity next to his love, overlooking the moors.
16. Wuthering Heights
As alike as I had said previously of Old Catherine and Young Catherine, they also seem to be parallels of the other. Old Catherine fell ill and was tended to by the Lintons, while Young Catherine is taking care of Linton. Just a small observation.
And young Linton seems to me a tad like Edgar as well. His, I guess you could call it, frailty of character as well as desperation to keep the one he loves is quite like Edgar. A funny contrast to his strong, robust father.
Then there's Nelly. The only constant person in all of these people's lives. She's a funny one, I think. She's not a gossiping housekeeper, but I really don't know an appropriate term for her. Fairy godmother is too fanciful, and mother is too endearing. Caretaker will have to do, I suppose. The care she gave to every character and the attention she paid to all of them is fascinating.
And young Linton seems to me a tad like Edgar as well. His, I guess you could call it, frailty of character as well as desperation to keep the one he loves is quite like Edgar. A funny contrast to his strong, robust father.
Then there's Nelly. The only constant person in all of these people's lives. She's a funny one, I think. She's not a gossiping housekeeper, but I really don't know an appropriate term for her. Fairy godmother is too fanciful, and mother is too endearing. Caretaker will have to do, I suppose. The care she gave to every character and the attention she paid to all of them is fascinating.
15. Wuthering Heights
It's strange that the central characters of the story have shifted from Heathcliff, Hindley, and Catherine to their children. But I guess the story couldn't have revolved around them after the deaths of 2/3 of them.
I also noticed the strange interlacing of personalities in young Catherine. She's stubborn like her mother, yet at times very complacent and understanding like her father.
And though they're not 'related', Hareton has turned into Heathcliff. Not only in his position but headstrong personality as well.
I also noticed the strange interlacing of personalities in young Catherine. She's stubborn like her mother, yet at times very complacent and understanding like her father.
And though they're not 'related', Hareton has turned into Heathcliff. Not only in his position but headstrong personality as well.
14. Wuthering Heights
Hareton also is a victim of much neglect, denied the life of privilege he should have been born into. The opposite of Heathcliff's life at an early age, until Hindley cut off all priveleges and demoted him to the position Heathcliff has now appointed to his son.
Quite the opposite of young Catherine. Whose sheltered life is almost like Rapunzel. Not really, but I'm making that connection because I saw Tangled yesterday.
And poor Linton. Lost his mother and just when he thinks he's gaining a father, he gets a gruff Heathcliff instead.
Quite the opposite of young Catherine. Whose sheltered life is almost like Rapunzel. Not really, but I'm making that connection because I saw Tangled yesterday.
And poor Linton. Lost his mother and just when he thinks he's gaining a father, he gets a gruff Heathcliff instead.
13. Wuthering Heights
And so young Catherine's early life is very sad. From the moment of her birth, her neglect is apparent. Perhaps explaining her standoffish and bitter persona.
But in the midst of Edgar and Heathcliff's grief over Catherine and constant watch over her body, or in Heathcliff's case, keeping to himself outside of the house after vehemently wishing for Catherine to haunt him.
I guess his wish came true if Lockwood's experience in Chapter 3 is any clue.
But in the midst of Edgar and Heathcliff's grief over Catherine and constant watch over her body, or in Heathcliff's case, keeping to himself outside of the house after vehemently wishing for Catherine to haunt him.
I guess his wish came true if Lockwood's experience in Chapter 3 is any clue.
12. Wuthering Heights
Thoughts on Catherine, I'm only doing this because even Nelly affirmed my feelings towards her with her quote, " "She's fainted, or dead," I thought:"so much the better. Far better that she should be dead, than lingering a burden and a misery-maker to all about her."
Now I don't feel so bad for my feelings and attitude towards Catherine, even though she's dead. Well, all the problems stemmed from her actions and words so really even though the book is centralized around Heathcliff, a suitable alternate title, I think, would be, "A Tenant and a Housekeeper Talk of the Troublesome Girl Who Ruined Everyone's Lives". Too harsh? Maybe, but that's how I'm beginning to see this story.
Now I don't feel so bad for my feelings and attitude towards Catherine, even though she's dead. Well, all the problems stemmed from her actions and words so really even though the book is centralized around Heathcliff, a suitable alternate title, I think, would be, "A Tenant and a Housekeeper Talk of the Troublesome Girl Who Ruined Everyone's Lives". Too harsh? Maybe, but that's how I'm beginning to see this story.
11. Wuthering Heights
I'm going through my blogs and I seem extremely bipolar with my feelings towards these characters. Perhaps it's my ignorance towards such strong feelings of love. But I'm flip-flopping in my sentiments towards this romance. One can't live without the other or die while the other lives on, as Catherine expresses to Heathcliff as she's dying. The love they share is a selfish, consuming kind of love. Strange, and obsessive but love nonetheless.
Even sacrificing, or on Heathcliff's part anyway. Right down to handing Catherine to Edgar and demanding he tend to her while he waited in the garden to see how she fared.
Even sacrificing, or on Heathcliff's part anyway. Right down to handing Catherine to Edgar and demanding he tend to her while he waited in the garden to see how she fared.
10. Wuthering Heights
Sidetracking from the story a tad, but I just want to collect my thoughts on this blog about Heathcliff.
Heathcliff
Heathcliff
- desperately in love with Catherine
- hurt by her 'betrayal'
- hurt at the way he is belittled by others and that's why Catherine did not choose him
- Hurts others to get back at them and Catherine
- I do not condone his plan yet I am still sympathetic
- marries Isabelle to get back at Edgar
- abuses Isabelle to get back at Edgar
- threatens Nelly to get information about Catherine
9. Wuthering Heights
The whole Earnshaw family is dysfunctional. Catherine is selfish and useles, Hindley is scheming and crazy, and Heathcliff is overly jealous and overcome with hate.
Catherine's illness is causing strife for all of them,Edgar and Heathcliff are sick with worry and yet again she causes unnecessary problems and now has a baby on the way. This girl has to get her act together.
And now Hindley wants to kill Heathcliff to gain his fortune. They sure put the ily(I love you) in fam(ily).
Not.
Catherine's illness is causing strife for all of them,Edgar and Heathcliff are sick with worry and yet again she causes unnecessary problems and now has a baby on the way. This girl has to get her act together.
And now Hindley wants to kill Heathcliff to gain his fortune. They sure put the ily(I love you) in fam(ily).
Not.
8. Wuthering Heights
This whole love quadrangle, I don't even know what to call it, is getting on my nerves. This may sounds morbid, but it's unfair that Catherine died first 'freeing herself from her guilt & conflicts' before the rest of them when she was the source of all of their grief.
Onto Edgar, his 'disowning' of his sister irritates me. The patriarchy of this era is really irking my feminist self. But in this case, Isabelle should have listened to her brother and not married Heathcliff. Not only did she lose her only family, but her pride and love as well.
It's all Catherine's fault.
Onto Edgar, his 'disowning' of his sister irritates me. The patriarchy of this era is really irking my feminist self. But in this case, Isabelle should have listened to her brother and not married Heathcliff. Not only did she lose her only family, but her pride and love as well.
It's all Catherine's fault.
7. Wuthering Heights
The way this story is told is very strange. It's told through second-hand accounts of memories. And I've never read a story told this way. It's confusing. Books are much easier to understand when you're reading the events as they happen. But I digress, Chapters 10-12 made me angry(this book is making me realize how emotional a reader I am).
I'm finally coming to terms with my distaste for Catherine. I suppose at that time not many married for love anyway, and it was her upbringing that made her strive for social advancement. But I still don't like her all that much, I just understand her in a way. But this just made me sad for both Heathcliff and Edgar.
If Catherine had just married Heathcliff it would've saved everybody a world of trouble.
I'm finally coming to terms with my distaste for Catherine. I suppose at that time not many married for love anyway, and it was her upbringing that made her strive for social advancement. But I still don't like her all that much, I just understand her in a way. But this just made me sad for both Heathcliff and Edgar.
If Catherine had just married Heathcliff it would've saved everybody a world of trouble.
6. Wuthering Heights
This dual-narratorship is really confusing me. Nelly's narration of the story threw me off when I stopped in the middle of the chapter of her narration and forgot that it wasn't Lockwood's story being told, rather, he's the one who is being told the story.
Other than that, the story is pretty complicated, in a cliche kind of way, if that makes sense. The unrequited love is the cliche part, but so many characters involved is making me confused. I have to keep little notes in my book to remind me who is who.
Other than that, the story is pretty complicated, in a cliche kind of way, if that makes sense. The unrequited love is the cliche part, but so many characters involved is making me confused. I have to keep little notes in my book to remind me who is who.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
5. Wuthering Heights
As creative and old-fashioned as this story is, I feel like it's a mold to all the novels that came after. The cliche admittance of love of someone you're not supposed to be in love with which is conveniently unheard by said person, but this person was around to hear that they were 'not worthy' or something to that extent. So overdone and cliche. But I suppose this book is one of the firsts to utilize this situation.
I want to feel bad for Heathcliff but I can't. My practical romantic personality is barring me from feeling any sympathy for this man who loves a woman who cares more about herself than him. Bah humbug.
I want to feel bad for Heathcliff but I can't. My practical romantic personality is barring me from feeling any sympathy for this man who loves a woman who cares more about herself than him. Bah humbug.
4. Wuthering Heights
I really can't understand why Heathcliff loves Catherine so much. Well I suppose I can, but her two-faced behavior and conflicted emotions makes her a roller coaster I don't think anyone would enjoy.
It's almost like that saying, "If you're going to be two-faced at least make one of them pretty." And boy is Catherine lucky that she's so beautiful. Or else, I doubt her bipolar behavior between Edgar and Heathcliff would've kept them in her clutches for so long.
It's almost like that saying, "If you're going to be two-faced at least make one of them pretty." And boy is Catherine lucky that she's so beautiful. Or else, I doubt her bipolar behavior between Edgar and Heathcliff would've kept them in her clutches for so long.
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