Wuthering Heights
Emily Bronte is a very well known author in England and the United States, as well as all around the world. She was the second eldest of six children and was born in Bradford. Bronte has written over ten short stories, novels, and poems combined. In Emily Bronte's famous book Wuthering Heights, the story takes place in the winter of 1801. Our narrator is Lockwood and he ends up at Wuthering Heights after a severe snowstorm forces him to stay the night there. Lockwood has nightmarish dreams about a wailing ghost named Catherine Linton who is trying to come through a window. After Lockwood is settled into his new found home, he invites the housekeeper, Ellen "Nelly" Dean to share the stories of Wuthering Heights. Nelly eventually assists Lockwood in the narration of the story. Nelly begins to tell the dark stories of the Earnshaws, the Lintons, and Heathcliff. At this point, the story begins to gain a sense of darkness. The story jumps back to the past as Nelly begins to tell the stories. Nelly explains that she began working for the Earnshaws as a young girl and says that everything was fine until Mr. Earnshaw took a trip to Liverpool and returned with an orphan named Heathcliff, She explains that the Earnshaw's daughter, Catherine takes a keen interest in the boy. The story at this point gains a bit of romance and revenge of some sorts. While Catherine takes an interest in Heathcliff, her brother Hindley is disgusted by the fact that the boy has no manners and his father likes Heathcliff more than him. Hindley eventually goes off to college and after his father dies, returns to take his place as the master of Wuthering Heights. Hindley treats Heathcliff like a servant and his feelings toward him never change. Heathcliff and Catherine decide to go and spy on the Linton children one day and Catherine gets bit by a dog. While she is recovering, she captures the heart of Edgar Linton and Heathcliff feels left out. This is where everything turns around and the life of Catherine and Heathcliff together will never be the same. The plot begins to thicken and vengeance and sadness unfold. France, Hindley's wife, dies after giving birth to a son, Hareton. Hindley becomes more vengeful towards Heathcliff after this and resents Hareton. Hindley becomes an abusive alcoholic and makes everyone in the house miserable. Nelly explains that Catherine confessed her love for Heathcliff to her, but she marries Edgar instead. Heathcliff will eventually gain Wuthering Heights and marry Isabella Linton, Edgar's sister. One day, Edgar and Heathcliff get into a fight over Catherine and it sends Catherine to the sickbed. She recovers and gives birth to a daughter who is also named Catherine. Catherine dies and leaves her daughter with Edgar. The story darkens and Heathcliff is sorrowful and begs for Catherine's ghost to haunt him. Isabella leaves Heathcliff and flees to London where she gives birth to their son, Linton Heathcliff. Nelly says that she raised Catherine and Edgar's daughter for thirteen years in Thrushcross Grange. Catherine was not to know of Wuthering Heights or its' master. Catherine is very much like her mother and goes to Wuthering Heights on an adventure and befriends Hareton. Edgar adopts Linton after Isabella dies and Linton and Catherine fall for each other, As the romance in the story grows stronger, so does the revenge, Heathcliff kidnaps Catherine and Linton and they are forced to marry. Edgar eventually dies and so does Linton. Heathcliff now owns both of the houses and rents Thrushcross Grange to Lockwood. Nelly's stories are complete and Lockwood leaves Thrushcross Grange and goes to London. Catherine and Hareton fall in love are to marry on New Years Day. Heathcliff on the other hand stays interested in Catherine's ghost and eventually dies. Thu ending the story.
