The character of Catherine Earnshaw is one of the most complex and fascinating in world literature. Her story is that of a young woman who “betrays her deepest self and so destroys herself” but whose love is so strong that not even death can extinguish it. Readers cannot help but be moved by her fate, even though she appears to be a thoroughly unpleasant person in more than just one respect. They are forced to pity her, even though they feel they have every reason to believe that it is her, and her alone, who is to blame for the misery that befalls her. And, worst of all, they see her suffering and dying, but at the same time they cannot help envying her ability to feel as strongly as she does.
These confusing and seemingly contradictory impressions have led many critics of the novel to describe Catherine using terms like “creature of another species, hysterical, savage or demonic” out of a sheer inability to make anything else of her, anything that they could understand. In this paper, I shall attempt to determine whether these “otherwordly” terms that reek of madness and hell are really necessary or whether it might not be possible to do without them and see Catherine simply as a young woman in a very 18th/19th-century dilemma, a girl who marries the wrong man and ends up heartbroken.
I will begin by attempting a characterization of Catherine and then introducing her author, Emily Brontë, to have a closer look at the world and the mind that Catherine is rooted in.
Finally I will try to discover the true nature of Catherine’s dilemma and whether all these aspects will make it possible to demystify Catherine and return her to the state of a human being.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2.1 Catherine
2.2 Catherine and Emily
2.2.1 Catherine and Gondal
2.2.2 Catherine and Emily
2.3 Catherine’s Dilemma
3. Conclusion
Objective and Research Focus
This paper explores the complex character of Catherine Earnshaw in Emily Brontë’s "Wuthering Heights," aiming to demystify her often-criticized behavior by re-evaluating her as a woman navigating the restrictive social dilemmas of the 18th and 19th centuries rather than as a supernatural or "demonic" figure.
- Characterization of Catherine Earnshaw's instinct-driven nature.
- The influence of Emily Brontë’s personal experiences and the Gondal mythology on the protagonist.
- The psychological impact of social expectations and patriarchy on Catherine’s choices.
- An analysis of Catherine’s marriage as a survival strategy within a limited social framework.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Catherine
Catherine’s upbringing is most unusual. In the absence of a strong mother or father figure, it is nature who raises her. Forever escaping into the moors with Heathcliff, it is nature that surrounds and shapes her and not the walls of Wuthering Heights. She grows up the way that animals grow up, and therefore really and truly is a child of nature. As a consequence of this she is essentially instinct-driven which is the reason for her brutality in matters of self-defence: when cornered, she explodes, like a frightened animal.
When asked by her father what she wants him to bring her from Liverpool, Catherine chooses a whip, a sure sign that she is an extremely domineering character.
When their father brings Heathcliff home, Catherine and Hindley react to the infant intruder by “grinning and spitting” (p. 37) at him, defending their territory in an animal fashion.
Nelly describes Catherine as a high-spirited, tiresome child who is always “singing, laughing and plaguing everybody” (p. 42). Her liveliness derives from a singular wholeness of being. Heathcliff represents “a complementary addition” to herself. She consists of 100% Catherine, which makes her so very much alive. Mr Earnshaw’s gradual decline puts Catherine in a position to rule over the entire household. Everybody treads lightly around her so as not to provoke her temper and Heathcliff as her devoted servant makes sure that Catherine gets her way. She moves from the bottom of the pecking order to the very top of it. Nelly describes her as “the queen of the countryside” (p. 65), as “full of ambition” (p. 66) and “proud” (p. 67). It is this feeling of superiority that has been instilled into her ever since early childhood, first by Heathcliff, then by Edgar and Isabella, that breaks Catherine’s neck in the end. It makes her wide open to the attractions of Trushcross Grange.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction sets out the research goal to reinterpret Catherine Earnshaw as a human being facing historical dilemmas rather than a demonic caricature.
2.1 Catherine: This chapter analyzes Catherine’s childhood as a "child of nature" and explains how her upbringing and subsequent transition to the Grange shape her later behavioral conflicts.
2.2 Catherine and Emily: This section investigates the link between the Gondal fantasy world, Emily Brontë’s own psychology, and the creation of Catherine’s character.
2.3 Catherine’s Dilemma: This chapter explores the social and patriarchal pressures that force Catherine into a marriage with Edgar, framing her actions as a desperate struggle for survival and self-determination.
3. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the argument that Catherine is a realistic, complex woman whose tragic end is a direct result of a society that denies her agency and happiness.
Keywords
Wuthering Heights, Catherine Earnshaw, Emily Brontë, Gondal, Victorian era, patriarchy, self-determination, literary analysis, character study, social ambition, femininity, Heathcliff, Edgar Linton, psychological conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on deconstructing the common critical view of Catherine Earnshaw as a "demon" or "savage" and re-evaluating her actions through the lens of historical social pressure and personal identity.
What are the key thematic areas addressed?
The work covers themes such as the influence of nature versus civilization, the role of women in the 19th century, the intersection of autobiography and fiction, and the quest for emotional self-determination.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to demystify Catherine’s character and argue that her choices are understandable reactions to the patriarchal restrictions of her time rather than evidence of supernatural evil.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The author uses a literary critical approach, drawing upon scholarly secondary sources, biographical insights into Emily Brontë, and analyses of the novel's thematic structure.
What is explored in the main body of the text?
The main body examines Catherine’s development from childhood, the parallels between her character and Emily Brontë’s life (including the Gondal mythology), and the socio-economic constraints that drive her to marry Edgar.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Wuthering Heights, Catherine Earnshaw, femininity, patriarchal society, self-determination, and the connection between Emily Brontë’s life and her creative imagination.
How does the author characterize Catherine’s childhood?
Catherine is described as a "child of nature," instinct-driven and domineering, whose early lack of social constraints allowed her to act with an animal-like intensity and freedom.
What is the significance of the "Gondal" reference?
The Gondal reference connects the character of Catherine to the imaginary world created by the Brontë sisters, suggesting that Catherine is a deeply rooted reflection of Emily’s own imaginative and emotional life.
How does the paper explain Catherine’s decision to marry Edgar?
Her marriage is framed not as a simple romantic choice, but as a pragmatic, albeit tragic, necessity for survival and social stability in a patriarchal system that offered few other options for women.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the "demonic" label?
The author concludes that labeling Catherine "demonic" is unnecessary and inaccurate; her behavior is the result of her being trapped in a society that denied her the right to pursue happiness on her own terms.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Jost (Author), 2006, Catherine Earnshaw: Female or Fiend?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/174531
