Archetypes In Emily Bronte's Wuthering

The mind is a conundrum. Every living person has one, yet little is known about how or why it works. Psychologists and psychiatrists conduct countless experiments in hopes of discovering what makes the brain tick. There are theories ranging from different parts of the subconscious to several archetypes of the personality. One such theory, by Carl Jung, consists of four different personality archetypes, the self, the anima, the persona, and most intriguingly, the shadow. Researchers describe the shadow as “the darker side of human nature; [it] embodies chaos and uncontrollable or unacceptable emotions…”(Rathus 400). Once applied, these characteristics shine brightest on one particular character. In Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, as Heathcliff

The first step involved Heathcliff gaining leverage over Hindley by seizing his estate through gambling. Through Heathcliff’s “wish to install himself in [Hindley’s] quarters”(Bronte 99), he shows his unrelenting need for power. A key characteristic of the shadow is an intense need for “dominat[ion] or control”(Johnson 3). Heathcliff’s first step in taking his revenge is to gain power over Hindley by usurping his estate, which is all Hindley had left. Furthermore, Heathcliff’s sole reason in marrying Isabella was to “obtain power over [Edgar]”(Bronte 151). Heathcliff’s only reason in leading on and abusing Isabella was to attain power over Edgar in his sick revenge fantasy. His hunt for power overwhelms his basic human emotions which is a defining sign of the

After months of Heathcliff’s abuse, Isabella eventually cracked and realized how horrendous a person Heathcliff truly was. Heathcliff then remarked that “actually [succeeding] in making her hate me… [is a] positive labour of Hercules”(Bronte 150). Heathcliff believes so highly of himself that instead of recognizing his manipulative and abhorrent behavior, he instead congratulates himself on ruining Isabella’s psyche. This is overwhelming evidence of narcissistic personality disorder and thus, deeper evidence of his shadow. Heathcliff’s entire plan of revenge exuberates excessive amounts of narcissism. For instance, Heathcliff thinks so highly of himself that he must seize and usurp everything that his enemies have built up. He takes Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange merely for some thinly veiled idea of revenge. Death does not stop him, he corrupts the later generations and aims to ruin everything that his enemies have created just for