How Does Heathcliff A Corrupt Society

The Outsider

In Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff is an ultimate outsider who struggles to find his place in the judgmental town of Yorkshire, as his new family lead by Hindley, is unwelcoming and scornful upon his arrival. Once reaching Yorkshire, Heathcliff quickly falls in love with Catherine, a member of his new “family”; the love seems to be mutual, as their feelings for one another prove that they are close spiritually and emotionally. However, Catherine’s love for him is reprimanded by the corrupt society because he is viewed as a total outcast, possibly because of his race. But, because of Heathcliff’s social class and possible cultural background, he is continuously disrespected throughout the entire novel and his convoluted,

Earnshaw tries his best to get him to assimilate to this new community. His future with Catherine is strongly affected, as his competition for her is interrupted by the appealing appearance of Edgar Linton, a well-bred man who is seen as an ideal lover for Catherine. Because he is different from the rest of society, and because he comes from a lower social class, Heathcliff is isolated from the rest of society. Lockwood, one of the narrators of the story, describes Heathcliff and his way of life. He says, “But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living. He is a dark-skinned gypsy in aspect” (5). Off the bat, it is evident that Heathcliff’s mysterious style of living excludes him from the rest of this judgmental society. By describing him as a “dark-skinned gypsy”, Lockwood is implying that the black community does not fit in, which illuminates the racism problem that is still present during this time period. Heathcliff’s life as an outsider is illuminated through his own eccentric personality, and upon arrival, his chances with Catherine, even through their powerful connection, are slim. Even though most people disrespect Heathcliff, a lot people of people in society, including Lockwood and Catherine, resemble Heathcliff, as his kindness is hidden by the chastisement from the community. Lost in a

Feminism is present throughout the novel, as Catherine defaces many of the expectations enforced on her, and tons of the morals that many would criticize her on, because of her gender. Heathcliff and Catherine both struggle to find their places in society and are floundered by the psychological torment of their surroundings. In The Psychology of Loneliness in “Wuthering Heights”, Levy notes, “As a result of the unlove that they were made to suffer, both Heathcliff and Catherine, by opposite means and in distinct circumstances, turn loneliness into a community of rejection over which they wield absolute control” (160/Levy). Whenever Catherine is around Heathcliff, she fails to please her family because of his social order and unorthodox way of living. Even though they both love each other, it is almost like they are even more lonely when beside one another, because they are excluded from the rest of society, which is what makes them so alike. When speaking to Isabella Linton, Catherine tries to display Heathcliff’s true insanity before her. She says, “Tell her what Heathcliff is: an unreclaimed creature, without refinement, without cultivation; an arid wilderness of furze and whinstone” (102). Even though Catherine tries to sway Isabella away from Heathcliff so that their love can be again,