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Wuthering Heights: Summary

Everything you need to know about Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, in 1 paragraph.
An illustration of a reader enjoying Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë in a cosy interior
A reader enjoying Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Wuthering Heights is a classic novel by Emily Bronte that tells the story of two families, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, living in Yorkshire in the early 19th century. The novel follows the life of Heathcliff, an orphan adopted by Mr. Earnshaw who is treated harshly by his son Hindley. When Hindley's daughter Catherine marries Edgar Linton, Heathcliff is driven away from Wuthering Heights and seeks revenge on those who wronged him for years to come. As his schemes unfold, Heathcliff’s obsessive love for Catherine drives him to ruin and despair. In the end, Heathcliff finds peace and redemption from his suffering after Catherine's death.

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What is Wuthering Heights about?

Wuthering Heights is a classic novel by Emily Bronte, and it deals with many complex themes. The story follows the relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw and their turbulent lives. It explores ideas of love, class, revenge, loyalty, and social conventions. Themes of unrequited love, vengeful jealousy, and redemption are also explored in the novel. The power of nature is a key theme throughout the novel, with the wild and untamed moors being a major setting for the story. In addition to this, Bronte also explores the idea of how human relationships can be both destructive and healing. The novel also looks at how people’s past experiences shape their present lives. In all, Wuthering Heights is a complex story that deals with several important themes.

Wuthering Heights: Book Club Questions

  1. How does the setting of Wuthering Heights add to its overall atmosphere?
  2. What is the significance of the title of the novel?
  3. What are the major themes explored in Wuthering Heights?
  4. How do Cathy and Heathcliff's relationship evolve throughout the novel?
  5. How does Emily Bronte use narrative techniques such as foreshadowing and symbolism?
  6. How do different characters contribute to the development of the plot?
  7. Is Heathcliff a victim or a villain in Wuthering Heights?
  8. How does the presence of supernatural elements contribute to the plot?
  9. In what ways does Wuthering Heights challenge societal conventions?
  10. What messages is Emily Bronte conveying through her novel?

What to say about Wuthering Heights

  • Wuthering Heights is a timeless classic that explores the complexities of human relationships and emotions.
  • The novel's vivid descriptions of the Yorkshire moors create a powerful sense of atmosphere.
  • The character of Heathcliff is one of the most memorable and captivating characters in literature.
  • Catherine's inner conflict between her love for Heathcliff and her desire to better herself is an interesting dynamic.
  • Emily Bronte masterfully weaves together romance, revenge, and betrayal throughout the story.
  • Wuthering Heights is a unique exploration of themes such as class and social status.
  • The novel's intricate web of relationships creates a complex plot that keeps readers engaged until the very end.
  • There is something deeply relatable about the struggles faced by many of the characters in Wuthering Heights, regardless of time or place.
  • Bronte's narrative style allows for multiple interpretations of events and character motivations throughout the novel.
  • Despite its dark themes, there are moments of beauty and hope that shine through in Wuthering Heights.

Top 5 Quotes from Wuthering Heights

  1. "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."
  2. "He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."
  3. "If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger."
  4. "I have not broken your heart - you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine."
  5. "No matter how much I seemed to hate him, my love was still there like a small pulse beating beneath a rock."

Adaptations of Wuthering Heights

TV: 1.Wuthering Heights (1967) – BBC 2.Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights (1978) – ITV 3.Heights (2009) – BBC 4.Wuthering Heights (2011) – ITV 5.Wuthering Heights (2014) – ITV 6.Wuthering Heights (2020) – BBC One Film: 1.Wuthering Heights (1939) – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 2.Wuthering Heights (1970) – English Orpheus Films 3.Jude (1996) – Miramax Films 4.Wuthering Heights (2011) – Sky Movies / Vertigo Films 5.In Secret (2013)– The Weinstein Company 6.Thornfield Hall: A Gothic Romance (2015) – Asylum Pictures 7.Shortcut to Happiness (2019) – Redwood Creek Entertainment 8.Them That Follow (2019)– Fox Searchlight Pictures Radio/Podcasts: 1.Wuthering Heights (2004)– BBC Radio 4 2.Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights (2008)– BBC Radio 4 Extra 3.The Classic Tales Podcast Series: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte(2016)- theclassictalespodcastseries 4.Classic Fiction Series: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte(2017)- audiobooksontape Theatre: 1.Wuthering Heights(1939)- National Theatre in London 2.Wuthering Height: The Musical(2007)- West Yorkshire Playhouse Theatre in Leeds, UK 3.A New Adaptation of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights(2012)- Three Legged Dog Theatre in New York City

Other books by Emily Brontë

  • Gondal's Queen
  • The Night is Darkening Round Me
  • The Glass Town Game
  • Lines Composed in a Wood on a Windy Day
  • Remembrances

Did you know?

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Wuthering Heights is one of the most frequently banned books in literature, due to its graphic violence and themes of incest and revenge.