Revenge, Forgiveness & Religion in Wuthering Heights ¦ WH Guide, Ep.4

In this week's episode of Wuthering Heights A Reader's Guide, we look at three key themes of the novel. Forgiveness, Revenge, and Religion.

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[whitneydotson]

I'm a Christian and appreciate the fairness you implement in your reviews as it seems a popular direction today for too many contextualists (literary or historical) to simply deny the biblical elements. I understand that you don't claim any particular religious creed, and all the more applause to you for reading through the Bible.

Your literary reviews are thorough, insightful, and enjoyable. Thank you for sharing!

[ahmetfatih]

Very good analysis. This is what I've been thinking too. Anne Bronte says in Agnes Grey "All true histories contain instruction" and the instruction part of the Wuthering Heights is definitely the forgiveness. However there is one thing, although a little unrelated to the topic, I must object to. That Heathcliff slightly becomes human by the end. He indeed does change and lets Catherine and Hareton go, though not because he pities them but because he no longer sees anything to gain by destroying them. He just loses his interest in them and focuses more and more on finding Cathy. Also he sees some of Cathy in both of them which drowns his ill intentions a little. With that said, I see Wuthering Heights as a story that has multiple layers, but of course one of them, maybe the main one, is the theme of forgiveness.

[amberspecter]

What comes to mind, listening to your explanation, is that, perhaps, the two generations are designed as a metaphor for the two testaments. The first, so strongly wielded by selfishness and revenge, the second, by an unlikely will to forgive. I guess that would make Heathcliff God, or something. Not necessarily and I don't stand by this part too strongly, but there is a good amount of emphasis placed on the fact that his parents are unknown and not even Nellie, who practically raised him, can imagine people fit for that role. Add to that the way he comes back so insanely wealthy, in just a few years, having gone away with absolutely nothing

[khadijahadad]

thank you I have a final exam and your explanation going to help a lot

[maiko]

The scene where Hareton and Cathy forgive each other brought me to tears. Didn’t know why then, but now after watching this video, it makes sense… And books and education were given so much importance to the scene. Hareton didn’t break completely and kept trying to hold on to humanity although he himself was not a perfect person. Such a strong, unforgettable story! Thank you for your videos!

[edmund]

I've not read a book with this much depth till now. I hope to read this again for I know Bronte's genius will come to me at a very different dimension when I'll read it again. Your entire Wuthering Heights analysis was a masterpiece in itself. The way you describe each and every character despite them being some of the most complex characters in English literature is quite remarkable. Hope that you come up with more such amazing stuff in the near future. Best of luck bro!

[emmawills]

I absolutely love the background. It just feels so cozy for some reason!

[rachaelmccarl]

Such great insight, thank you for this gift!

[nisansalarankothge]

The best and the best book ever ! Thanks for the explanation.. 😊 love from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

[MaHa-umsv]

your analyses are so fantastic, thank you!

[meeeka]

Is this also a story of mindfulness or living mindfully? Young Cathy chooses not to fall into Heathcliff's "revenge trap" after all.

[roxannewoel]

So interesting but the music is a bit too loud and distracting. Csn you rerelease sans music?

[Mannahnin]

A lot of good insight in this analysis, and I agree that this is the central theme. We can see indeed that when Cathy and Hareton break the cycle of abuse they reap the benefits of a better life.

I will opine that your take on the New Testament vs. Old here seems a bit flimsy and borders on antisemitic. I don't think Joseph represents anything about the Old; he is not a Jew. He represents rather a continuing, current (in Bronte's time and in ours), strain of hypocrisy in Christianity. No matter their protestations of faith, the brutal are brutes. And no matter how little regard they pay to religion, as Hareton shows us, those who embrace self-betterment and love can be redeemed and happy.

[marichristian]

No music please. It's distracting from your excellent analyses.