Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte :: Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte Essays

Wuthering Heights by Emily BronteIn chapter nine, we are introduced to the issues surrounding differentideas of love through Catherines dilemma. The author uses a varietyof imaging and ideas to separate superficial love from true love.We are shown that her love for Edgar, a gentleman residing in theestate of Thrushcross Grange, is indeed superficial. Catherine tellsNelly that she has just accepted Edgars proposal, yet she does notseem satisfied with her choiceI accepted him, Nelly be quick, and say whether I was wrong Saywhether I should have done so - doThis immediately implies that she is not confident of her ownjudgement - she seeks assurance and comfort that her choice was thecorrect one by pleading to Nelly, her servant. This is extremely odd,as the mass of people would not commit themselves to lifetimerelationships without being sure that it is the right choice to do so.We are shown that the reason behind her doubt is that her love forEdgar is patently superficial. Nelly als o understands this, and asksCatherine, bluntly, if she loves him. She replies firmlyWho can help it? Of course I do.I believe that her manner in responding to this question completelycontradicts the words which that she actually speaks. She replies in a very(prenominal) matter-of-fact tone, which suggests that her reasoning behindher love should be visible and obvious to all. She suggests that nowoman could resist him, which, combined with the previous point,implies that he is desirable due to his outward appearance and status- he is marriage material. Hence, Catherine has shown us that herlove for Edgar is the same love that any woman would feel for him,which is not true love it is merely attraction. She furthers this bydeclaring that she does not want to be a beggar, which she believeswould be the outcome of marrying Heathcliff.I also believe that Catherine is essay to convince herself of herlove for Edgar. This was shown earlier by her asking Nelly forreassurance, but it is sho wn further when Nelly asks her why she lovesEdgarI love the ground under his feet, and the air over his head, andeverything he touches, and every word he says - I love all his looks,and all his actions, and him entirely, and altogether. There nowThis response also puzzled me - it has been worded in a veryimpersonal fashion. She uses dry, unlovable vocabulary in herdescription, such as ground, feet and air. It is a list ofclichs, and instead of giving the intended outcome of proving her