Wuthering "Catherine's Face Was Just Like the Book Report

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Wuthering

"Catherine's face was just like the landscape -- shadows and sunshine flitting over it in rapid succession; but the shadows rested longer, and the sunshine was more transient..." Chapter 27,

This quote reveals a strong metaphor, describing Catherine's face as being "just like the landscape." Doing this not only provides brilliant imagery but also links Catherine to the land, and to her home, prevalent themes in Bronte's work. Catherine has essentially become spiritually one with the land in which she lives, anchoring her in geographic space and time. All issues of ownership of property, especially given Heathcliff's use of property ownership as a means to assert his political and social power, revert to Catherine.

Moreover, Bronte is sure to point out that the landscape of Catherine's face is filled with "shadows and sunshine," which are "flitting over it in rapid succession." This is an extension of the metaphor, showing that Catherine is susceptible to mood swings, which likewise occur in nature. Interestingly, the narrator notes here that Catherine did tend to have more shadows than sunshine on her face, meaning that she was experiencing more sadness than joy at this stage of her life. These vicissitudes are not, however, portrayed as Catherine's being an inherently "shadowy" or depressed person, but more because she is simply in tune with nature and the world around her.

This passage perfectly suits the tone of the story as well as corresponds with Catherine's character. Catherine's character is described using both the metaphor and the allusion to the land. Throughout Wuthering Heights, Bronte relies on natural imagery to convey themes and characterization.

2."I'm glad, for I shall be master of the Grange after him -- and Catherine always spoke of it as her house. It isn't hers! It's mine: papa says everything she has is mine. All her nice books are mine; she offered to give me them, and pretty birds, and her pony Minny, if I would get the key of her room, and let her out; but I told her she had nothing to give, they were all, all mine." Chapter 28, pg. 257

Here, Bronte shows how thoroughly corrupted Linton has become at Heathcliff's behest. He has been cognitively poisoned, claiming that the Grange is "mine," when it is truly Heathcliff who wants surrogate possession of the place.

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Linton has become Heathcliff's tool for exacting revenge against the dead Catherine and against Edgar as well. Heathcliff has, essentially, won in his game with Catherine and Linton. By forcing their marriage, he has effectively transferred ownership of the Grange to Linton and therefore achieved his secondary goal. Of course, Healthcliff's primary goal will not be fulfilled until he dies and reunites symbolically with Catherine.

This passage bears a profound sadness, as Linton is already a pathetic creature. Adding to his physical and mental weakness is the abuse meted out on him by Heathcliff, who manipulates him. The themes of possession, revenge, and anger are elucidated here as well. Moreover, Linton's emotionality is a core feature of this dialogue, and the reader can perceive his effeminate nature in the way Linton refers to her "pretty birds, and her pony Minny." Linton also loves Catherine, views her as his savior in many ways, and here reveals a comingling of self-hatred and outward-focused anger against the woman who did nothing to hurt him. Linton remains painfully unaware of the extent to which Heathcliff has manipulated him.

3. Quote 22: "You have left me so long to struggle against death, alone, that I feel and see only death! I feel like death!" Chapter 30, pg. 268-269

Reader Response: Catherine sounds like her mother here, full of melodrama. However, there is more to this passage than that. Catherine has been lately surrounded by death. She is poised to lose Linton, and she stands to lose her father. She lost her mother before she ever laid eyes on her. Therefore, Catherine does need to face the reality of death and does so here. She may even be contemplating her own mortality in this passage, as the death of Linton and her father helps foster her maturity. Interestingly, Catherine's utterances are followed by a dose of humor as she is offered some wine to calm her spirits.

This passage connects me with others in the book related to death. I appreciate that the younger Catherine is developing into a far more mature and capable woman than her mother was. It seems as if Bronte is building Catherine to be her mother's redemption,….....

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