»Wuthering Heights« is the solitary prose work of Emily Brontë and was first published in 1847. Although the novel is now generally considered a masterpiece, there were lots of negative reviews after the publication. Critics called it for example shocking, grotesque or mishappen and were horrified by it. In my work I will concentrate on the reviews of »Wuthering Heights« that appeared shortly after the publication of »Wuthering Heights« until the end of the 19th century. Firstly, I will give a short biography of Emily Brontë to illustrate her way of living. After that I will summarize her novel.
Following the summary of »Wuthering Heights« I will concentrate on the reviews of »Wuthering Heights«. At first I will present the way this novel was criticized by the reviewers in English as well as in American newspapers and magazines shortly after the publication in 1847. Then I will refer to Charlotte Brontë as a critic of »Wuthering Heights« and show how she judged her sister’s work. Furthermore her review influenced later criticism. In the end I will illustrate the later critical response to »Wuthering Heights« and I will show if there has been a change in judging the novel and how Charlotte Brontë’s preface influenced the reviewers.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Biography of Emily Brontë
3 Summary of »Wuthering Heights«
4 Reviews of »Wuthering Heights«
4.1 Contemporary Reviews of »Wuthering Heights«
4.1.1 Reviews that appeared in British magazines or newspapers
4.1.2 American Reviews of »Wuthering Heights«
4.1.3 Unidentified Review of »Wuthering Heights«
4.2 Charlotte Brontë as a Critic of »Wuthering Heights«
4.3 Later critical response to »Wuthering Heights«
5 Summary
6 Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines the initial critical reception of Emily Brontë's novel "Wuthering Heights" from its publication in 1847 through the end of the 19th century, analyzing how perceptions shifted from negative contemporary reactions to more complex, biographically-informed evaluations.
- The influence of 19th-century British and American literary reviews on the novel's reputation.
- Charlotte Brontë's role as a critic and the impact of her preface on subsequent interpretations.
- The transition in critical focus from pure aesthetic judgment to biographical and psychological analysis.
- The historical context of the novel's reception as a "Romantic" work within the Victorian era.
- Analysis of specific critical perspectives, including those of Peter Bayne, Thomas Wemyss Reid, and Mary Ward.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1.1 Reviews that appeared in British magazines or newspapers
The reviews have all been published in British magazines and newspapers from December 1847 to January 1848.
One of the first reviews, probably written by Hugh Fothergill Chorley appeared in the »Athenaeum« on December 25th, 1847. The reviewer does not like the story very much, he judged it a “disagreeable story” (Allott 1974, p. 218). Moreover he thinks that the three Bell novels have been written by one person and that Jane Eyre is the best novel.
Besides the »Athenaeum«, the New Monthly Magazine calls »Wuthering Heights« a terrific story. There cannot be imagined anything from which the mind and body would more instinctively shrink than the mansion and its tenants. Therefore the reviewer suggests a more suitable title of the book would be »Withering Heights« instead of »Wuthering Heights«. “Our novel reading experience does not enable us to refer to anything to be compared with the personages we are introduced to at this desolate spot- a perfect misanthropist’s heaven” (Allott 1974, p.229).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter defines the scope of the work, which is to analyze the critical reception of "Wuthering Heights" from its publication in 1847 until the end of the 19th century.
2 Biography of Emily Brontë: This section provides a brief biographical account of Emily Brontë's life, focusing on her upbringing in Haworth and early creative influences.
3 Summary of »Wuthering Heights«: This chapter offers a concise plot summary of the novel, outlining the complex narrative structure and the main character dynamics.
4 Reviews of »Wuthering Heights«: This chapter serves as the core analysis, examining contemporary British and American reviews, Charlotte Brontë's critical perspective, and later 19th-century responses.
5 Summary: This final chapter synthesizes the main findings, noting how early negative criticism evolved as the novel's unique characteristics were better understood.
6 Bibliography: This section lists all primary and secondary sources referenced throughout the work.
Keywords
Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, Literary Criticism, 19th-century literature, Victorian era, Romanticism, Reception History, Charlotte Brontë, Heathcliff, Biographical analysis, Contemporary reviews, Athenaeum, Literary World, Narrative structure, Critical Heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the critical reception of Emily Brontë’s "Wuthering Heights," tracing how the novel was perceived by critics from its publication in 1847 through the end of the 19th century.
What are the central thematic fields covered in the text?
The central themes include the history of literary criticism, the impact of contemporary reviews, the role of biographical context in literary interpretation, and the evolution of the novel's reputation over time.
What is the main goal or research question?
The research aims to determine how the critical evaluation of the novel changed, moving from the shocked and negative contemporary reaction to a more sophisticated, nuanced understanding of the work by the late 19th century.
Which scientific methodology does the work employ?
The paper uses a descriptive and analytical approach, drawing on historical reviews and literary studies to compare various critical viewpoints from the period.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body examines contemporary reviews in British and American media, analyzes the influential critiques written by Charlotte Brontë, and surveys later critical essays published between 1857 and 1900.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Emily Brontë, literary criticism, reception history, Victorian era, Romanticism, and biographical influence.
How did contemporary reviewers describe the novel shortly after its publication?
Many early reviewers found the novel "strange," "confusing," or "disagreeable," often struggling with its brutal content and unconventional narrative structure.
What influence did Charlotte Brontë have on the perception of her sister's work?
Charlotte Brontë's prefaces provided specific interpretive lenses—such as viewing the work as a religious allegory or a product of innate, uncontrollable creative genius—which guided and influenced later critics.
Did American critics have a different take on the novel?
While American critics were often equally critical of the "coarse" language and behavior in the book, some were nonetheless deeply fascinated by its originality and imaginative power.
How did the critical focus shift toward the end of the 19th century?
Critics increasingly moved away from purely aesthetic judgments, showing a heightened interest in the biographical details of Emily Brontë's life to explain the "strangeness" of the novel.
- Quote paper
- Berit Haberlag (Author), 2004, Reviews of "Wuthering Heights", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/41256
