Emily Bronte’s novel Wuthering Heights is a controversial piece of literature. Its discussion over the decades has been as diverse as is the range of its characters.
When it was first published in 1847, in the beginning of the Victorian era, its reception was of a considerable diversity, ranging from absolute rejection to baffled appreciation due to its originality.
Differences in reception become even more extreme and obvious when contemporary reviews are being compared with the way the novel is being received nowadays:
Rejection has transformed into a matter of wide appeal that does not only attract film makers, painters, musicians and other authors, but has also found its way into many a teacher’s English lesson.
Wuthering Heights has made its way from the ignorance of public appreciation to the status of being a classic and masterpiece of English literature.
On the following pages I will focus on reviews of the novel, predominantly on contemporary criticism intermixed with recent comments, and address the question as to why such a spectrum of opinions can exist and be expressed about one and the same novel.
In my opinion, the importance of this question stems from the impression that the reading of Wuthering Heights leaves on its recipients “[…] a strange sort of book, […] it is impossible to begin and not finish it; and quite as impossible to lay it aside afterwards and say nothing about it.” As a reader and especially as a student of English, I feel a rather large obligation to look deeper into the differences and controversies that the novel in question has caused during the last hundred and fifty years and thus to also get a better sense of awareness how the field of literature is subject to cultural and historical changes as a whole. Wuthering Heights appears to be an especially apt piece of literature to exemplify these dynamics being at work as will be subsequently shown.
However, I will also arrive at the conclusion that a certain tendency in opinions concerning the novel overwhelms.
I will attempt to examine various aspects such as language, gender of the author and the estimation of ‘his’ abilities, etc. in order to gain some insights.
The retracing of opinions will be supported by a second part of this research paper dealing with the time in which Emily Bronte created her first and only novel.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Diversity in contemporary reviews
- 2.1 Gender
- 2.2 Language
- 2.3 Choice of characters, originality and Emily Bronte's abilities as a novelist in the eyes of contemporary critics
- 3. The Victorian novel and its characteristics
- 3.1 Defining the Victorian period
- 3.2 Realism
- 3.3 Distance to the reader
- 3.4 The search for (religious) morals
- 4. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the diverse reception of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, comparing contemporary reviews with modern perspectives. The objective is to understand the range of opinions surrounding the novel and explore the reasons behind this diversity. The analysis considers how cultural and historical shifts have influenced interpretations.
- Diversity of critical opinions on Wuthering Heights across time.
- The role of gender in shaping critical responses to the novel.
- The influence of Victorian literary conventions on the novel's reception.
- The novel's enduring appeal and its status as a literary classic.
- The relationship between the text and its cultural and historical context.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis by highlighting the controversial nature of Wuthering Heights and its varied reception throughout history. It contrasts the initial mixed reactions upon publication with the novel's current status as a classic of English literature. The chapter emphasizes the importance of exploring the reasons behind this dramatic shift in critical perception, suggesting that the analysis will uncover crucial insights into the interplay between literature and cultural change. The author’s personal engagement with the text and a strong sense of obligation to examine its lasting impact and influence are also established.
2. Diversity in contemporary reviews: This chapter delves into contemporary reviews of Wuthering Heights, focusing on the multifaceted nature of critical responses. It tackles the seemingly straightforward question of whether the assumption of a male author influenced critical reception. While acknowledging the deliberate use of ambiguous names to protect the Brontës' identities, the chapter argues that the gender of the author was largely inconsequential to the initial reviews. This section analyzes reviews, highlighting how even the suspicion of a female author didn't significantly alter assessments, demonstrating that contemporary critics focused more on the merits of the work itself. The analysis lays the groundwork for examining other contributing factors to the varied responses.
3. The Victorian novel and its characteristics: This chapter shifts focus to the literary context of Wuthering Heights' creation, examining the defining characteristics of the Victorian novel. It explores concepts like realism, the author's distance from the reader, and the prevalent search for moral lessons in literature. This contextual analysis provides a crucial framework for understanding how Wuthering Heights, with its unique style and unconventional themes, may have clashed with the expectations and preferences of Victorian critics. By identifying the dominant literary trends of the era, the chapter establishes a basis for interpreting the contemporary reactions to Brontë's work and explaining why it might have been perceived as controversial.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë, Victorian novel, contemporary criticism, gender, literary reception, realism, moral values, cultural context, historical change, literary classic.
Wuthering Heights: A Critical Analysis - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the diverse critical reception of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, comparing contemporary reviews with modern perspectives. It aims to understand the range of opinions surrounding the novel and explore the reasons for this diversity, considering the influence of cultural and historical shifts on interpretations.
What topics are covered in the Table of Contents?
The Table of Contents includes an introduction, a chapter on the diversity in contemporary reviews (including aspects of gender, language, and character choice), a chapter on the characteristics of the Victorian novel (defining the period, realism, author-reader distance, and the search for morals), and a conclusion.
What are the key objectives and themes explored?
The key objectives include analyzing the diversity of critical opinions on Wuthering Heights across time, examining the role of gender in shaping critical responses, exploring the influence of Victorian literary conventions, assessing the novel's enduring appeal, and investigating the relationship between the text and its cultural and historical context.
What does the chapter on "Diversity in Contemporary Reviews" discuss?
This chapter delves into contemporary reviews of Wuthering Heights, examining the multifaceted nature of critical responses. It explores whether the assumption of a male author influenced reception and analyzes reviews to demonstrate how the focus was primarily on the work's merits, regardless of the author's suspected gender.
What is the significance of the chapter on "The Victorian Novel and its Characteristics"?
This chapter provides crucial context by examining the defining characteristics of the Victorian novel, including realism, author-reader distance, and the search for moral lessons. It explains how Wuthering Heights' unique style and themes might have clashed with Victorian expectations and preferences.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter summaries?
The introduction highlights the controversial nature of Wuthering Heights and its varied reception. The chapter on contemporary reviews examines the multifaceted nature of initial responses. The chapter on the Victorian novel provides a framework for understanding why the novel might have been perceived as controversial at the time.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
The keywords include Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë, Victorian novel, contemporary criticism, gender, literary reception, realism, moral values, cultural context, historical change, and literary classic.
What is the overall approach of this academic paper?
The paper takes a structured and professional approach, analyzing themes in a systematic way using data obtained from a publishing company and intended for academic use only. The analysis compares contemporary and modern perspectives to illuminate the evolving reception of Wuthering Heights.
- Quote paper
- Ingo Westermann (Author), 2007, Emily Bronte’s "Wuthering Heights" - Diversity in (contemporary) reviews, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/83751