Setting Analysis in Wuthering Heights

Emily Bront?'s Wuthering Heights is renowned for its powerful and evocative setting. This article delves into the setting of the novel, focusing on the Yorkshire moors and the two contrasting houses, as well as the social commentary woven through the landscape and architecture.

The Rural Landscape and Social Context

Wuthering Heights is set in the wild and windswept landscape of Yorkshire, England. The setting is not just a backdrop but a crucial element that influences the characters and their actions. The moors are emblematic of the untamed and uncultivated nature that contrast sharply with the rigid social structures of the time.

The protagonist's house, Wuthering Heights, is described as a 'chief residence of a landholder.' Unlike the more fashionable and welcoming Thrushcross Grange, Wuthering Heights is characterized by its isolation and its unfriendly exterior. The stone carving above the front door, though lacking a coat of arms, signifies the family and their standing in the community. Its cold and cheerless appearance reflects the distant and harsh nature of the moors and the northern England, standing in stark contrast to the more polite and welcoming atmosphere of the South.

Contrast and Isolation: Wuthering Heights vs. Thrushcross Grange

Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange are two contrasting domains. Wuthering Heights, situated high on the moors, is wild, moody, and imposing. It is the epitome of the moor's rugged beauty and untamed spirit. Thrushcross Grange, on the other hand, is a 'stark contrast,' representing comfort, elegance, and social acceptability. The physical distance between the two houses is a metaphor for the emotional and social barriers that separate the characters.

The Moors and the Characters’ Freedom

The Yorkshire moors are like a metaphorical stage where the characters can be themselves. Away from the polite constraints of society, Cathy and Heathcliff are free to act on their true feelings. The moors offer a sense of freedom and wildness that is essential to the development of the characters and the plot. It is in the midst of nature that the couple finds solace and a sense of identity, free from the rigid social structures that confine them.

Third-Hand Narration and Social Commentary

Bront? employs third-hand narration to heighten the sense of isolation and the gap between the reader and the events. The narrator, Lockwood, is a stranger to the region and is not a witness to the events he narrates. His fevered hearth of the household servant brings his own biases to the story. This third-hand perspective adds a layer of detachment and dramatizes the social commentary embedded in the setting and narrative.

Social Commentary and the Marginal Setting

The isolated, remote setting symbolizes the social marginalization of characters like Heathcliff. As an outsider, Heathcliff struggles to integrate into the rigid social hierarchy. The narrative structure, combined with the stark setting, underscores the theme of social exclusion and the struggle for acceptance. Heathcliff’s marginal status is reflected in the manner in which the setting isolates him both physically and socially.

Cathy’s natural state, wild on the moors, represents her genuine self. However, her exposure to the social realities at Thrushcross Grange during her convalescence shapes her understanding of social conventions. The contrast between the moors and the genteel Grange highlights the conflict between freedom and social acceptability. Cathy’s ghost, omnipresent and haunting, reinforces the themes of identity and the pursuit of authenticity.

In essence, the setting of Wuthering Heights is not merely a geographical backdrop but a multifaceted reflection of the social and emotional landscape of the characters. The isolated and marginal setting of the moors and the contrasting residences emphasize the struggle for identity and the conflicts between nature and nurture, freedom and social convention.