Log #7

Book chosen: Wuthering Heights

Pages read: 169-252

During this week’s group discussion, we all mentioned that we thought Christianity was very important in that period of time, and it had a huge impact, which is why of then quoted from the Bible, and the old servant even carried a Bible book with him everywhere.

As for myself, I still want to talk about Heathcliff and Cathy’s relationship. As I said last time, at the beginning of the book, I really didn’t believe that Cathy loved Heathcliff.  I thought if she really loved him, she wouldn’t have left him for another man. But I also thought Emily Bronte was so praised for this book for a reason. None of the characters in the book was pure goodness. She wrote down the characters with charisma but also full with flaws. You may ask what about Edgar and Elizabeth? Yes, they were innocent and they the victims who were dragged into this mess. But if I said it a little bit more straightforward, I would say that they were silly. Edgar was probably more attracted to Cathy’s appearance than who she was, which is why he changed her into a lady, instead of letting her be who she wanted to be. Also, Elizabeth was looking upon Heathcliff’s property and his appearance. And of course, Cathy was selfish, Hindley was mean, and Heathcliff just wanted to revenge.

However, also as I mentioned last time, my perspective toward changed gradually. I thought Cathy really did love Heathcliff for she was only who she really was when she was in front of him. That’s why she told Ellen that, “He seems to take pleasure in being mean and brutal. And yet, he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same. And Linton’s is as different as frost from fire… Ellen, I AM Heathcliff.” What’s more, she also said that, “I told you, Ellen. When he went away that night in the rain, I told you I belonged to him, that he was my life, my being.” A Woman who didn’t love someone could never confess like that. Just unfortunately, she also wanted to own wealth like any other woman in that period of time, so she chose differently.

I feel worse every time I think about it. There are so many obstacles to be together in real life, no matter what the problem is. Wuthering Heights reminds me of The Great Gatsby. The 2 stories both talk about how the guy couldn’t be with his love, spending years to get rich, trying to win back the love, but still end in tragedy. I also think of a movie recently I just watched, which is “La La Land”. I love that movie very much. I would probably considered that movie top 5 my favorite movies of all time. In the end, the boy and the girl didn’t end up together as well. I was so sad that I couldn’t stop crying, but deep down I know that maybe it was for the best that they didn’t end up together, and maybe it was destined that they couldn’t be together. Sometimes, it is missing the each other makes a movie or a book classic and eternal.