مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - THE REPRESENTATION OF DOUBLE NATURE IN WUTHERING HEIGHTS

Abstract :

This article intends to highlight the existence of major characters’ opposition to the overwhelming influence of the outer landscape on individuals and to reflect their dominance over nature in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights (1847). This study demonstrates that the main fictional characters who are mainly considered to be a part of nature in Wuthering Heights contradict with outlying hills. Such diversity manifests the existence of a conflict between the characters and the outer landscape and, thereby, signifies the presence of a double formation of characters in this literary work. The first one forms the main fictional characters and the second one includes the outer natural landscape which is portrayed as a mystical character that is thought to be dominant on the main characters. Most critics point out that the landscape of the moors is a dominant character because of affecting personal features of fictional characters and plays the key role in their psychological matters. However, this study indicates that characters oppose the effect of outlying hills and reflect their dominance over the nature. A strong sense of the existence of nature is much more influential on particularly Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw as well as Edgar Linton in Wuthering Heights. Thus, this study demonstrates a double formation of characters which reflects the existence of a conflict between their inner worlds and the outer landscape. Catherine represents merciless nature in the sense of being divided between her passion for Heathcliff and her ambitions. Yet, her emotional attitudes echo a strong personal characteristic distinct from natural impact. As a powerful, fierce, and often cruel man, Heathcliff, on the other hand, strongly displays contradictory actions toward the overpowering influence of the moors and uses his extraordinary powers of will to be effective in both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. These opposite emotional states emphasize that these main characters contradict with the nature instead of accepting its dominance.