Theme: The difference between social classes in the novel
In the book, the social class theme is easily identifiable with three categories; elite class, middle class, and the working class. The elite level is represented by the wealthy Linton family, the middle class by the Earnshaw’s family, and the working class represented by Nelly, a servant in the Wuthering Heights.
During the Victorian era, social class did not only depend with the amount of money the characters had but rather on their family background. source of income and their place of birth. Heathcliff who was an adopted orphan to the Wuthering Heights received a very cold reception from Earnshaw’s because he was from the streets of Liverpool. His level was seen to be below everybody else’s in the Wuthering Heights thus he received mixed feelings. Adopted children are required be treated like any other child. They also require counseling and be shown love by the adopting family members for them to feel as part of the family.. As time went by, we are informed that Catherine changed her attitude towards the boy and became a close friend to him. They grew together playing in the moors. On the other hand, Hindley’s hatred for the boy grew day after another. He could even try to think of how he could get him out of Wuthering Heights. We are told that after the death of Mr. Earnshaw, the orphan boy was made less than a laborer as Hindley tried to revenge against him for having “stolen” his position as a son in the family. By so doing, Hindley obstructed Heathcliff from furthering his education, showing how the less fortunate in life are considered as fewer humans and are treated as such by those who feel they have their place in life.
Moreover, family background determined where one belonged in the society. In a community where all people are considred fairly equal, they are given equal chances and given a room to air their views and act in the they deem best to them. On the contrary, Nelly, a character in the novel, who served as servant in both the Thrushcross and the Wuthering Heights more oftnly suffers humiliation because of her class. Having been born by parents who were working class, she was always reminded that she was just a worker, not a bonarfiede member of these families despite her having worked there for a long time. It seemed like one was required to remain in the class in which they were born. If a person was born in a rich family, they were taken to be rich and given the respect accorded to the level of their families. The Lintons were treated with respect by the Eranshaw’s and vice versa just because of their class. Nelly attracted no respect from the people she served all those years simply because she was from a different class, working class.
In addition, ascension to higher class gave the individuals power. The higher the class, the powerful one is. With the death of Mr. Earnshaw, Hindley got a chance to revenge against Heathcliff who had gained favor with his father at Hindley’s expense. He was able to execute the revenge because he was the one in charge Wuthering Heights. Class is seen to give people the power to carry out revenge on their adversaries. When Heathcliff gained wealth mysteriously, he gained power to execute revenge on Hareton for the evils done to him by his father Hindley. This was because Hareton had lost his class after the death of his father until young Cathy came to his rescue and took him back to school. It was at this point that Hareton gained his class back. Even though one was mistreated when they were poor, it does not give them the right to mistreat others when they rise in status. Upward class mobility should not be a tool for giving one the power to revenge but rather an opportunity to improve others so that they should not go through what one underwent when they were of low class.
In the main love story of the book, we find social class being the main determinant for the relationship. Catherine had much love for Heathcliff. She describes her love feeling for Heathcliff as immensely deep. She tells Nelly that the material that makes her heart and that of Heathcliff is the same. To her, Edgar is different from Heathcliff as frost differs from fire. Despite her love for Heathcliff, she goes ahead to break their love relationship and marries Edgar because compared to Heathcliff, Edgar came from a well off family while Heathcliff was just a mere gardener. In another statement, she claims that if she got married to Heathcliff, society would have a bad image. Their marriage could only be seen as that of beggars. This shows that class has a significant influence on marriage as it was in the 12th century where people didn’t marry for love but because of material possessions, money and social class (Hardcastle 2006). Basically, people should marry for companionship which is driven by love.
Historically, the less fortunate in the society have always been treated in a cruel and unfair manner. This was not an exemption in the Victorian era. We see Nelly Dean remembering what Heathcliff said to her about the treatment he received from the Linton when they were caught trespassing with Catherine. Heathcliff was looked down upon because he was not of their social class. He was judged and cast aside without being given a chance while Catherine was welcomed and cared for despite her being on the wrong side too. “He pulled me under the chandelier, and Mrs.Linton placed her spectacles on her nose and raised her hands in horror….frightful thing! Put him in the cellar papa. He’s exactly like the son of the fortune-teller that stole my tame pheasant’….A wicked boy, at all events,’…and quite unfit for a decent house! Did you even notice his language, Linton?”If the Linton’s were fair enough, both Heathcliff and Catherine would have received the same treatment.
It is also evident that living in a certain social class for however long time, one cannot change their class in the society. If a person happens to move from a low class to either middle or elite class, cannot be considered to be rightfully in the new class if they were not born there. The society expects those born in a good class to remain there and those born to low class to remain there too. Hindley always reminded Heathcliff of his place despite him having been moved to a better class by Mr. Earnshaw. He always saw him as that poor, orphan boy whom his father collected in the streets of Liverpool. He goes even further and put him to his level , making him a gardener, after the death of Mr. Earnshaw. Edgar too does not recognize that Heathcliff changed his status after gaining much wealth and he continued to refer him as farm boy. This was not right. Every person has a chance to become better than whom they were yesterday. A person’s past should be used to define their future as everyday provides a chance to make their life better.
Material property and structures were also used to place people to their respective classes. The two houses Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights properties give a clear example of social class differences. In the 19th century, the assets and heritage owned by the family were the basis of wealth. We find materialistic differences between the two. The Heights are revealed to be wild and uncivilized through phrases such as “large jutting stones” and “lurking in the shade.” This shows the house was uncomfortable and in a cold atmosphere. On the other side, the Grange is described to be in the protective hold of the valley, which is surrounded by solitary beauty. The phrase “scene of unprecedented richness” has been used in the novel, meaning the house would not be surpassed by any other residents in that area. The difference can also be seen as when Cathy extended her visit to the Thrushcross Grange. She is said to convert from a “savage” to a “lady.” Even though the two families are both wealthy, Bront makes it clear that Grange is superior to the Heights.
Difference on social classes too major that it even determines the kind of relationship relatives or siblings would have. Association on members of class with those of a different class seems to influence the way members of on family relates. When Hindley realized that his sister, Catherine, was have an unusual relationship with Heathcliff who was not their class, he starts losing his favor with her. At a given point he instructs that she should not be allowed back to the house because she was out for an adventure with Heathcliff. The extent to which different classes become rivals is way too far. With human beings being social beings, every person has a right to association and this should not be determined by a person’s class.
Conclusion
The novel is created by conflicts emerging from social classes in the Thrushcross Grange and the Wuthering Heights. Their level determines the behavior of characters here. Other themes like revenge in the novel are developed mainly by the conflict arising from the disputes of different classes.
Work cited
Bronte E, “Wuthering Heights” Harper and Brothers Publishers, 82 Cliff Street, 1848 .New York
Maney “Wuthering heights and violation of class” 2013,
Mezo .E, “A Students Guide to Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte” Sally Brown Walker Press, 2002, Portland, Florida